A workplace risk assessment template is a structured document that helps UK employers identify workplace hazards, evaluate the likelihood and severity of harm, and record the control measures needed to eliminate or reduce risk. Under Regulation 3(1) of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 (MHSWR 1999), every employer must carry out a suitable and sufficient assessment of workplace risks — and where five or more people are employed, the significant findings must be recorded in writing. A good template simplifies this legal duty by providing a consistent framework that ensures nothing is missed.
What a workplace risk assessment template must include
A legally compliant workplace risk assessment template must capture the minimum information required under MHSWR 1999 and HSE guidance. At a minimum, the template must include fields for:
- Activity or area being assessed — be specific: "reception desk" rather than "office", "deep fryer station" rather than "kitchen"
- Date of assessment and date of next review — Regulation 3(3) requires review when the assessment may no longer be valid
- Name of assessor and their job title — demonstrates the assessment was carried out by a competent person
- Hazards identified — what could cause harm (wet floor, manual handling, electrical equipment, hazardous substances, working at height, lone working, violence, noise, vibration)
- Who might be harmed and how — employees, contractors, visitors, vulnerable groups (young workers, pregnant workers, those with disabilities), members of the public
- Existing control measures — what is already in place to manage the risk
- Risk rating — typically a matrix combining likelihood (low/medium/high) and severity (minor/moderate/major), resulting in a risk level (low/medium/high)
- Additional controls required — what further action is needed to reduce the risk to an acceptable level
- Person responsible and target completion date — assigning accountability is critical for implementation
- Residual risk rating — the expected risk level after additional controls are implemented
Templates that omit any of these fields are unlikely to produce a suitable and sufficient assessment as defined in MHSWR 1999.
Legal requirement to carry out workplace risk assessments
The legal duty to carry out workplace risk assessments is found in Regulation 3(1) of MHSWR 1999, which states: "Every employer shall make a suitable and sufficient assessment of the risks to the health and safety of his employees to which they are exposed whilst at work; and the risks to the health and safety of persons not in his employment arising out of or in connection with the conduct by him of his undertaking."
This duty applies to all employers, regardless of size. Self-employed persons have a parallel duty under Regulation 3(2). Where an employer has five or more employees, Regulation 3(6) requires the significant findings of the assessment and any group of employees identified as being especially at risk to be recorded in writing. In practice, recording all risk assessments in writing is recommended as best practice regardless of employee numbers — it provides evidence of compliance and a basis for training and induction.
Sector-specific regulations impose additional risk assessment obligations. The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH) require a COSHH risk assessment before using hazardous substances. The Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 require assessment of manual handling tasks. The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requires a fire risk assessment for all non-domestic premises. The Work at Height Regulations 2005 require assessment of all work at height activities.
The 5-step process for completing the template
HSE guidance breaks down the risk assessment process into five steps. A good workplace risk assessment template is structured around these steps.
Step 1: Identify the hazards
Walk around the workplace systematically. Look for anything that has the potential to cause harm: slips, trips and falls (uneven flooring, wet surfaces, trailing cables, poor lighting); manual handling (lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling heavy or awkward loads); machinery and equipment (moving parts, hot surfaces, electrical hazards, noise); hazardous substances (cleaning products, paints, solvents, dusts, biological agents); working at height (ladders, scaffolds, fragile roofs, mezzanine floors); fire (ignition sources, flammable materials, blocked escape routes); violence and aggression (dealing with the public, lone working, handling cash); display screen equipment (prolonged screen use, poor workstation setup); and stress and mental health (excessive workload, bullying, lack of control over work).
Consult your employees — they are often the best source of information about day-to-day hazards. Review accident and near-miss records. Check manufacturers' instructions for equipment and safety data sheets for substances.
Step 2: Decide who might be harmed and how
Consider all groups who could be exposed to each hazard. Employees (including part-time, temporary, and agency workers) are the primary group, but you must also consider contractors and subcontractors working on site, visitors and members of the public, vulnerable groups such as young workers (under 18), expectant and new mothers, people with disabilities, and workers unfamiliar with the workplace or task. For each hazard, describe the realistic harm that could result: minor injury (bruising, small cuts), moderate injury (fractures, minor burns, strains requiring time off work), major injury (amputations, serious fractures, loss of consciousness, defined under RIDDOR), or long-term health effects (occupational asthma, hearing loss, vibration white finger, work-related stress).
