Workplace Risk Assessment Form (Kenya)
WORKPLACE RISK ASSESSMENT FORM
Occupational Safety and Health Act No. 15 of 2007 — Section 6 and Section 7
Directorate of Occupational Safety and Health Services (DOSHS)
Employer: [Employer Name]
Workplace Address: [Workplace Address]
DOSHS Workplace Registration Number: [DOSHS Reg Number]
Industry: [Industry Type]
Total Employees: [Total Employees]
Assessment Date: [Assessment Date]
Next Review Date: [Next Review Date]
PART A — ASSESSOR AND MANAGEMENT DETAILS
Safety and Health Officer / Assessor: [Assessor Name]
Qualification / NITA Certification: [Assessor Qualification]
Senior Management Representative: [Management Representative]
This risk assessment has been conducted under the general duty imposed by Section 6 and Section 7 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act No. 15 of 2007. The assessment identifies hazards, evaluates risk using the DOSHS 5x5 risk matrix, and records control measures implemented or recommended to reduce residual risk to a level that is as low as reasonably practicable.
PART B — SCOPE OF ASSESSMENT
Work Area(s) Covered: [Work Area Description]
Work Activities Covered: [Work Activities]
Vulnerable Persons in Workforce: [Vulnerable Groups]
PART C — HAZARD IDENTIFICATION AND RISK EVALUATION
The following hazard categories have been assessed in accordance with DOSHS Technical Guidelines for Risk Assessment.
Physical Hazards:
[Physical Hazards]
Chemical Hazards (Toxic Substances Act Cap. 346):
[Chemical Hazards]
Biological, Ergonomic, and Psychosocial Hazards:
[Biological Ergonomic Hazards]
Overall Risk Rating (DOSHS 5x5 Matrix): [Overall Risk Rating]
PART D — CONTROL MEASURES
Existing Controls in Place:
[Existing Controls]
Additional Controls Recommended (Hierarchy of Controls):
[Additional Controls]
PPE Required (Section 21, OSHA 2007 / KEBS-compliant):
[PPE Required]
PART E — ACTION PLAN
[Action Plan]
DOSHS Occupational Safety and Health Officers (OSHOs) authorised under Section 35 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act No. 15 of 2007 may inspect this risk assessment at any time. Where the overall risk rating is High or Extreme, a DOSHS prohibition notice under Section 40 of OSHA 2007 may be issued.
This risk assessment shall be reviewed by [Next Review Date], or immediately following any significant change to the workplace, work processes, or workforce, or following any workplace accident or dangerous occurrence, as required by DOSHS Technical Guidelines.
PART F — SIGN-OFF
Completed by: [Assessor Name] ([Assessor Qualification])
Approved by: [Management Representative]
Date: [Assessment Date]
Management sign-off confirms [Employer Name] commitment to OSHA 2007 compliance and to implementing all additional control measures identified in Part E within the stated timelines.
Safety and Health Officer / Assessor
________________
Signature
Senior Management Representative
________________
Signature
What Is a Workplace Risk Assessment Form (Kenya)?
A Workplace Risk Assessment Form in Kenya records the particulars required for the matter it documents.
Section 6 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act No. 15 of 2007 places a general duty on every employer to confirm, so far as is reasonably practicable, the safety, health, and welfare at work of all persons employed. Section 7 of OSHA 2007 imposes specific duties on employers with five or more employees — including the duty to prepare and keep up to date a written statement of the employer's general policy with respect to the health and safety of employees, and the organisation and arrangements in force for carrying out that policy. Section 13 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act No. 15 of 2007 requires every employer of more than 20 persons to appoint a suitably trained Safety and Health Officer responsible for, among other duties, conducting and coordinating workplace risk assessments and maintaining the OSHA 2007 safety management records. The OSHA 2007 General (Subsidiary) Legislation and the DOSH Technical Guidelines for Risk Assessment (published by DOSH under the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection) provide the detailed methodology for conducting risk assessments in Kenya.
DOSH Occupational Safety and Health Officers (OSHOs), authorised under Section 35 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act No. 15 of 2007, routinely inspect workplace risk assessments as part of the annual DOSH Workplace Occupational Safety and Health Audit. DOSH requires that risk assessments be reviewed at least annually and whenever there is a significant change to the workplace, work processes, equipment, or workforce. Where a DOSH inspection reveals that a workplace does not have a current, documented risk assessment, the OSHO may issue a prohibition notice under Section 40 of OSHA 2007, suspending the relevant workplace activity until the risk assessment is completed and control measures are implemented.
