How often should risk assessments be reviewed?
"Every year" is probably the most common answer to this question. An annual review can be a useful company management rule. But it should not be confused with a universal rule that every workplace risk assessment automatically remains valid for 12 months and then expires. HSE's focus is on keeping risk assessments and controls current and effective.
Is an annual review legally required for every risk assessment?
There is no single universal annual expiry date applying to every general workplace risk assessment. HSE advises regular review and specifically identifies changes and evidence that should prompt reconsideration. An annual review date can be a useful backstop, but the assessment may need updating much sooner if the circumstances change.
What should trigger a review?
- •Changes to the work — a new process or different working method can introduce hazards or change existing risks.
- •New equipment — new machinery, tools or vehicles can alter the risk profile.
- •New substances — introducing a substance can create new risks and may trigger a more specific COSHH assessment.
- •Changes to staff — different workers or arrangements may alter who is exposed and how.
- •An accident or near miss — an event can reveal that the existing controls weren't adequate, or provide valuable warning evidence.
- •Worker concerns — people doing the job may identify problems with the assessment or controls.
- •Controls no longer effective — equipment can deteriorate, procedures can stop being followed, and the workplace can evolve.
HSE expressly identifies ineffective controls, changes to staff/process/substances/equipment, worker concerns, accidents and near misses as reasons to review.
What should you do during the review?
Don't simply change "review date: 2026 → 2027" and consider the job complete. Check: are the hazards still accurate? Are the same people exposed? Has the likelihood changed? Have the potential consequences changed? Are existing controls actually in place, and working? Have incidents occurred? Is there new guidance? Has equipment or the process changed? Is further action necessary? Then update the assessment and controls where required.
Should every assessment have a review date?
A review date can be very useful operationally. HSE guidance recommends that assessments include a date for review, with the interval reflecting the type of work and the likely speed of change. The important distinction is: a review date is a management prompt — not an expiry date that guarantees nothing needs checking until then.
Can we use annual reviews anyway?
Yes. A company can decide that all assessments will receive at least an annual check. That creates a useful backstop. But the policy should still require earlier event-driven review when circumstances change.
What about specialist assessments?
Some risks are governed by additional regulations or guidance — COSHH, fire, DSE, manual handling, work at height, noise, vibration. Their specific requirements should also be considered rather than assuming the general assessment process is the only obligation.
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland's Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000 contain the corresponding risk-assessment framework. HSENI's risk-assessment guidance likewise includes reviewing the assessment and updating it where necessary as the fifth step.
Keep risk assessments together as your business changes
Complys keeps your risk assessments, owners and review dates in one place, with reminders and version history, so reviews happen on schedule and after change — and the history stays intact.
Manage risk assessments →FAQs
Do risk assessments expire after 12 months?
There is no universal rule that every general workplace risk assessment automatically expires after 12 months.
Should risk assessments be reviewed annually?
An annual review can be a sensible company policy and management backstop, but assessments should also be reviewed earlier where changes or evidence indicate this is necessary.
Should an accident trigger a review?
It can. HSE specifically recommends considering review following accidents or near misses.
Do new employees mean every assessment needs rewriting?
Not automatically, but changes in staff can affect risks and HSE identifies staff changes as a reason to consider whether existing controls remain appropriate.
Should a risk assessment have a review date?
HSE guidance recommends including a review date appropriate to the work and expected rate of change.
Related: what is a risk assessment, five steps, hazard vs risk, and risk assessment software. General information, not legal advice.