Step 3: Evaluate the risks and decide on precautions
For each hazard, assess the likelihood of harm occurring (considering existing controls) and the potential severity. Use a simple risk matrix: likelihood × severity = risk rating. Then apply the hierarchy of controls mandated by MHSWR 1999 Schedule 1: (1) eliminate the hazard if possible, (2) substitute with something less hazardous, (3) use engineering controls (guards, barriers, ventilation), (4) use administrative controls (safe systems of work, training, supervision, rotation), (5) provide personal protective equipment (PPE) as a last resort. Always work through this hierarchy in order — you must justify why higher-level controls are not reasonably practicable before relying on lower ones.
Step 4: Record your findings and implement them
Complete the template with all the information gathered in steps 1–3. The template becomes the written record required under MHSWR 1999 Regulation 3(6). Communicate the findings to all affected employees. Implement the control measures identified — assigning responsibility and deadlines for each action. Provide any necessary training (for example, manual handling training, use of PPE, emergency procedures). Make the completed assessment available to employees and their representatives, and to enforcement officers on request.
Step 5: Review the assessment and update if necessary
Under Regulation 3(3), the assessment must be reviewed if there is reason to suspect it is no longer valid or there has been a significant change. Specific triggers for review include a workplace accident, near-miss or dangerous occurrence; introduction of new equipment, substances, or work processes; changes to the workplace layout or environment; changes in the workforce (new vulnerable workers, changes in roles); receipt of an HSE enforcement notice; and new information about a hazard (revised safety data sheets, updated HSE guidance). As a minimum, review workplace risk assessments annually even if no changes have occurred.
Common workplace hazards to include in the template
A comprehensive workplace risk assessment template must prompt the assessor to consider all common workplace hazards. The following hazards are found in the majority of UK workplaces and must be systematically assessed.
Slips, trips and falls
Slips, trips and falls are the single most common cause of workplace injury in the UK. According to HSE statistics for 2023/24, slips, trips and falls on the same level accounted for 32 per cent of all non-fatal injuries to employees. Common causes include wet or contaminated floors (spills, cleaning, weather conditions tracked indoors), uneven or damaged flooring (loose tiles, worn carpet, potholes in car parks), trailing cables and obstructions in walkways, poor lighting, and unsuitable footwear. Control measures include regular housekeeping and immediate spill cleanup, high-visibility warning signs for wet floors, adequate lighting in all circulation areas, cable management (trunking, overhead routing), and requiring closed, slip-resistant footwear in high-risk areas such as kitchens.
Manual handling
Manual handling injuries account for approximately 18 per cent of all workplace injuries reported under RIDDOR. The Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 Regulation 4(1)(a) requires employers to avoid the need for hazardous manual handling so far as is reasonably practicable. Where it cannot be avoided, Regulation 4(1)(b) requires a suitable and sufficient assessment. Common manual handling hazards include lifting heavy loads (repeated lifting of loads over 20kg for men, 15kg for women increases injury risk), lifting awkward loads (bulky, difficult to grip, unbalanced), pushing and pulling (trolleys, wheelbarrows, manual pallet trucks), repetitive handling (assembly line work, order picking), and handling in constrained or awkward postures. Control measures include mechanisation (hoists, sack trucks, pallet trucks, conveyors), redesigning tasks to reduce load weight or frequency, training employees in safe manual handling techniques (keep load close, bend knees, avoid twisting), and providing handling aids (grips, team lifting for heavy items).
Working at height
Falls from height remain one of the biggest causes of workplace fatalities in the UK. The Work at Height Regulations 2005 define work at height as work in any place where, if there were no precautions in place, a person could fall a distance liable to cause personal injury. This includes ladders, scaffolding, flat roofs, mezzanine floors, and working near fragile surfaces. Regulation 6 requires work at height to be avoided where reasonably practicable (for example, assemble structures at ground level rather than at height). Where it cannot be avoided, Regulation 6(3) requires measures to prevent falls (edge protection, guardrails, working platforms) and, where prevention is not possible, measures to minimise the distance and consequences of a fall (safety nets, airbags). Ladders and stepladders may only be used for work at height where Regulation 6(5) is satisfied — the work is of short duration, the risk is low, and it is not reasonably practicable to use safer equipment.
