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Pharmacy / Chemist Risk Assessment — Generated Instantly for £29
Describe your pharmacy — dispensary layout, retail counter, controlled drugs storage, staffing. We generate a fully written, UK-compliant risk assessment covering dispensing, medicines handling, lone working and the shop floor in minutes.
Built for independent chemists, pharmacy chains and in-store pharmacy concessions across the UK
💊 Handling controlled drugs or hazardous chemicals? Mention it — we'll include storage security, spillage procedures and the specific controls required under COSHH 2002 for your dispensary.
Legal requirements for pharmacies and chemists
The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 places a general duty on employers to ensure the health, safety and welfare of staff and customers. Under Regulation 3(1) of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, every pharmacy and chemist business must carry out a suitable and sufficient risk assessment, and employers with five or more staff must record the significant findings in writing under Regulation 3(6).
Pharmacies involve a distinctive mix of hazards: dispensing medicines, handling controlled drugs, operating a retail counter, and potential lone working during quiet periods or early opening. A written risk assessment helps demonstrate compliance to environmental health officers, insurers and landlords, and supports General Pharmaceutical Council standards for safe and effective pharmacy services.
Where hazardous substances are stored or handled, such as certain cleaning chemicals or pharmaceutical ingredients, the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH) applies. If you are unsure whether you need a formal risk assessment at all, our guide on whether you need a risk assessment explains when the legal duty applies to your business.
How it works
1. Describe your pharmacy
Tell us about your dispensary, controlled drugs storage, retail counter, staffing levels and opening hours. Mention if staff ever work alone and we'll include the relevant lone working controls.
2. Let the app take the strain
Anyrisks produces a fully written, UK-compliant pharmacy risk assessment referencing MHSWR 1999 and COSHH 2002 where relevant to your operations.
3. Instant download and use
Download as PDF and Word. Share it with your landlord, insurer or local authority, or file it for compliance purposes. £29, no subscription.
What it covers
Every pharmacy risk assessment is written in full — covering the dispensary, counter and retail floor.
Medicines handling and dispensing errors
Controlled drugs storage and security
COSHH — hazardous cleaning agents and chemicals
Lone working during opening, closing and quiet periods
Till and counter theft or robbery risk
Slips, trips and falls in customer and stock areas
Manual handling of stock deliveries and boxes
Sharps and needle disposal risks
Spillage and broken glass procedures
Display screen equipment at the dispensing terminal
Fire-related hazards from chemical storage
Customer aggression and conflict situations
Display and stacking of retail stock
Cleaning chemicals and substance storage
Works for
From independent high street chemists to pharmacy counters inside larger stores, Anyrisks covers every type of pharmacy setup.
Anyrisks vs DIY templates
| Anyrisks | DIY / Templates | |
|---|---|---|
| Written in full — not a blank form | ✓ | ✗ |
| MHSWR 1999 referenced | ✓ | ✗ |
| COSHH 2002 covered for dispensary chemicals | ✓ | ✗ |
| Covers both dispensary and retail counter | ✓ | ✗ |
| Lone working controls included | ✓ | ✗ |
| Controlled drugs storage security addressed | ✓ | ✗ |
| Ready in under 2 minutes | ✓ | ✗ |
| Instant PDF and Word download | ✓ | Sometimes |
Frequently asked questions
Do pharmacies legally need a written risk assessment?
Yes. Regulation 3(1) of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 (MHSWR) requires every employer, including pharmacy and chemist businesses, to carry out a suitable and sufficient risk assessment. If you employ five or more people, Regulation 3(6) requires the significant findings to be recorded in writing.
Does this cover controlled drugs and medicines handling?
Yes — describe your dispensary setup, controlled drugs cabinet, and medicines storage and the assessment will cover handling, storage security and spillage risks, alongside relevant COSHH 2002 considerations for hazardous substances.
Does it cover counter and retail areas as well as the dispensary?
Yes. Pharmacies combine a dispensing area with a retail shop floor, so the assessment covers till and counter hazards, till theft and lone working, slips and trips in customer areas, and stock handling, alongside dispensary-specific risks.
Does it address lone working for pharmacists and staff?
Yes — mention if a pharmacist or assistant ever works alone, particularly at opening, closing or during quiet periods, and lone working controls including panic alarms and check-in procedures will be included.
Is fire risk assessment included?
This covers the general workplace risk assessment under MHSWR 1999. A separate fire risk assessment is a distinct legal duty under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and is not included, though fire-related hazards specific to chemical storage are referenced.
Can this be used for an independent chemist and a chain branch?
Yes — describe your pharmacy type (independent, multiple branch, in-store concession) and premises layout and the assessment will be tailored to reflect your specific setup and staffing levels.
How long does it take to generate?
Under 2 minutes. Describe your pharmacy premises and operations and Anyrisks produces a complete, regulation-referenced risk assessment instantly, ready to download as PDF and Word.
Will it be accepted by my landlord, insurer or local authority?
Yes. Anyrisks produces a fully written, regulation-referenced risk assessment in the standard professional format expected by insurers, landlords, local authority environmental health officers and the HSE.
Also see: The Ultimate Guide to Risk Assessment · Do I Need a Risk Assessment · Risk Assessment Legal Requirements · AI Risk Assessment Generator