All employers must conduct a risk assessment to identify hazards and risks in their workplace. A sample risk assessment is provided for a common hazard of being on a ladder. The sample lists the hazard, who could be harmed and how, existing controls, and any additional actions needed. Employers are instructed to use this template to identify the real priorities for their business, complete the risk assessment table, and review and update it as needed. Example risk assessments from different industries are available online to help guide the process.

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: Lighting Date ofrisk assessment: 01/04/18
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?
Danger
rating 1-5
(5= highest)
Being up a Ladder You or anyone in the room at the time.
You could fall off the ladder and could
break a bone or land on someone else.
The ladder could also fall onto
someone.
Having someone spotting the ladder when
someone is up there to steady it and make
sure the person atthe top doesn’tfall.
The person atthe top needs to use 3 points
of contact in order to stay stable when
rigging.
Warn people that knocking the ladder
could cause it to fall. Have someone
watching it if no one is near it.
The person
going up the
ladder and the
spotter.
From now on
4
Opening and
carrying a closed
ladder
Could damage set/other objects in the
room.Could hit someone or drop the
ladder on your foot.
2 people carrying the ladder one at one end
and one at the other. Staying away from
other people and warning them when
coming towards them.Placing the ladder on
the ground and then moving set/ objects out
of the way before opening/carrying the
ladder.
Communicate with the other person
holding the ladder as to when you
need to re-adjustthe way you are
holding itor need a quick restso that
you don’tdrop it on your foot or the
other persons.
The ones
carrying the
ladder
From now on
2
Manual handling a
ladder
The ladder to tip and fall onto someone
or damage set.You could hit a lamp in
the rig, damaging the bulb.
2 people moving the ladder one at the front
and one at the back. Both watching where
they are walking and paying close attention
to not letting it tip one way. Also they make
sure there are no other people near them
when they move.
Communicate with the other person
and get one to watch (more
predominantly) at the top of the
ladder- making sure the top doesn’t
hit a lamp!- and the other watching
the surroundings- people,setetc.
The ones
handling the
ladder
From now on
2
Lamps/equipment You could drop the lamp from standing
on the ground or up the ladder which
could fatally damage the lamp or hit
someone beneath the ladder. A lamp
hitting someone on the head could
cause horrendous injury.
The person spotting wears a hard hatto
protect themselves and ifthe person atthe
top of the ladder shouts ‘heads!’ then it
alerts everyone to a lamp or piece of
equipmentdropping from a height.
Have the minimal people needed in
the room/anywhere near the ladder.
The person
rigging and the
spotter.
From now on
5

2. Safety chains and G
clamps
If not secure they could cause the lamp
to fall onto someone either before,after
or even during the performance.This
could cause serious injury.
Making sure the safety chain is full fastened
and the G clamp is tightened fully to insure it
stays on the bar.
If unsure getsomeone else to go up
the ladder and check that it is safe.
The person
rigging the
lamp.
From now on
5
You should review your risk assessmentifyou think it mightno longer be valid (e.g. following an accidentin the workplace or if there are any significantchanges to hazards,such as new work
equipmentor 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 08/14