Module 7:

7.3 Carrying out a risk assessment

7.3.1 Introduction

1   The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) recommend a five-step process for carrying out a risk assessment as well as how to manage risk and risk assessment at work

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The HSE also has a range of guidance and templates which can be adapted for any purpose (accessed 10 June 2026).

You can adapt their risk assessment template to create your own risk assessment.

We have adapted one of their templates and provided a worked example (covering steps 1 to 3 below) for part of an indicative and general risk assessment for a ride-on mower / compact tractor with mower attachment after this section to show how the process might be applied in practice.

2  

This process can appear quite daunting at first but take each stage in turn and don’t rush. This can result in a really useful document that improves the effectiveness and efficiency of a maintenance activity, which is of significant benefit to both worker and employer.

We have split the creation of the risk assessment example as follows: Steps 1 and 2; Step 3(a); Step 3(b).