This risk assessment template will help you identify potential risks in your home-based setting.

Add or delete rows and edit the table as appropriate to reflect the different rooms in your home. Your risk assessment should cover all areas, including the outdoors. Don’t forget to include resources and toys both indoors and outside.

Consider getting down to a child’s eye level to see if you notice risks that might not be obvious from adult height.

Example:

Kitchen
Date / Identify Hazards / Decide who might be harmed and how
(Take account of age and stage of development) / What are the risks? / What can be done to remove or lessen the risk? / Action taken / Recheck: when and how
1/8/17 / Sharp knives / Minded children could open the drawer and take out a knife / Knives present a high risk of harm if the children access these unsupervised. / Remove sharp knives and place in a drawer that is out of reach of children. / I put the knives into a block and placed it into a wall cupboard out of reach of the children. / Visual check on a daily basis
Kitchen
Date / Identify Hazards / Decide who might be harmed and how
(Take account of age and stage of development) / What are the risks? / What can be done to remove or lessen the risk? / Action taken / Recheck: when and how
Living Room
Date / Identify Hazards / Decide who might be harmed and how
(Take account of age and stage of development) / What are the risks? / What can be done to remove or lessen the risk? / Action / Recheck
Entrance, hallway, stairs
Date / Identify Hazards / Decide who might be harmed and how
(Take account of age and stage of development) / What are the risks? / What can be done to remove or lessen the risk? / Action / Recheck
Bathroom
Date / Identify Hazards / Decide who might be harmed and how
(Take account of age and stage of development) / What are the risks? / What can be done to remove or lessen the risk? / Action / Recheck
Upstairs
Date / Identify Hazards / Decide who might be harmed and how
(Take account of age and stage of development) / What are the risks? / What can be done to remove or lessen the risk? / Action / Recheck
Outdoor area/garden
Date / Identify Hazards / Decide who might be harmed and how
(Take account of age and stage of development) / What are the risks / What can be done to remove or lessen the risk / Action / Recheck
Other areas
Date / Identify Hazards / Decide who might be harmed and how
(Take account of age and stage of development) / What are the risks? / What can be done to remove or lessen the risk? / Action / Recheck

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