This text below is taken from the HSA document on Guidelines on Risk Assessments and Safety Statements

WHAT IS A RISK ASSESSMENT?

Section 19 of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, 2005 requires that employers and those who control workplaces to any extent must:
• identify the hazards in the workplaces under their control
• assess the risks presented by these hazards.

In this context a hazard is something with the potential to cause harm (for example, chemical substances, machinery or methods of work), while measuring the risk depends on:
• the likelihood of that harm occurring in the workplace
• the potential severity of that harm (the degree of injury or ill health following an accident)
• the number of people who might be exposed to the hazard
Employers must write down these workplace risks and what to do about them. This is known as a risk assessment. Assessing risk means you must examine carefully what, in the workplace, could cause harm to your employees, other employees and other people, including customers, visitors and members of the public. This allows you to weigh up whether you have taken enough precautions or whether you should do more to prevent harm.

Here are some sample risk assessment documents:

Use and Handling Of Carcinogens and Mutagens (General) Risk Assessment

Use and Handling Of Irritants, Harmful Agents and Sensitisers (General) Risk Assessment

Use and Handling Of Teratogens – Reproductive Toxins (General) Risk Assessment

Use and Handling Of Toxic Agents (General) Risk Assessment

Here is a blank template to complete a risk assessment form:

Risk Assessment Form

Risk Assessment Template