Risk register and risk assessments

Last reviewed: June 2026

Use this page to access the University OHS Risk Register, complete a health and safety risk assessment, and find risk assessment templates and guidance.

University OHS risk register

Access the register here: University OHS Risk Register

Risk assessment

A risk assessment helps identify hazards, assess the level of risk, and determine suitable controls to eliminate or reduce the risk so far as is reasonably practicable.

What you need to do

Check whether a risk assessment already exists in ERMS or your local risk register.
Identify the task, activity, hazard or work environment being assessed.
Use ERMS where possible to complete and record the risk assessment.
Use the relevant hazard-specific template if ERMS is unavailable or if a template is required.
Apply the hierarchy of control and consider higher-order controls first.
Consult with affected staff, students, supervisors and Health and Safety Representatives where relevant.
Record actions, assign responsibilities and set review dates.
Review the risk assessment when work changes, new information becomes available, an incident occurs, controls are no longer effective, or a review is requested.

When to complete or review a risk assessment

A risk assessment should be completed or reviewed when:

a new task, activity, process or item of equipment is introduced;
work practices, systems of work or the work environment change;
new hazards are identified;
new information becomes available;
an incident, injury, near miss or hazard is reported;
existing controls are not adequately managing the risk;
an HSR requests a review in accordance with consultation requirements;
a planned activity involves higher-risk work, fieldwork, travel, contractors, chemicals, plant, manual handling, psychosocial hazards or other significant hazards.

The Health & Safety: Risk assessment methodology describes the methodology for completing risk assessments using the University’s risk assessment systems and processes.

Health & Safety: Risk matrix and definitions provides guidance on how to select the likelihood and consequence when rating a risk assessment

Which system or form should I use?

Use ERMS to complete and record risk assessments where you have University access
ERMS (Enterprise Risk Management System)
Use a general risk assessment template for tasks or activities that do not have a hazard-specific form.
General risk assessment

Use a hazard-specific form where the activity involves a specific hazard such as chemicals, fieldwork, manual handling, plant, psychosocial hazards, radioactive material, traffic management or high-risk travel.

Note: for a full listing, search for "risk assessment" in the "search all" section on the Processes, policies and forms page.

Topic	Risk Assessment Form
Chemical	Chemical risk assessment form Guide to chemical risk hierarchy of control Sample laboratory notebook
Confined Spaces	Confined space identification and risk assessment form
Field Work	Field work risk assessment form
First Aid	Refer: First Aid
Manual Handling	Manual handling risk assessment form Guide to the manual handling hierarchy of control
Noise	Code of Compliance: Noise – Appendix B
Office Ergonomics	Computer workstation self-assessment checklist
Plant	Plant risk assessment form
Psychosocial	Psychosocial risk assessment form
Purchasing	Pre-purchase risk assessment checklist
Radioactive Material	Radioactive material risk assessment form
Traffic	Traffic management risk assessment form
Travel Travel to high risk destinations risk assessment form	Non Unitravel risk assessment form For other travel requirements visit Staff Hub

Use an action plan to record required improvements, responsibilities and due dates.
Health and safety action plan

Unique hierarchy of controls

This section provides an overview of the hierarchy of control and its application across different health and safety risk areas. The hierarchy offers a useful foundation, starting with elimination and progressing through substitution, isolation, engineering controls, administrative controls and personal protective equipment (PPE). While this framework applies broadly, specific hazards often require tailored approaches to risk control.

The following diagrams show how control measures should be considered for a range of hazards, including psychological health, hazardous manual handling, prevention of falls, confined spaces, plant, hazardous substances, asbestos, construction work and crystalline silica. The intent is to support a consistent understanding of the preferred order of controls, while recognising that, in practice, a combination of measures may be needed to reduce risks so far as is reasonably practicable.

A key message is that higher-order controls should always be considered first. Information, instruction, training, administrative controls and PPE remain important, but they should not be relied upon as the primary control where more effective risk controls are reasonably practicable.

Unique Hierarchy Type	Pyramid
General
Psychosocial
Hazardous Manual Handling
Prevention of Falls ₁
Confined Spaces
Plant
Hazardous Substances & Lead
Asbestos – in situ
Asbestos – activity
Construction work
High risk crystalline silica