Risk assessment - re-felting a flat roof

Re-felting a flat roof is a potentially dangerous activity. Our example risk assessment will ensure the work is done safely.

When to use this document

Our Risk Assessment - Re-felting a Flat Roof is based on a comprehensive safety review of a typical flat roof job. It takes into account HSE advice relating to work at height, hot work, asbestos, etc.

If your staff undertake similar work, use this as your starting point. Simply amend the risk assessment to reflect the particular task, working environment and the skills of your team.

Alternatively, you may arrange for contractors to carry out repairs. In that case your contractor will be responsible for their own risk assessment but you can compare theirs with this one to satisfy yourself that their arrangements are adequate.

How to use it

On the first page of our document there’s a form for you to record essential details including the names of staff and the name and signature of the assessor.

If you have a system of document numbering, you can make use of the boxes we’ve included for the “Document issue record” and “Distribution schedule”.

The second page includes two tables. The first of these is a “Risk matrix”. By following the instructions given you’ll be able to assign a risk rating to each activity identified. There should be both an “initial” risk rating and a “residual” one; the difference between the two shows that the risk has been effectively controlled.

As this is an example risk assessment, we’ve already estimated what these ratings will be but you should check that they reflect your own circumstances.

The second section on this page gives more detail on the personal protective equipment and clothing required. The items identified on our generic risk assessment include foot, eye, hand, head and respiratory protection.

Following these initial sections the hazards and risk control measures are set out in a comprehensive table. It’s divided into smaller activities which make up the job as a whole, e.g. work at height, vehicles, manual handling. Then in each part we’ve identified the likely persons at risk, significant hazards, risk control measures and risk ratings.

If you’re using this for your own employees, simply amend the risk assessment to reflect the particular task, working environment and skills of your team.