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Shop Fit-Out & Refurbishment Risk Assessment — Generated Instantly for £29
Describe the strip-out, structural works, floor joist replacement or services isolation involved in your retail fit-out project. We generate a fully written, UK-compliant risk assessment covering every phase of the works in minutes.
Used by shop fit-out contractors, refurbishment specialists and principal contractors across the UK
🏗️ Working on first-floor structural alterations or replacing floor joists? Mention it — we'll include temporary works precautions, propping requirements and the controls expected for structural works on an occupied retail parade.
Legal requirements for shop fit-out and refurbishment
Almost all retail fit-out and refurbishment work in Great Britain falls under the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM 2015). CDM 2015 requires that the client, principal contractor and principal designer manage health and safety risks throughout the project, and that a suitable construction phase plan is in place before work begins — even on smaller shop units.
Regulation 3(1) of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 (MHSWR) requires every employer to carry out a suitable and sufficient risk assessment of the work being undertaken. For fit-out contractors this means assessing strip-out, structural alterations, working at height, isolation of services and the interaction with members of the public or other tenants if the unit sits within an occupied building.
The Work at Height Regulations 2005 apply to access equipment such as scaffold towers, MEWPs and ladders used for ceiling, shopfront and high-level works. HSE figures consistently show falls from height as one of the leading causes of fatal injury in construction, making this a priority area of any written risk assessment.
Where structural elements are removed or altered — including floor joist replacement or opening up load-bearing walls — temporary works must be designed and controlled in line with good practice guidance, and a structural engineer's input is typically required. Dust from demolition and cutting is also controlled under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH), and site hoarding and public protection measures are expected wherever works border a public pavement or trading unit.
How it works
1. Describe the works
Tell us the scope — strip-out, structural alterations, floor joist replacement, first-floor works, hoarding, or services isolation. Mention whether the unit remains occupied or trading during the works.
2. Let the app take the strain
Anyrisks produces a fully written, UK-compliant risk assessment referencing CDM 2015, MHSWR 1999 and the Work at Height Regulations 2005 where relevant to your project.
3. Instant download and use
Download as PDF and Word. Include it in your construction phase plan, hand it to the principal contractor, or file it for CDM compliance purposes. £29, no subscription.
What it covers
Every shop fit-out risk assessment is written in full — covering every phase of the works from strip-out to handover.
Strip-out and demolition — manual handling and debris removal
Floor joist replacement and structural alterations
First-floor works and temporary propping requirements
Working at height — scaffold towers, MEWPs and ladders
Safe isolation of gas, electrical and water services
Dust generation and control (COSHH compliance)
Noise from power tools and cutting equipment
Site hoarding and public protection on occupied parades
Fire risk from hot works and flammable materials storage
Manual handling of shopfitting materials and fixtures
Slips, trips and falls on uneven or part-finished floors
Site security and unauthorised access out of hours
Interaction with adjacent trading units or tenants
CDM 2015 duties for contractors and principal contractors
Works for
From single-unit refits to full shell-and-core retail refurbishments, Anyrisks covers every type of fit-out project.
What customers say
"We were replacing floor joists above an occupied unit and needed something that actually addressed temporary works and propping, not a generic template. Anyrisks nailed it in minutes."
Dean W.
Shopfitting contractor, Leeds
"Every retail client now asks for a construction phase plan and risk assessment before we start. This gives me a properly referenced document covering strip-out, isolation and hoarding without the usual hour of paperwork."
Michelle O.
Principal contractor, Manchester
"We work on parades where shops either side stay open during our refurb. Anyrisks covered public protection and hoarding alongside the usual working at height and dust controls — exactly what our client expected."
Craig B.
Retail refurbishment specialist, Bristol
Anyrisks vs DIY templates
| Anyrisks | DIY / Templates | |
|---|---|---|
| Written in full — not a blank form | ✓ | ✗ |
| CDM 2015 duties and construction phase plan referenced | ✓ | ✗ |
| Structural works and temporary propping covered | ✓ | ✗ |
| Working at Height Regulations 2005 referenced | ✓ | ✗ |
| Services isolation procedures included | ✓ | ✗ |
| Public protection and hoarding controls covered | ✓ | ✗ |
| Ready in under 2 minutes | ✓ | ✗ |
| Instant PDF and Word download | ✓ | Sometimes |
Frequently asked questions
Also see: The Ultimate Guide to Risk Assessment · Do I Need a Risk Assessment? · Risk Assessment Legal Requirements · AI Risk Assessment Generator
What does a shop fit-out risk assessment need to cover?
It needs to cover every stage of the works — strip-out, structural alterations, services isolation, working at height, dust and noise, and site security — in line with the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM 2015) and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999. Anyrisks produces a fully written assessment covering all phases relevant to your specific project.
Does CDM 2015 apply to a retail fit-out?
Yes, in most cases. CDM 2015 applies to almost all construction work in Great Britain, including shop fit-outs and refurbishments, regardless of project size. Depending on the structure of the project, duties may fall on the client, principal contractor and principal designer, and a construction phase plan is typically required.
Is a risk assessment needed if the shop stays open during works?
Yes — and it becomes more important, not less. Where refurbishment work takes place while the unit trades, or adjacent units remain occupied, the assessment must address public access routes, hoarding, noise, dust migration and emergency egress for anyone still present in or around the building.
Does this cover floor joist replacement and structural work?
Yes — describe the structural scope, including floor joist replacement, first-floor works, or removal of load-bearing elements, and the assessment will include temporary works precautions, propping requirements and the need for a structural engineer's sign-off where relevant.
Can I use this for working at height during a fit-out?
Yes — working at height is one of the most common causes of serious injury on fit-out sites. Mention the height of works, access equipment (scaffold towers, MEWPs, ladders) and the assessment will reference the Work at Height Regulations 2005 and the hierarchy of control.
Does it cover isolation of gas, electrical and water services?
Yes — describe the services present on site and the assessment will include safe isolation procedures, permit-to-work requirements and reference to the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 where relevant to the trades involved.
Is this suitable for contractors and subcontractors, not just the main contractor?
Yes — it is written from the perspective of whoever is carrying out the work, whether that is a principal contractor, a specialist subcontractor (joinery, electrical, flooring) or a sole trader fitting out a single unit.
How quickly can I get a shop fit-out risk assessment?
Under 2 minutes. Describe the scope of the fit-out or refurbishment works and Anyrisks generates a complete, regulation-referenced risk assessment instantly as a PDF and editable Word document.