Hazardous substances (COSHH)
COSHH requires a specific assessment of any work that exposes employees to substances hazardous to health. Common examples in general workplaces include cleaning products (bleach, degreasers, oven cleaners), paints and solvents, toners and printer inks, dusts (wood dust, flour dust, silica), and biological agents (Legionella in water systems, waste handling). Regulation 6(1) of COSHH requires employers to prevent exposure to hazardous substances or, where prevention is not reasonably practicable, adequately control exposure. Control measures follow the same hierarchy: substitution (replace solvent-based products with water-based alternatives), engineering controls (local exhaust ventilation, enclosed systems), administrative controls (limit exposure time, rotate workers), and PPE (gloves, respirators, eye protection). Safety data sheets (SDS) provided by suppliers are the starting point for any COSHH assessment.
Fire
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requires a fire risk assessment for all non-domestic premises. This is separate from the general workplace risk assessment but must be cross-referenced. Fire hazards include ignition sources (electrical equipment, hot work, smoking, cooking), flammable materials (paper, cardboard, textiles, flammable liquids and gases), oxygen sources (compressed oxygen cylinders, oxidising chemicals), and blocked or inadequate escape routes. Control measures include removing or reducing ignition sources (PAT testing, hot work permits, no-smoking policies), storing flammable materials safely, maintaining clear and well-signed escape routes, providing adequate fire detection and alarm systems, providing appropriate fire extinguishers and training staff in their use, and conducting regular fire drills.
Electricity
Electrical hazards are present in almost every workplace. The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 impose absolute duties to ensure electrical systems are safe. Common electrical hazards include damaged or frayed cables, overloaded sockets and extension leads, use of electrical equipment near water, lack of residual current devices (RCDs) on portable equipment, and work on or near live electrical systems. Control measures include portable appliance testing (PAT) at appropriate intervals, visual inspection of equipment before use, use of 110V equipment or battery tools in construction and outdoor environments, installation of RCDs on all socket outlets, and ensuring only competent persons (electricians) carry out electrical work.
Display screen equipment (DSE)
Prolonged use of display screen equipment (computers, laptops, tablets used regularly as part of the job) can cause musculoskeletal disorders and eye strain. The Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992 require employers to carry out a DSE workstation assessment for users (employees who use DSE for an hour or more continuously on most days). The assessment must cover the screen (adjustable, no glare or reflections), keyboard and mouse (positioned to allow comfortable posture, wrists straight), chair (adjustable height, backrest supports lumbar region), desk (adequate space, appropriate height), and environment (lighting appropriate, no glare from windows). Regulation 4 requires employers to plan DSE work to include regular breaks or changes of activity. Regulation 5 requires provision of eye tests on request and corrective glasses if special glasses are needed specifically for DSE work.
Lone working
Lone workers are those who work by themselves without close or direct supervision — for example, home workers, mobile workers, security guards, remote site workers, and staff working early mornings or late evenings when others have left. Lone working is not prohibited, but MHSWR 1999 requires employers to consider the additional risks. These include delayed response in an emergency (medical emergency, fire, accident), violence and aggression from members of the public or intruders, inability to summon help if injured, and increased psychological stress. Control measures include risk-assessed safe systems of work for lone workers, regular check-ins (scheduled phone calls, automated check-in systems, panic alarms), restricting lone working during high-risk activities (work at height, work with hazardous substances), training in conflict resolution and personal safety, and ensuring lone workers know how to summon help (mobile phones, lone worker alarms).
Violence and aggression
Workplaces where staff interact with the public (retail, healthcare, education, hospitality, social care, enforcement roles) face risks of verbal abuse, threatening behaviour, and physical assault. According to the Crime Survey for England and Wales 2023/24, there were an estimated 704,000 incidents of violence at work. Control measures include environmental design (counter screens, secure cash handling, controlled access), policies and procedures (incident reporting, support for victims, zero-tolerance policies clearly communicated), training (conflict resolution, de-escalation techniques, breakaway techniques), lone working controls, and adequate staffing levels during high-risk periods.
