Risk assessment matrix builder

Draft a risk assessment: list each hazard, rate its likelihood and consequence on a 5×5 matrix, record existing and further controls, then copy or print the ranked risk register.

Figures checked 5 November 2026. Free to use, no sign-in.

Assessment

Victoria and Western Australia have their own Acts; the tool switches to them.

Hazard 1

Rating: High (3 × 4 = 12)

Risk assessment

Check before you use it

  • Consult workers when identifying hazards, assessing risks and deciding controls (s 49(a)–(b) of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (NSW)).
  • Check whether a hazard has its own regulation (for example noise, hazardous chemicals, falls, plant or manual tasks) with specific control rules.
  • Replace every [bracketed] item and delete defaults that don’t fit your workplace.
  • Check the current law and guidance from SafeWork NSW before relying on the document.
Business (PCBU)[Business name]
Task, area or activity[What is being assessed]
Assessed by[Name and position]
Workers consulted[Who was consulted]
Date assessed[Date]
Next review[Review date]
JurisdictionNew South Wales

Laid out against the risk management process in ss 34–38 of the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2025 (NSW): identify hazards (s 34), eliminate or minimise risks (s 35), use the hierarchy of control measures (s 36), maintain controls (s 37) and review them (s 38). The 5×5 matrix is a way to prioritise, not a legal scoring method. This is a draft prepared from the details entered. It does not by itself show that your obligations are met: check it against your workplace, consult the people who will use it, and update it when things change.

Summary

Hazards assessed1
Critical (15–25)0
High (10–14)1
Moderate (5–9)0
Low (1–4)0

Risk register (highest risk first)

1. Forklifts operating near pedestrians in the warehouse

Who could be harmedWarehouse staff, drivers, visitors
Likelihood3 Possible
Consequence4 Major
Risk ratingHigh (3 × 4 = 12)
ActionPut controls in place before the work continues.
Existing controlsLicensed operators; Speed limit signs
Further controlsFixed barriers separating walkways from forklift aisles; Exclusion zone at the loading dock
Responsible[Who]
Due[By when]

How controls are chosen

  1. Eliminate the hazard, so far as is reasonably practicable. This applies whatever the rating.
  2. If that isn’t reasonably practicable, minimise the risk by substitution, isolation or engineering controls (s 36(3) of the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2025 (NSW)).
  3. Then administrative controls for any remaining risk.
  4. Then personal protective equipment for any risk that still remains.

Rating scales

Likelihood

1 Rarecould happen only in exceptional circumstances
2 Unlikelycould happen but not expected
3 Possiblemight happen at some time
4 Likelywill probably happen
5 Almost certainexpected to happen regularly

Consequence

1 Insignificantno injury, or first aid not needed
2 Minorfirst aid
3 Moderatemedical treatment, time off work
4 Majorserious injury or illness, hospital admission
5 Catastrophicdeath or permanent disability

Review

Review this assessment by [review date], and also when a control isn’t working, before a change likely to create a new or different risk, when a new hazard or risk is found, when consultation shows a review is needed, or when a health and safety representative asks (s 38(2) of the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2025 (NSW)).

Sign-off

Assessed byName ____________ Signature ____________ Date ________
Approved byName ____________ Signature ____________ Date ________

Draft prepared with a free tool. Tailor it before use. General information, not legal advice.

Highlighted text in [brackets] still needs your input. The matrix ranks risks; it doesn’t decide what is reasonably practicable. Nothing you type is saved or sent. General information, not legal advice.

How this works

Each hazard gets a score from 1 to 25 (likelihood × consequence) and a band: Low 1–4, Moderate 5–9, High 10–14, Critical 15–25. The register lists the highest risks first, with the action each band calls for and the order controls must be considered in (rr 34–38 of the WHS Regulations).

In Victoria the document follows s 20 of the OHS Act 2004, which requires regard to how likely a risk is and how much harm it could do.

Not included: hazard-specific requirements (noise, chemicals, plant, falls and others have their own regulations), residual risk ratings and health monitoring.

Legal basis

Checked against these sources on 5 November 2026. Spotted a figure that looks wrong? Tell us.

Questions

How is the risk rating worked out?

Likelihood (1 rare to 5 almost certain) is multiplied by consequence (1 insignificant to 5 catastrophic). A score of 1–4 is Low, 5–9 Moderate, 10–14 High and 15–25 Critical. Equal scores are ranked by consequence, so a rare but catastrophic risk sits above a likely but minor one.

Is the 5×5 matrix required by law?

No. The regulations require you to identify hazards, eliminate risks so far as is reasonably practicable, otherwise minimise them using the hierarchy of controls, and keep the controls working and under review. A matrix is a common way to decide what to deal with first.

Does a Low rating mean I don’t need to do anything?

No. The duty to eliminate, or otherwise minimise, a risk so far as is reasonably practicable applies to every risk. The rating tells you how urgently to act, and every hazard still starts at elimination.

When must I review a risk assessment?

Under r 38 of the model WHS Regulations: when a control isn’t working, before a change that could create a new or different risk, when a new hazard is found, when consultation shows a review is needed, or when a health and safety representative asks. Victoria’s hazard-specific regulations set their own review triggers.

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