What is Risk Assessment — and Why Does It Matter?

Under UK law, every employer is required to protect employees and others from harm. One of the core legal duties under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 is conducting risk assessments — a structured process that helps businesses identify hazards, assess risk, and take action.

In simple terms, risk assessment is about answering three key questions:

1. What could go wrong? (Identify hazards)
2. How bad could it be — and how likely is it? (Assess the risk)
3. What are you doing to prevent it — and is it enough? (Control the risk)

This isn’t just a box-ticking exercise. Done well, risk assessment helps reduce accidents, protect workers, and avoid fines or enforcement action.

The Law Behind It

Every business — regardless of size — must take proportionate steps to assess and control risks. For low-risk environments, this can be fairly straightforward. But for more complex or hazardous sectors like construction, manufacturing, or education, risk assessment needs to be more structured, frequent, and detailed.

If you have five or more employees, you’re legally required to record your significant findings. That means writing down:

• What the hazards are
• Who might be harmed and how
• What you’re already doing
• What further controls are needed
• Who’s responsible and by when

This is where competence becomes essential.

Risk Assessment: A Core Skill on the NEBOSH General Certificate

Whether you’re new to health and safety or stepping into a management role, the NEBOSH National General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety is designed to build the knowledge and confidence to carry out practical, compliant risk assessments.

At Acadame, our upcoming courses go beyond the theory — we teach you how to apply risk assessment in real workplaces.

You’ll learn how to:

• Identify workplace hazards across various categories (chemical, physical, biological, organisational, etc.)
• Assess the likelihood and severity of harm
• Select suitable control measures
• Apply the hierarchy of control
• Understand the legal implications of not managing risk
• Complete a risk assessment template to NEBOSH standards

Your NEBOSH Assessment Is a Risk Assessment

As part of the NEBOSH General Certificate, candidates must complete a unit NG2 assessment, which involves:

• Visiting a real or simulated workplace
• Identifying a wide range of hazards
• Completing a written risk assessment
• Justifying your recommendations and control measures

This is your chance to show you can think like a safety professional — not just pass an exam.

We’ll guide you step by step, helping you develop the skills to create professional, actionable risk assessments that meet both NEBOSH and legal expectations.

Why Acadame?

At Acadame, we don’t just deliver NEBOSH courses — we build safety leaders.

• Gold NEBOSH Learning Partner
• Triple UKAS-accredited to ISO 9001, 14001, and 45001
• Consistently high pass rates and outstanding tutor feedback
• Real-world application of risk assessment principles from day one
• Support before, during, and after your course

Upcoming NEBOSH General Certificate Course Dates

Both delivered in Stoke-on-Trent and available onsite for groups across the UK.

Final Thoughts: Risk Assessment is the Foundation

Risk assessment is the foundation of good health and safety management. If you can’t recognise and control risks, you can’t protect your workforce — and you can’t demonstrate compliance.

The NEBOSH General Certificate is your chance to get it right.

✅ Learn how to assess risks the right way
✅ Build confidence in applying the law
✅ Get a qualification recognised across every industry