Does an office need a risk assessment?

Yes. Every employer must assess the risks to staff and others. If you have five or more employees the significant findings must be written down. An office assessment is short, but it is still required.

How often should an office risk assessment be reviewed?

At least once a year, and sooner if the office moves, the layout changes, new equipment arrives, staff numbers change, or there is an accident or near miss.

Do home workers need to be included?

Yes. Staff who work from home are still your employees. The main risks are workstation set up and isolation, so ask each home worker about their set up and provide equipment where it is needed.

Office risk assessment: completed example and free template

Why these controls

The assessment is short because the hazards are ordinary. That is the point: HSE expects a written assessment where there are five or more employees, and an office one should take an hour, not a day.

Display screen equipment is the hazard most likely to cause a problem over time. The control that matters is the workstation assessment for each regular user, followed by fixing what it finds, usually a chair, a screen riser or a laptop stand.

Fire is the hazard with the worst outcome. The office shares the building with two other tenants, so the assessment records that the landlord's fire risk assessment covers the common parts and the company's own procedure covers its floor.

Hazard descriptions and controls follow HSE guidance: HSE, Slips and trips; HSE INDG163, Risk assessment: a brief guide to controlling risks in the workplace; HSE, Display screen equipment; HSE INDG36, Working with display screen equipment; HSE, Electrical safety at work; HSE INDG236, Maintaining portable electric equipment in low risk environments; HSE, Fire safety; GOV.UK, Fire safety in the workplace; HSE, Manual handling at work; HSE INDG143, Manual handling at work: a brief guide; HSE, Work related stress. Checked 15 September 2026.

This document is a starting point. The employer must check it against the actual workplace, the product safety data sheet and current HSE guidance before relying on it. It is not an HSE approved document.

Risk assessment

Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, regulation 3

Assessment numberRA-001

Revision1

Date of assessment15 September 2026

Last reviewed15 September 2026

Next review15 September 2027

Company or site	Hartley and Grice Accountants Ltd
Activity	Office work
Location	First floor office, 42 Market Street. Open plan office, two meeting rooms, kitchen, store room
Assessor	Sam Okafor
Reviewed by	Sam Okafor
Approved by	—

1. The activity

What is done	General office work: desk based work at computers, meetings, use of printers and kitchen, receiving deliveries of stationery and files, occasional client visits.
Who does it, and who else could be affected	Fourteen office staff, two of whom work from home three days a week. Clients visit two or three times a week. Cleaners attend after hours. Employees, Visitors, Contractors

2. Hazards at a glance

Hazard	Before controls	With controls
1. Slips, trips and falls on the same level	Medium 9	Low 6
2. Display screen equipment and desk work	Medium 8	Low 4
3. Electrical equipment and installations	Medium 8	Low 4
4. Fire	Medium 10	Low 5
5. Manual handling of loads	Medium 9	Low 4
6. Work related stress	Medium 9	Low 6

3. Hazards, who could be harmed and the controls in place

1. Slips, trips and falls on the same level

What could happen	Sprains, fractures and head injuries from slipping on wet or contaminated floors, or tripping over cables, uneven surfaces, boxes and trailing leads. Slips and trips are the most common cause of injury at work.
Who could be harmed	All staff and visitors. The kitchen floor and the entrance in wet weather are the problem areas
Controls in place	Spills are cleaned up straight away and the wet area is signed or cordoned until it is dry Walkways are kept clear of boxes, stock and equipment, and cables are routed away from walkways or covered Lighting is good enough to see the floor, including on stairs and outside at night Damaged flooring, loose mats and worn steps are reported and repaired Stairs have a handrail, the edge of each step is visible, and nothing is stored on them Entrance matting stops rain being walked in, and outside paths are gritted in icy weather
Risk before controls	Medium, 9 out of 25 (likelihood 3 × severity 3)
Risk with controls	Low, 6 out of 25 (likelihood 2 × severity 3)

Follows HSE, Slips and trips; HSE INDG163, Risk assessment: a brief guide to controlling risks in the workplace.

2. Display screen equipment and desk work

What could happen	Upper limb pain, back and neck pain, eye strain and headaches from working at a screen for long periods with a poor set up or without breaks.
Who could be harmed	All fourteen staff use a screen for most of the day, including the two home workers
Controls in place	Every regular screen user has done a workstation assessment and the problems it found have been fixed Chairs are adjustable, screens are at eye level and an arm's length away, and laptops used for long periods have a separate keyboard, mouse and stand Staff take short breaks away from the screen and change task through the day Staff know they can ask for an eye test paid for by the employer, and glasses if they are needed for screen work Staff know to report aches, pains or eye strain early, and reports are acted on
Risk before controls	Medium, 8 out of 25 (likelihood 4 × severity 2)
Risk with controls	Low, 4 out of 25 (likelihood 2 × severity 2)

Follows HSE, Display screen equipment; HSE INDG36, Working with display screen equipment.

3. Electrical equipment and installations

What could happen	Electric shock and burns from damaged leads, plugs and equipment, faulty installations or water near electrics. Fire from overloaded sockets and faulty equipment.
Who could be harmed	Staff who use electrical equipment, and anyone in the building if a fault starts a fire
Controls in place	Staff look at plugs, leads and equipment before use and report anything damaged, which is then taken out of use Portable equipment is inspected and, where needed, tested at intervals that match how it is used, and the record is kept Extension leads and adaptors are not daisy chained or overloaded, and leads are fully unwound in use Electrical equipment is kept away from water, and nothing is used with wet hands Only a competent electrician does repairs or alterations; staff do not open equipment or replace fuses without training
Risk before controls	Medium, 8 out of 25 (likelihood 2 × severity 4)
Risk with controls	Low, 4 out of 25 (likelihood 1 × severity 4)

Follows HSE, Electrical safety at work; HSE INDG236, Maintaining portable electric equipment in low risk environments.

