The document every inspector asks for first
Under the OHS Act and the Construction Regulations, a contractor must have a documented risk assessment for the work being performed — baseline at project level, plus task-specific assessments for high-risk activities. When a Department of Employment and Labour inspector walks onto your site, or a principal contractor audits your safety file, the risk assessment is the first page they turn to. Not having one can stop your site.
The BuildCape template follows the standard methodology: identify the hazard, rate likelihood and severity, record existing controls, and assign additional controls with responsible persons. The library backs it with the full safety-file set: Baseline Risk Assessment, Continuous Risk Assessment, Method Statement, Toolbox Talk records and the Health & Safety File Index to bind it all together.
Doing it credibly
- Site-specific beats generic: an assessment that names your actual site, tasks and plant survives audits; a photocopied generic one doesn't.
- Review when conditions change — new phase, new subcontractor, incident, or weather event.
- Communicate it: the linked Toolbox Talk Record proves workers were told, which is half the legal duty.
- Working for a principal contractor? Pair it with the Section 37(2) Agreement they'll require.
Fill in the Risk Assessment now — free
Open the BuildCape Forms Library, find "Risk Assessment" and start typing. Works on your phone, on site.
Open the forms library →Common questions
Is a risk assessment legally required on small residential jobs?
The OHS Act's duties apply to employers of any size, and the Construction Regulations attach documented requirements based on the work's nature and scale. Practically: if you employ people on site, a documented risk assessment is your baseline legal protection — and principal contractors and insurers increasingly demand it regardless of job size.
What's the difference between a risk assessment and a method statement?
The risk assessment identifies hazards and controls; the method statement describes step-by-step how the task will be done safely, incorporating those controls. High-risk tasks typically need both — the library includes both templates.
Who may compile the risk assessment?
It must be done by a competent person — someone with the training and experience for the work being assessed. For specialised high-risk work (e.g. working at heights, demolition), competency requirements are stricter; when in doubt, use a registered safety practitioner and keep their appointment letter in the safety file.
Related free forms
Forms in the BuildCape library are professional templates for South African construction businesses. They are not a substitute for legal advice — for high-stakes contracts, have your attorney review the final document. Running a growing team? The BuildCape Platform automates the registers, claims and payroll these forms feed into.