Types of Risk Assessment UK — Complete Guide
By the Riskora Editorial Team · Reviewed against our editorial standards · Last reviewed
Not all risk assessments are the same. UK construction uses several types depending on the hazards involved. Understanding which type you need prevents wasted time and ensures you meet legal requirements.
UK (RAMS) example document — Two-Storey Rear Extension — 14 Birchwood Lane, Reading. Client: Mr & Mrs A. Whitfield (Private Client). Site: 14 Birchwood Lane, Reading, RG1 5JT. Scope: Construction of a two-storey rear extension (6.4m × 4.2m) to an existing semi-detached dwelling. Works comprise breaking out of existing rear elevation, trench-fill foundations to 1.0m, traditional cavity blockwork to first floor, pre-stressed concrete lintels, timber roof structure with natural slate finish, plus alterations to existing rear wall to form structural opening with rolled steel joist (RSJ 203×102 UB23). Works programmed over 9 weeks with a peak site team of 6 operatives. Hazards assessed: Manual handling — blocks, lintels, plasterboard, Working at height — independent scaffold & roof structure, Buried services strike during excavation, Collapse of excavation / trench wall, Hand-arm vibration (HAVS) — breaking out, drilling, Silica dust — cutting blocks, brick, concrete, Vehicle/pedestrian segregation — narrow domestic street.
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What are the main types of risk assessment in the UK?
The six main types used in UK construction are: 1) Generic risk assessments (standard activities), 2) Site-specific risk assessments (particular locations), 3) Dynamic risk assessments (real-time on site), 4) COSHH assessments (hazardous substances), 5) Fire risk assessments (fire hazards), and 6) Manual handling assessments (lifting and carrying).
Using the Wrong Type Wastes Time and Creates Risk
A generic risk assessment used without site-specific adaptation doesn't protect workers on that particular site. A fire risk assessment done as a general risk assessment misses regulatory requirements. Using the wrong format means the assessment may fall short of legal expectations — even if the content is good. Many professionals are unsure about the legal requirements for safety documentation.
How Riskora Helps
Understanding which type applies to your work ensures compliance and protects your team. Riskora's guided builder helps you create the right type of assessment with pre-loaded hazards relevant to your specific trade and work type. Try the RAMS generator to see how quickly you can produce professional documentation.
Who it's for
- Generic assessments for standard procedures
- Site-specific assessments for particular projects
- COSHH assessments for substance exposure
- Manual handling assessments for lifting operations
- Fire risk assessments for site compounds
- Dynamic assessment training for site teams
Understand the Fundamentals
Before you generate your document, these guides cover the knowledge that underpins every good RAMS, risk assessment, and method statement.
What Is a RAMS Document?
The complete guide to RAMS — what they contain, who needs them, and why they matter.
How to Write a RAMS Document
Step-by-step guidance on structuring a professional RAMS document.
UK Legal Requirements
What UK law requires for risk assessments and safety documentation.
RAMS vs Risk Assessment
Clarify when you need a full RAMS versus a standalone risk assessment.
Risk Assessment Legal Requirements (UK)
The legal framework behind risk assessments in the UK — what the law requires and what 'suitable and sufficient' means.
Construction Safety Documents Explained
An overview of the key safety documents required on UK construction sites and how they relate to each other.
What is a generic risk assessment?
A generic risk assessment covers standard, repeatable activities that don't change significantly between sites — such as using a specific power tool or performing a standard installation. It's a baseline document that should be supplemented with site-specific information before use.
What is a dynamic risk assessment?
A dynamic risk assessment is a continuous, real-time mental process where workers assess risks as conditions change on site. It's not a document — it's a skill used alongside formal written assessments when unexpected hazards emerge during work.
When do I need a COSHH assessment?
You need a COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health) assessment whenever work involves exposure to hazardous substances — including dust (silica, wood, asbestos), chemicals (solvents, adhesives, paints), and biological agents. This is a legal requirement under the COSHH Regulations 2002.