Risk rating and risk matrices in workplace assessments
A risk rating is a semi-quantitative measure that combines the likelihood of a hazard causing harm with the severity of that harm. The most common approach is a simple 3×3 risk matrix:
Likelihood: Low (unlikely to occur), Medium (could occur occasionally), High (likely to occur or has occurred in the past)
Severity: Minor (minor injury, no time off work), Moderate (injury requiring time off work, reportable under RIDDOR), Major (fatality, permanent disability, multiple injuries)
Risk rating: The combination of likelihood and severity produces a risk rating: Low (acceptable with existing controls), Medium (additional controls should be considered), High (immediate action required, stop work until controls are in place)
The risk matrix should be applied twice: first to assess the inherent risk (the risk before any controls are applied), then to assess the residual risk (the risk after existing controls are considered). Additional controls are then proposed to bring the residual risk to an acceptable level. The aim is not to eliminate all risk — which is rarely practicable — but to reduce risk so far as is reasonably practicable, the legal standard under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 Section 2(1).
Who is competent to complete a workplace risk assessment?
MHSWR 1999 Regulation 7(1) requires every employer to appoint one or more competent persons to assist in meeting health and safety duties, including carrying out risk assessments. A competent person is defined in Regulation 7(5) as someone with sufficient training, experience, knowledge and other qualities to properly assist the employer. HSE guidance (HSG65) indicates that competence comprises knowledge (awareness of hazards, relevant regulations, industry standards), skills (ability to apply that knowledge in practice), and experience (practical understanding of the workplace and the work being done). For straightforward, low-risk workplaces, a manager or supervisor with appropriate training (for example, IOSH Managing Safely) may be competent. For higher-risk or technically complex assessments (construction sites, chemical processes, complex machinery), a health and safety professional (for example, NEBOSH-qualified) or specialist consultant may be required. The employer remains legally responsible for ensuring risk assessments are suitable and sufficient even if they are delegated or outsourced.
Free workplace risk assessment template download vs AI-generated assessments
There are two main approaches to obtaining a workplace risk assessment template in the UK: downloading a generic template (often free from HSE or trade association websites) or using an AI-powered risk assessment generator such as Anyrisks. Both approaches have advantages and limitations.
Free downloadable templates
Free templates — such as those provided by HSE in guidance documents or by sector bodies — provide the correct structure and prompt the assessor to consider the right questions. They are suitable for straightforward, low-risk workplaces where the hazards are well understood and the controls are standard. However, free templates are by definition generic: they do not prompt consideration of site-specific hazards, they do not cite the specific regulations applicable to the industry, and they require the user to have sufficient knowledge to complete every field correctly. A blank template in the hands of someone without health and safety training often results in an assessment that is vague, incomplete, or overly reliant on PPE rather than higher-order controls. HSE inspectors routinely reject assessments that are clearly copy-pasted from templates with minimal customisation.
AI-generated workplace risk assessments
AI-powered tools such as Anyrisks take a fundamentally different approach. Instead of handing the user a blank form, the system asks the user to describe their workplace or activity in natural language: the type of workplace, the tasks being carried out, the people involved, and any hazards they are already aware of. The AI then generates a complete, written risk assessment in under two minutes. The generated assessment is specific to the described activity, cites the relevant UK legislation by name and regulation number, identifies hazards the user may not have considered, applies the hierarchy of controls correctly, and is written in plain English suitable for direct use or light editing. The user still has a legal duty to review the assessment, confirm it reflects their actual workplace, and implement the control measures — but the heavy lifting of structuring the assessment and identifying relevant legal requirements is done automatically. For £29, businesses receive both a PDF and an editable Word document, with a money-back guarantee within 24 hours if the assessment does not meet their needs. This represents a significant time saving compared to researching regulations, drafting text from scratch, and formatting a document — especially for smaller businesses without in-house health and safety expertise.
