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Wax Melt and Candle Market Seller Risk Assessment — Generated Instantly for £29
Describe your stall, your products, and the events you attend — from craft fairs and markets to schools and care homes. We generate a fully written, UK-compliant risk assessment covering fragrance oils, hot wax, stall set-up and public safety in minutes.
Used by wax melt makers, candle sellers and craft fair traders across the UK
🕯️ Selling at a school fair or care home? Mention it — we'll include controls around vulnerable groups, fragrance strength near asthma or respiratory sensitivities, and safe positioning of hot wax and warmers away from children and elderly residents.
Legal requirements for market and event traders
Under Regulation 3(1) of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, every self-employed trader and business — including one-person wax melt or candle stalls — must carry out a suitable and sufficient assessment of risks to themselves, employees and members of the public. Selling directly to the public at a stall brings the added duty of protecting visitors, including children and vulnerable adults, from harm.
The fragrance oils, dyes and additives used in wax melts and candles are classed as hazardous substances under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH), requiring assessment of storage, handling and exposure risks even for finished, packaged products carried in stock. Event organisers, schools, care homes and market operators increasingly require a written risk assessment before confirming a pitch or booking.
HSE guidance confirms that risk assessments do not need to be complicated, but they must be specific to the actual activity and venue. For more detail on when a written assessment is legally expected, see our guide to risk assessment legal requirements.
How it works
1. Describe your stall
Tell us what you sell, whether you demonstrate melting live, and the types of venues you attend — markets, craft fairs, schools or care homes. Mention if you work the stall alone.
2. Let the app take the strain
Anyrisks produces a fully written, UK-compliant risk assessment referencing COSHH 2002 and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, tailored to your venue type.
3. Instant download and use
Download as PDF and Word. Send it to the event organiser, school office or care home manager, or keep it on file for your insurer. £29, no subscription.
What it covers
Every wax melt and candle seller risk assessment is written in full — covering product, stall and venue-specific hazards.
Fragrance oil and dye handling under COSHH 2002
Burn and fire risk from live wax warmers or demonstrations
Safe display of hot or fragile items away from children
Fire safety and safe distance from ignition sources
Manual handling of stock, tables and gazebo frames
Gazebo and stall stability in wind or busy footfall
Trip hazards from cables, weights and stall edges
Additional controls for school and care home venues
Fragrance strength and respiratory sensitivity considerations
Safe storage and transport of stock and packaging
Electrical safety for any powered warmers or lighting
Public liability and customer interaction hazards
Lone working while running the stall unaccompanied
Weather-related risks for outdoor markets and fairs
Works for
From outdoor markets to school fairs and care home events, Anyrisks covers every kind of wax melt and candle selling activity.
What customers say
"I sell at school fairs most weekends and the PTA now asks for a risk assessment before confirming my table. Anyrisks gave me something proper in minutes instead of guessing at a template online."
Debbie R.
Wax melt maker and seller, Yorkshire
"I do a monthly stall at a local care home and needed something that covered elderly residents specifically. It picked up on the venue and included the right controls straight away."
Karen T.
Candle and gift trader, North West
"Between Christmas markets and craft fairs I attend dozens of events a year. Having a proper written assessment for my stall has made pitch approvals so much quicker."
Lisa M.
Home fragrance business owner, Kent
Anyrisks vs DIY templates
| Anyrisks | DIY / Templates | |
|---|---|---|
| Written in full — not a blank form | ✓ | ✗ |
| COSHH 2002 referenced for fragrance oils and dyes | ✓ | ✗ |
| Management of Health and Safety at Work Regs 1999 referenced | ✓ | ✗ |
| Tailored to schools and care home venues | ✓ | ✗ |
| Covers hot wax and warmer demonstration risks | ✓ | ✗ |
| Covers stall set-up and gazebo stability | ✓ | ✗ |
| Ready in under 2 minutes | ✓ | ✗ |
| Instant PDF and Word download | ✓ | Sometimes |
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a risk assessment to sell wax melts and candles at a market stall?
Yes. Under Regulation 3(1) of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, anyone running a stall or trading pitch — including sole traders — must assess risks to themselves, staff and the public. Many event organisers, school PTAs, care homes and craft fair organisers now ask for a written risk assessment before they will confirm your pitch.
I sell at schools and care homes — does this need to be different from a normal market stall assessment?
Yes. Selling to vulnerable groups such as children and elderly residents means additional controls are expected, including scent strength around asthma or respiratory conditions, safe display of hot or fragile items out of reach of young children, and fire safety around melted wax and any warmers used for demonstration. Describe the venue type and this will be built into the assessment.
Does the assessment cover the fragrance oils and dyes I use in my wax melts?
Yes. Fragrance oils, colour dyes and wax additives fall under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH). The assessment covers safe handling, storage, skin and inhalation exposure, and safety data for common wax melt ingredients.
What if I demonstrate melting wax live on my stall using a burner?
Mention this in your description. Live wax warmers introduce burn risk, fire risk and hot surface hazards to the public, particularly children at school events. The assessment will include controls such as safe positioning, supervision, and keeping warmers out of reach.
Does it cover gazebos, tables and stall set-up hazards?
Yes — manual handling of stock, tables and gazebo frames, trip hazards from cables and stall weights, and gazebo stability in wind are all standard hazards for market and craft fair traders and are included where relevant.
Is this suitable for public liability insurance requirements?
Many public liability insurers and event organisers ask traders to demonstrate they have assessed their risks. A written risk assessment from Anyrisks provides that documented evidence, though you should check your specific insurer's or venue's exact wording requirements.
Can I use one assessment for every event, or do I need a new one each time?
One assessment can cover your general stall operation, but if you sell at a genuinely different venue type — for example moving from an outdoor market to an indoor school hall or a care home — it is good practice to review and, where needed, generate an updated version reflecting that setting.
How quickly can I get a risk assessment before my next event?
Under 2 minutes. Describe your stall, products and the type of venues you attend, and Anyrisks generates a complete, regulation-referenced risk assessment as a PDF and Word document instantly.
Also see: The ultimate guide to risk assessment · Do I need a risk assessment? · Risk assessment legal requirements · Risk assessment generator