All employers must conduct a risk assessment to identify hazards, though small businesses with fewer than five employees do not need to write anything down. The document provides a sample risk assessment for a school setting up a stage to illustrate what a risk assessment should include. It identifies potential hazards like slips, trips and falls from ladders, falling objects from heights, and ladders collapsing or falling. For each hazard, it suggests how to reduce the risks, such as keeping work areas clear, using spotters, and wearing protective equipment like hard hats. Employers are advised to review and update their risk assessments periodically or when changes occur.

1. Risk assessment
All employers must conduct a risk assessment. If you have fewer than five employees you don't have to write anything down.
We have startedoff the risk assessment for you by including a sample entry for a common hazard to illustrate what is expected (the sample entry is takenfrom an office-based business).
Look at how this might apply to your business, continue by identifying the hazards that are the real priorities in your case and complete the table to suit.
You can print and save this template so you can easily review and update the information as and when required. You may find our example risk assessments a useful guide
(http://www.hse.gov.uk/risk/casestudies).Simply choose the example closest to your business.
Companyname: Ringwood School (Setting Up The Stage) Date ofrisk assessment:
What are the
hazards?
Who might be harmedand how? What are you already doing? Do you need to do anything else to
control this risk?
Action by
who?
Action by
when?
Done
Slips,trips and falls Staff, technical crew and students may
be injured ifthey trip over objects or slip
on spillages.
A studentclimbing the ladder mightslip
off one of the steps,falling down the
ladder and possiblyinjuring the spotter if
they do not have proper control of the
ladder
When a studentis at the top of the
ladder they may fall from there as well
All areas well lit,including stairs.
Wearing appropriate footwear for climbing
ladders
Not wearing clothing which is too restrictive
on the ladders
Working area kept clear of objects
surrounding ladder
Have a spotter keeping hold of the
ladder so it does notshake
Do not walk too quickly up a ladder
When working with two hands,the
technical crew up the ladder needs to
keep their knees locked in place on
the top steps ofthe ladder
Technical crew From now on
Falling objects Passing technical crew,students or staff
can be hit by objects falling from ladder
height,causing concussion or possibly
critical injury.
Keeping the work area clear of anyone
except for the person on the ladder and the
spotter (possiblyother technical crew)
Keep a warning sign up around the work
area
Postsomebodyaround the area to stop
anyone passing through
Anyone else who mightbe working close to
the area or in it wearing hard hats
If the technical crew is doing rigging,
make absolutelysure itis being done
properly with no chance of things
falling from the rigging
Don’tleave tools up at the top of the
ladder when a technical crew isn’tup
there
Make sure the spotter is gripping the
ladder tightly so that it does not
shake and any objects on the ladder
do not fall
Technical crew,
staff
From now on
The ladder
collapsing or falling
The person on the ladder could fall from
a height,leading to broken limbs,
concussion or worse.
The ladder could fall onto someone,
including the spotter or someone
walking through the workplace
Keeping the working area free of spillages
Warning people notto come through the
working area whilstladders are being used
When the ladder is being putup,
check all the braces are locked in,
that the ladder’s feetare firmly on the
ground (or even on the ladder) and
that a spotter is holding the ladder
Technical crew,
staff
From now on

2. You should review your risk assessmentifyou think it mightno longer be valid (eg following an accidentin the workplace or if there are any significantchanges to hazards,such as new work equipment
or work activities)
For information specific to your industry please go to http://www.hse.gov.uk.
For further information and to view our example risk assessments go to http://www.hse.gov.uk/risk/casestudies/
.
Combined risk assessment and policy template published by the Health and Safety Executive