How to use the workplace risk assessment template in practice
Once you have a workplace risk assessment template — whether a blank form or an AI-generated starting point — the process of completing and implementing it follows the same pattern. First, assign responsibility: identify who will carry out the assessment (must be a competent person under MHSWR 1999 Regulation 7). Second, gather information: walk the workplace, consult workers, review accident records, check manufacturers' instructions and safety data sheets. Third, complete the assessment: work through each section of the template systematically, ensuring every significant hazard is identified, every group at risk is considered, existing controls are listed, and additional controls are identified using the hierarchy of controls. Fourth, review and authorise: have the completed assessment reviewed by a manager or director with overall responsibility for health and safety — this demonstrates senior management commitment. Fifth, communicate: share the assessment with all affected employees, provide copies to team leaders and supervisors, and make it available to contractors and enforcement officers on request. Sixth, implement: ensure all identified control measures are put in place, assign responsibility and deadlines for each action, and record completion. Seventh, train: provide training to employees on the hazards identified and the control measures they must follow (for example, manual handling technique, use of PPE, emergency procedures). Eighth, monitor and review: check that controls remain effective in practice, review the assessment when circumstances change, and update it at least annually.
Legal penalties for inadequate workplace risk assessments
Failing to carry out a suitable and sufficient workplace risk assessment — or failing to implement its findings — is a criminal offence under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 Section 33. Following the introduction of the Health and Safety (Offences) Act 2008 and the Health and Safety Sentencing Guidelines 2016, penalties are significantly higher than in previous decades. For individuals, conviction can result in an unlimited fine and up to two years' imprisonment (if tried on indictment). For organisations, fines are calculated against annual turnover and the level of culpability. Very large organisations (turnover £50 million or more) convicted of a serious health and safety offence face fines starting at £3 million and can exceed £10 million in the most serious cases. Medium organisations (turnover £10–50 million) face fines starting at £500,000. Small organisations (turnover £2–10 million) face fines starting at £100,000. Micro organisations (turnover under £2 million) face lower starting points but fines can still run to tens of thousands of pounds. According to HSE statistics for 2023/24, there were 628 convictions for health and safety offences in Great Britain, with the average fine per conviction standing at £148,000. In one notable case in 2023, a manufacturing company was fined £1.2 million after an employee suffered life-changing injuries from an unguarded machine — the sentencing remarks specifically cited the absence of a suitable and sufficient risk assessment as evidence of the company's failure to take health and safety seriously.
Storing and maintaining workplace risk assessment records
Under MHSWR 1999 Regulation 3(6), employers with five or more employees must keep records of the significant findings of their risk assessments. There is no specified retention period in MHSWR 1999, but best practice is to retain assessments for at least three years after they are superseded (to cover the limitation period for civil claims). Risk assessments must be readily accessible to employees, their representatives, and HSE inspectors on request. Common storage methods include a dedicated health and safety file kept in a manager's office or HR department, a shared drive or cloud storage accessible to all managers and supervisors, and a physical folder in each workplace or department (particularly useful in multi-site organisations). Electronic storage is increasingly common and offers advantages for version control and accessibility — but a printed copy should be available on site in case of IT failure or for reference during an HSE inspection. Each risk assessment should be version-controlled: include the date of the assessment, the date of the last review, the version number, and the name of the assessor. When an assessment is revised, retain the previous version in an archive — this provides evidence of continual improvement and can be important in defending civil claims or HSE enforcement action.
When workplace risk assessments must be reviewed
MHSWR 1999 Regulation 3(3) requires risk assessments to be reviewed by the employer if there is reason to suspect they are no longer valid, or there has been a significant change in the matters to which they relate. Specific events that trigger a mandatory review include: a workplace accident or near-miss involving the hazard covered by the assessment; a dangerous occurrence reportable under RIDDOR; introduction of new work equipment, substances, or processes; changes to the workplace layout or environment (for example, office refurbishment, installation of new machinery); changes in the workforce affecting the risk profile (new young workers, pregnant workers, disabled workers, workers unfamiliar with the task); receipt of an HSE improvement or prohibition notice relating to the activity; an occupational disease diagnosis linked to workplace exposure; new information about a hazard (revised safety data sheet, updated HSE guidance, industry alert); and changes in legislation or recognised standards. Even where none of these events occur, best practice is to review all workplace risk assessments at least annually. Many organisations incorporate risk assessment review into their annual health and safety audit or management review cycle.
Industry-specific workplace risk assessment considerations
While the 5-step process and the template structure remain the same across all sectors, the specific hazards and control measures vary significantly by industry. The following examples illustrate how the workplace risk assessment template is applied in different contexts.