Key Risks and Considerations
- •Applying generic assessments without adaptation
- •Missing COSHH requirements for substance work
- •Neglecting fire risk assessments for site compounds
- •Failing to train workers in dynamic assessment
- •Not recording manual handling assessments
Key Features
- Trade-specific hazard presets
- Risk matrix with likelihood × severity
- Control measure library
- Multiple assessment types supported
- Clean PDF download
- Reusable document templates
Example Structure (UK Standard)
- Generic: Activity → Standard hazards → Standard controls
- Site-specific: Site conditions → Local hazards → Adapted controls
- COSHH: Substance → Exposure route → Health effects → Controls
- Manual handling: Task → Load → Environment → Individual → Controls
- Fire: Sources → Fuel → People at risk → Prevention → Detection
Common Questions Before Getting Started
Will this take long?
Under 5 minutes. Select your trade, pick hazards, download.
Is it complicated?
No training needed. The guided builder walks you through every step.
Do I need experience?
If you know what work you're doing, you can use Riskora.
Is it free to try?
Yes. The Free plan needs no card — generate, review and download one free PDF. Upgrade any time for branding, DOCX, sign-off and higher limits.
Create your RAMS in under 5 minutes
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All documents generated by Riskora should be reviewed by a competent person before use on site. Riskora provides structured templates — professional judgement is always required.
What your RAMS actually contains
Riskora builds a structured, client-facing document — not a generic AI paragraph. Every section is shaped around your job, your site and your team.
Hazards
Task-specific hazards for the job, captured row by row — not a generic list pulled from an old RAMS.
Controls
Control measures mapped to each hazard with residual risk scoring after controls are applied.
PPE
PPE requirements tied to the activity and site, ready to brief to the team.
Method steps
Step-by-step method statement structured around how the work is actually sequenced on site.
Emergency arrangements
First aid, rescue plan, emergency contacts and site-specific escalation routes.
COSHH prompts
Substance prompts when the work involves chemicals, dusts, fumes or sealants — flagged early, not missed at review.
Sign-off
Operative sign-off captured against the document — names, dates and acknowledgement of the brief.
Version history
Every change tracked so you can show what was issued, when, and which version the team signed.
Approval status
Clear approval state on every document — draft, in review, approved, issued — visible across the team.
Audit trail
Who created it, who reviewed it, who signed it. A complete trail you can hand to a principal contractor or auditor.
From copied-and-pasted to site-specific
The reason RAMS get rejected is rarely the format — it's that the document is obviously generic. Riskora rebuilds it around this job, this site and this task.
Generic template copied from an old job.
- • Hazards and controls that don't match this site or task.
- • Method steps written for a different sequence of work.
- • No emergency arrangements specific to the location.
- • Client flags it as generic and asks for a rewrite.
Site-specific document structured around this job, site and task.
- • Hazards captured from the actual scope you pasted in.
- • Method steps sequenced for how the work runs on site.
- • Emergency arrangements and rescue plan tied to the location.
- • Approved internally, briefed to the team, signed off and stored.
From job details to signed-off document
A four-step workflow used by contractors, consultants and safety teams to turn informal job details into client-ready safety paperwork.
- 1Paste job details
Drop in a client email, a WhatsApp from the site manager, a scope of works or a tender note. Anything that describes the job.
- 2Riskora structures the document
Riskora turns your brief into hazards, controls, method steps, PPE, emergency arrangements and COSHH prompts.
- 3Review, edit and download
You stay in control of every section. Tweak anything, then download a clean PDF or share a link.
- 4Brief the team and record sign-off
Brief operatives, capture their sign-off and keep a full audit trail of who signed which version.
Built by people who've written this paperwork on real sites
Riskora is built by a founder with hands-on site and document experience — designed for contractors, consultants and safety teams who need to issue, brief and prove safety paperwork without losing a day to admin.
- Built for contractors, consultants and teams
Solo trades, principal contractors and in-house safety teams all run on the same workflow. - Supports multiple countries
UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, US and Canada — wording and document types match the local standard. - Not just documents
Sign-off, approvals, version history and an audit trail — the management workflow around the paperwork.
Frequently Asked Questions
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References & Further Reading
Primary UK sources covering the legal and practical framework behind RAMS, risk assessments and method statements.
Create your types of RAMS free — preview before sign-up
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Final RAMS must be reviewed and approved by a competent person before use.
Riskora is an assistive document preparation tool. All documents generated must be reviewed, verified, and approved by a competent person before use on site. Riskora does not replace professional safety judgment, and no output should be treated as a legal compliance guarantee.