4. Fire

What could happen	Burns, smoke inhalation and death if a fire starts and people cannot get out. Sources of ignition include electrical faults, cooking, heaters, smoking and hot work; fuel includes waste, packaging, furnishings and flammable liquids.
Who could be harmed	Everyone on the floor. One member of staff uses a wheelchair and has a personal evacuation plan
Controls in place	A fire risk assessment has been done for the premises and its actions are complete or in hand Escape routes and fire exits are kept clear and unlocked while people are inside, and exit signs are visible There is a way to raise the alarm that everyone can hear, and it is tested regularly Extinguishers are provided for the type of fire likely, serviced yearly, and staff know when not to use them Staff know the evacuation procedure and the assembly point, and a drill is held at least once a year Heaters, cooking equipment and electrical equipment are turned off when not in use and are not left unattended Anyone who needs help to leave has a personal evacuation plan agreed with them The landlord's fire risk assessment covers the common parts and stairs; ours covers the first floor
Risk before controls	Medium, 10 out of 25 (likelihood 2 × severity 5)
Risk with controls	Low, 5 out of 25 (likelihood 1 × severity 5)

Follows HSE, Fire safety; GOV.UK, Fire safety in the workplace.

5. Manual handling of loads

What could happen	Back injury, strains and hernias from lifting, carrying, pushing and pulling loads that are heavy, awkward, or handled often. Musculoskeletal injuries build up over time as well as happening in one lift.
Who could be harmed	Reception staff who receive deliveries of paper and archive boxes
Controls in place	Loads are delivered to where they are used, and lifting is designed out where possible Trolleys, sack trucks or other lifting aids are provided and used for heavy or repeated loads Heavy loads are split into smaller ones or lifted by two people Heavy items are stored between knee and shoulder height, and the heaviest at waist height
Risk before controls	Medium, 9 out of 25 (likelihood 3 × severity 3)
Risk with controls	Low, 4 out of 25 (likelihood 2 × severity 2)

Follows HSE, Manual handling at work; HSE INDG143, Manual handling at work: a brief guide.

6. Work related stress

What could happen	Anxiety, depression, burnout and physical illness from excessive demands, lack of control, poor support, unclear roles, poor relationships and badly managed change.
Who could be harmed	All staff, and particularly those with high workloads, lone workers and those dealing with difficult people
Controls in place	Managers talk to staff regularly about workload and how they are, and act on what they hear Workloads and deadlines are realistic, and staff can say when they are not Everyone knows what their job is, who they report to and what is expected of them Bullying and harassment are not tolerated, and there is a way to raise a concern that staff trust
Risk before controls	Medium, 9 out of 25 (likelihood 3 × severity 3)
Risk with controls	Low, 6 out of 25 (likelihood 2 × severity 3)

Follows HSE, Work related stress.

4. Further action required

Slips, trips and falls on the same level: Move routine floor cleaning to quiet times and use a method that leaves floors dry.Owner: ________. By ________
Slips, trips and falls on the same level: Provide slip resistant footwear for staff who work on floors that are often wet.Owner: ________. By ________
Display screen equipment and desk work: Check the home working set up of each remote worker and provide equipment where it is needed.Owner: ________. By ________
Electrical equipment and installations: Book an inspection of the fixed electrical installation by a competent electrician.Owner: ________. By ________
Electrical equipment and installations: Fit RCD protection for equipment used outdoors or near water.Owner: ________. By ________
Fire: Clear combustible waste and packaging away from heat and electrics, and store flammable liquids properly.Owner: ________. By ________
Manual handling of loads: Give staff who lift regularly practical manual handling training and keep a record.Owner: ________. By ________
Manual handling of loads: Clear and shorten the routes loads are carried along.Owner: ________. By ________
Manual handling of loads: Check who is doing the lifting and take heavy loads away from anyone with a health reason not to lift.Owner: ________. By ________
Work related stress: Explain changes to staff before they happen and give them a chance to ask questions.Owner: ________. By ________
Work related stress: Tell staff where to get support and make sure managers know how to refer someone.Owner: ________. By ________
Ask the two home workers to complete a workstation assessment and order a laptop stand and keyboard for eachOwner: Office manager. By 31 October 2026
Book the five yearly fixed wiring inspection; the last certificate is dated 2021Owner: Office manager. By 30 November 2026

5. Notes

Cleaners are employed by the landlord and have their own assessment. The store room is kept locked and only reception staff use the step stool.

Hazard descriptions and controls drawn from HSE guidance: HSE, Slips and trips; HSE INDG163, Risk assessment: a brief guide to controlling risks in the workplace; HSE, Display screen equipment; HSE INDG36, Working with display screen equipment; HSE, Electrical safety at work; HSE INDG236, Maintaining portable electric equipment in low risk environments; HSE, Fire safety; GOV.UK, Fire safety in the workplace; HSE, Manual handling at work; HSE INDG143, Manual handling at work: a brief guide; HSE, Work related stress. This assessment follows the five steps in HSE guidance on risk assessment. It is a starting point; the employer must review it against the actual workplace before relying on it. Review by the next review date, and sooner if the activity, the equipment or the people doing it change, or after an accident or near miss.

Office risk assessment

Why these controls

1. The activity

2. Hazards at a glance

3. Hazards, who could be harmed and the controls in place

4. Further action required

5. Notes

Hazards in this assessment

Common questions

Other completed examples

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