Office environments
Common hazards: slips, trips and falls (trailing cables, wet floors from cleaning, uneven flooring), manual handling (moving stationery boxes, furniture, archive files), display screen equipment (prolonged computer use), fire (electrical equipment, blocked escape routes, inadequate fire alarms), and stress (workload, lack of control, bullying). Controls include cable management, non-slip mats at entrances in wet weather, DSE workstation assessments for all regular users, provision of trolleys for moving heavy items, PAT testing of electrical equipment, clear escape routes and regular fire drills, and stress risk assessments where workload or organisational change is significant.
Retail and hospitality
Common hazards: slips, trips and falls (wet floors in kitchens and customer toilets, trailing cables in stockrooms), manual handling (handling deliveries, moving stock, cleaning tasks), violence and aggression (dealing with difficult customers, handling cash, working alone), fire (cooking equipment, electrical appliances, flammable packaging), working at height (accessing high shelves, changing light bulbs, window cleaning), and burns and scalds (hot food and drink preparation, hot equipment). Controls include non-slip flooring in kitchen areas, immediate cleanup of spills, team lifting for heavy deliveries, conflict resolution training for customer-facing staff, counter screens and panic alarms in high-risk roles, working alone policies including check-in systems, provision of kick-stools or stepladders rather than standing on chairs, heat-resistant gloves and aprons, and clear food safety procedures.
Construction sites
Construction is the highest-risk sector in the UK: in 2023/24, 45 construction workers were killed at work, and the rate of fatal injury in construction is around 3.5 times the all-industry average. Common hazards include working at height (scaffolding, ladders, roofs, steelwork erection), excavation and trenches (collapse, contact with underground services), mobile plant and vehicles (being struck by or run over by vehicles, rollovers), manual handling and musculoskeletal injury (repetitive lifting, working in awkward postures), noise and vibration (power tools, heavy machinery), dust (silica, wood dust, asbestos in refurbishment projects), and falling objects (materials dropped from height). The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 impose specific duties on clients, designers, principal designers, principal contractors and contractors. Construction risk assessments must be site-specific, documented in method statements, and communicated to all workers through toolbox talks. Controls include scaffold inspections by competent persons before each use, edge protection on all working platforms, safe digging procedures (CAT scans before excavation, shoring for trenches deeper than 1.2m), segregation of pedestrians and vehicles on site, mechanical aids for heavy lifting, PPE (hard hats, high-vis, safety boots, hearing protection, dust masks), and pre-start health surveillance for workers exposed to vibration or silica dust.
Healthcare settings
Healthcare workers face a unique combination of hazards. Common risks include manual handling (moving and handling patients, many of whom have limited mobility), sharps injuries (needles, scalpels, broken glass), exposure to infectious agents (blood-borne viruses, respiratory infections, C. difficile), violence and aggression (from patients, particularly in mental health and emergency settings), slips, trips and falls (wet floors in clinical areas, trailing equipment cables), and work-related stress (high workload, emotional demands, shift work). Controls include mandatory manual handling training and use of mechanical aids (hoists, slide sheets, height-adjustable beds), safe sharps disposal (sharps bins at point of use, never re-sheath needles), personal protective equipment (gloves, aprons, masks appropriate to the infection risk), vaccination programmes (hepatitis B, seasonal flu), violence reduction training (de-escalation, breakaway techniques), panic alarms, lone working policies for community staff, regular environmental audits, and access to occupational health support and staff counselling services.
Education (schools and nurseries)
Schools and nurseries must assess risks to both staff and pupils. Common hazards include slips, trips and falls (wet floors, playground surfaces, stairs), violence and aggression (behaviour management incidents, confrontation with parents), manual handling (moving furniture, PE equipment, assisting young children or pupils with disabilities), outdoor play (climbing equipment, rough play, sun exposure), food preparation in school kitchens, science experiments involving chemicals or heat, Design and Technology (use of machinery, hot equipment), and off-site visits. Controls include non-slip surfaces and immediate cleanup of spills, behaviour management policies and physical intervention training for staff working with pupils with challenging behaviour, manual handling training and provision of hoists where pupils require physical assistance, impact-absorbing surfaces under climbing equipment, supervision ratios appropriate to age and activity, COSHH assessments for science and D&T, machine guarding and pupil training before use of equipment, and detailed risk assessments for every off-site visit including adventurous activities.