Risk Assessment Template

Risk Assessment Template

Risk Assessment is a crucial component of safety management in the adventure and outdoor activity sector. It provides a structured overview of potential risks, how likely they are to occur, and the controls in place to manage them.

Why You Need a Risk Assessment

Under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015, all operators must identify and manage risks that could harm workers or participants. A documented risk assessment:

• Provides evidence of systematic hazard identification
• Demonstrates your control measures to regulators and auditors
• Supports staff briefings and inductions
• Forms part of your Safety Management System

How to Use This Template

• List each hazard associated with the activity
• Assess the likelihood of harm occurring (low / medium / high)
• Assess the severity of potential harm
• Calculate the risk rating (likelihood × severity)
• Document your control measures
• Review and update after any incident or near miss

What to Include

A thorough risk assessment should cover:

• Environmental hazards (terrain, weather, water conditions)
• Equipment hazards (failure, misuse, compatibility)
• Participant hazards (fitness, experience, behaviour)
• Operational hazards (ratios, communications, emergency procedures)
• Natural hazard risks (flooding, landslips, snowfall — see WorkSafe April 2025 guidance)

Review Cycle

Risk assessments should be reviewed:

• At least annually
• After any incident or near miss
• When conditions, routes, or equipment change
• Before each season or new programme

Download the template and complete it for each activity you operate.