What Is a Risk Assessment? A Complete Guide by Safety Doc

Learn what a risk assessment is, explore the 5 steps to risk assessment, and discover how Safety Doc provides expert fire risk, Legionella, and dynamic risk assessments.

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Jul 2, 2025 - 12:23

Safety professional conducting fire and water system inspection during a risk assessment at a commercial property – Safety Doc

Risk assessments are essential for maintaining health and safety across workplaces, commercial properties, and even residential settings. At Safety Doc, we specialize in delivering high-quality, fully compliant assessments for a variety of hazards, including fire safety, Legionella control, and more.

In this blog, we’ll explain what a risk assessment is, cover different types like fire risk assessment and Legionella risk assessment, and walk through the 5 steps to risk assessment. Whether you're a business owner, landlord, or facilities manager, understanding and implementing proper risk assessments is key to legal compliance and safety.

What Is a Risk Assessment?

A risk assessment is a systematic process used to identify potential hazards in a workplace or environment, evaluate the likelihood and severity of harm, and take steps to reduce or eliminate the risk.

The goal is simple: prevent harm to people and damage to property while ensuring legal compliance with safety regulations such as the Health and Safety at Work Act or the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.

The 5 Steps to Risk Assessment

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) outlines five simple but essential steps to conducting a risk assessment:

Identify the Hazards
Recognize anything that may cause harm (e.g., chemicals, fire hazards, bacteria, trip hazards).
Decide Who Might Be Harmed and How
Consider employees, visitors, contractors, or vulnerable individuals.
Evaluate the Risks and Decide on Precautions
Analyze the level of risk and decide on controls to reduce or eliminate it.
Record Your Findings and Implement Them
Keep a written record of your findings and actions — a legal requirement in many cases.
Review and Update the Assessment Regularly
Especially after incidents, changes in processes, or annually as standard.

Fire Risk Assessment Services

Fire safety is one of the most critical aspects of any building’s risk profile. A fire risk assessment is legally required for most non-domestic premises and should be reviewed regularly.

At Safety Doc, our fire risk assessment service includes:

Inspection of fire hazards (electricals, storage, flammables)
Assessment of escape routes and emergency lighting
Evaluation of fire detection and alarm systems
Review of staff training and fire drills
A full written report with a prioritized action plan

Whether you're a small office, school, or warehouse, we help ensure you're fire safe and legally compliant.

Legionella Risk Assessment

Legionella bacteria can develop in water systems and pose a serious health risk, particularly through air conditioning units, hot tubs, and stored water tanks.

Our Legionella risk assessment service includes:

Inspection of all water systems
Temperature monitoring
Review of control measures and cleaning schedules
Detailed documentation for compliance with ACOP L8

We help landlords, property managers, and facilities teams stay compliant with HSE regulations while protecting building occupants from Legionnaires’ disease.

Dynamic Risk Assessment

Not all hazards are foreseeable, which is where dynamic risk assessments come into play. This type of assessment is carried out in real-time, often by workers in the field, to manage unexpected hazards.

At Safety Doc, we train teams to recognize and respond to changing conditions, helping frontline workers stay safe in fast-moving or unpredictable environments.

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Why Choose Safety Doc?

Safety Doc provides comprehensive, fully accredited safety assessments and training across the UK. Our services include:

Fire Risk Assessments
Legionella Risk Assessments
Health and Safety Audits
Dynamic Risk Assessment Training
Workplace Safety Compliance
Custom Safety Reports & Recommendations

With certified assessors and years of experience, we help businesses reduce liability, meet legal requirements, and create safer environments for everyone.