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Shop Risk Assessment — Generated Instantly for £29
A shop risk assessment covers customer safety, staff manual handling, lone working, cash handling, slips and trips, fire safety, and aggressive customer incidents. Describe your shop type and operations and we generate a fully written, UK-compliant assessment in minutes — tailored to independent retailers, convenience stores, boutiques, and high street shops.
Used by independent shop owners, convenience store operators, boutique retailers and high street businesses across the UK
🛒 Working alone during opening or closing hours? Mention it — we'll include lone working controls, personal safety alarms, check-in procedures, and cash handling security measures required under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.
Legal requirements for shop risk assessments
The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 places a legal duty on every employer and self-employed person to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare of employees and others affected by the business. For shop owners, this includes staff, customers, delivery drivers, contractors, and anyone else who enters the premises.
Regulation 3 of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 requires a suitable and sufficient assessment of risks to the health and safety of employees and others. This is not optional — it is a legal requirement. If you employ five or more people (including part-time staff and family members), the assessment must be recorded in writing. In practice, even sole traders should document their risk assessment to demonstrate due diligence to insurers, landlords, and the HSE.
Shop-specific regulations include the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992, which cover shop floor layout, lighting, temperature, toilets, and cleanliness. The Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 apply to staff lifting stock, moving display fixtures, or handling deliveries. The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requires a fire risk assessment for all non-domestic premises, including shops.
Shops open to the public must also consider the Occupiers' Liability Act 1957, which imposes a duty of care to visitors. Slips, trips, and falls are the most common customer injury in retail — HSE statistics show over 40% of all reported retail injuries are slip or trip related. A documented risk assessment demonstrates that you have taken reasonable steps to manage these hazards, which is critical in the event of a customer injury claim. For more on legal requirements, see our full guide.
How it works
1. Describe your shop
Tell us your shop type (convenience store, boutique, newsagent, hardware shop), layout, opening hours, whether you work alone, and any specific activities or concerns (cash handling, deliveries, aggressive customers, display equipment). The more detail, the more tailored the assessment.
2. Let the app take the strain
Anyrisks produces a fully written, UK-compliant shop risk assessment covering customer safety, staff manual handling, lone working, fire safety, and all relevant regulations. Every control measure is written in full — this is not a blank template.
3. Instant download and use
Download as PDF and Word. File it for compliance, show it to your landlord or insurer, or use it to train staff on safe working practices. £29, no subscription. For a complete overview of risk assessment best practice, see our ultimate guide.
What it covers
Every shop risk assessment is written in full — covering all hazards relevant to your retail operations and customer-facing environment.
Slips, trips and falls — customer and staff risks
Manual handling — lifting stock, deliveries, display equipment
Lone working — opening, closing, and single-person shifts
Cash handling and security — robbery, theft, aggressive customers
Display equipment — shelving, mannequins, hanging fixtures
Fire safety — escape routes, fire extinguishers, alarm systems
Electrical safety — tills, lighting, heating, portable equipment
Workplace layout — aisles, obstructions, customer flow
Deliveries — reversing vehicles, manual handling, access
COSHH — cleaning products, stock chemicals, aerosols
Working at height — stocking high shelves, changing lightbulbs
Violence and aggression — customer disputes, shoplifting confrontations
Young workers and vulnerable staff — training and supervision
Disability access — ramps, doorways, accessible toilets
Works for
From high street boutiques to village convenience stores, Anyrisks covers every type of retail shop operation.
What customers say
"I run a small gift shop and my landlord asked for a risk assessment before renewing the lease. Anyrisks covered everything — customer trips, manual handling, lone working, fire safety. Professional document, sorted in minutes."
Claire T.
Gift shop owner, Cotswolds
"We have three convenience stores and needed individual assessments for each site. Anyrisks let me describe the specific layout and lone working patterns for each shop — all three done in under an hour."
Raj P.
Convenience store operator, West Midlands
"My insurance company requested a risk assessment after a customer slip claim. Anyrisks gave me a proper document with all the regulations referenced — exactly what the insurer needed to see."
Emma L.
Boutique owner, Brighton
Anyrisks vs DIY templates
| Anyrisks | DIY / Templates | |
|---|---|---|
| Written in full — not a blank form | ✓ | ✗ |
| Tailored to your shop type and layout | ✓ | ✗ |
| Covers customer and staff risks | ✓ | Sometimes |
| Lone working controls included | ✓ | ✗ |
| Fire safety and emergency procedures | ✓ | ✗ |
| References MHSWR 1999 and relevant regulations | ✓ | ✗ |
| Ready in under 2 minutes | ✓ | ✗ |
| Instant PDF and Word download | ✓ | Sometimes |
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a risk assessment for a small independent shop?
Yes — under Regulation 3 of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, every employer and self-employed person must complete a suitable and sufficient risk assessment. Shop size is irrelevant. If you employ anyone (including family members), or if customers or contractors enter your premises, a written risk assessment is legally required.
Does it cover both customer-facing risks and staff risks?
Yes — shop risk assessments cover customer slips, trips and falls, manual handling by staff, working alone during opening or closing, cash handling, aggressive customers, display security, and fire safety. All hazards relevant to retail shop operations are included.
Can I use it for a convenience store or newsagent?
Yes — describe your shop type (convenience store, newsagent, boutique, gift shop, hardware shop) and the specific activities (restocking shelves, handling deliveries, operating tills, lone working). The assessment will be tailored to your shop's operations.
Does it include lone working for shop staff?
Yes — if you or your staff work alone (early morning, late evening, or single-person shifts), mention it and the assessment will include lone working controls, personal safety alarms, check-in procedures, and cash handling security measures.
Is it accepted by landlords and insurers?
Yes — Anyrisks produces a professional, regulation-referenced risk assessment in the standard format expected by commercial landlords, insurance providers, and local authority trading standards officers. The document is fully compliant with UK health and safety law.
How quickly can I get my shop risk assessment?
Under 2 minutes. Describe your shop type, layout, activities, and any specific concerns (working alone, deliveries, aggressive customers). Anyrisks generates a complete, compliant shop risk assessment instantly.
Does it cover display equipment and shelving?
Yes — if you mention display fixtures, shelving, mannequins, or hanging displays, the assessment will include safe installation, weight limits, customer trip hazards, and staff manual handling when restocking or rearranging displays.
Can I use it for a market stall or pop-up shop?
Yes — describe the temporary nature of your retail space, whether it's indoor or outdoor, and any specific hazards (weather, uneven ground, portable equipment). The assessment will reflect the temporary and mobile nature of market or pop-up retail.
Also see: The Ultimate Guide to Risk Assessment · Do I Need a Risk Assessment? · Risk Assessment Legal Requirements · Risk Assessment Generator