The Factories Act (Cap. 514), which applies to manufacturing and industrial premises in Kenya, contains complementary hazard identification and control obligations that predated OSHA 2007 and are read alongside it. For construction workplaces, the Construction Regulations under the Occupational Safety and Health Act No. 15 of 2007 and the National Construction Authority Act No. 41 of 2011 require site-specific risk assessments and safe work method statements as conditions of NCA registration. For mining operations, the Mining Act No. 12 of 2016 and the Mining (Safety) Regulations require site-specific risk assessments approved by the Director of Mines before commencement of operations.
The National Social Security Fund (NSSF) administers the Work Injury Benefits Act No. 13 of 2007, and a documented risk assessment is critical evidence in WIBA proceedings. Where an employee claims compensation for a workplace injury, NSSF and the courts assess whether the employer took all reasonably practicable steps to eliminate or control the risk that caused the injury. A properly completed and regularly updated risk assessment demonstrates the employer's compliance with Section 6 and Section 7 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act No. 15 of 2007 and may limit the employer's liability exposure.
When Do You Need a Workplace Risk Assessment Form (Kenya)?
A Workplace Risk Assessment under Section 7 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act No. 15 of 2007 is required in a wide range of circumstances in Kenya, and best practice dictates that risk assessments be conducted proactively rather than in response to an accident or DOSH inspection.
A Workplace Risk Assessment is required before starting a new business or opening a new workplace. Any employer establishing a new factory, construction site, agricultural enterprise, or commercial premises is required to register the workplace with DOSH under Section 10 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act No. 15 of 2007 and to demonstrate, as part of the registration process, that a risk assessment has been conducted and appropriate controls are in place.
A Workplace Risk Assessment must be conducted and updated whenever there is a significant change to the workplace, work processes, or equipment. Introducing new machinery, chemicals, or work practices; reorganising the workplace layout; employing new categories of workers (including young persons under 18, pregnant workers, or persons with disabilities) — all require a revised risk assessment under the DOSH Technical Guidelines and Section 6 of OSHA 2007.
A Workplace Risk Assessment must be reviewed following any workplace accident, dangerous occurrence, or near miss. Under Section 22 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act No. 15 of 2007, DOSH investigators will examine the employer's risk assessment as part of the accident investigation. An outdated or absent risk assessment will aggravate the employer's regulatory and legal exposure under OSHA 2007 and the Work Injury Benefits Act No. 13 of 2007.
A Workplace Risk Assessment is required as a condition of certain regulatory approvals. NEMA (National Environment Management Authority) environmental impact assessments under the Environment Management and Coordination Act No. 8 of 1999 (EMCA) for industrial and large construction projects incorporate occupational health and safety risk assessment components. The NCA requires site-specific risk assessments for construction projects involving high-risk activities (work at heights, excavations, demolition, lifting operations) as part of the NCA site registration process under the National Construction Authority Act No. 41 of 2011.
Parties in Kenya should prepare a Workplace Risk Assessment Form (Kenya) proactively rather than waiting for a dispute to arise. Courts interpret agreements based on the written terms rather than oral representations. Under the Employment Act No. 11 of 2007, the Employment and Labour Relations Court (ELRC) adjudicates workplace disputes in Kenya. Section 35 of the Employment Act 2007 governs termination of employment. The National Social Security Fund Act No. 45 of 2013 mandates employer contributions to NSSF. The Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) replaced NHIF in 2024. The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) administers PAYE under the Income Tax Act (Cap. 470). Where the transaction involves regulated activities, prior approval from the relevant authority may be required before execution.
What to Include in Your Workplace Risk Assessment Form (Kenya)
A Kenya Workplace Risk Assessment under Section 7 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act No. 15 of 2007 must contain the following elements to satisfy DOSH requirements, support the employer's statutory safety management obligations, and provide a defensible record in any OSHA enforcement or WIBA compensation proceedings.
Workplace and Employer Details: Full legal name of the employer, workplace address and county, DOSH Workplace Registration Number issued under Section 10 of OSHA 2007, type of industry (using Kenya National Industrial Classification codes), total number of employees, and the name and qualifications of the Safety and Health Officer conducting the assessment.
Hazard Identification: A systematic identification of all physical, chemical, biological, ergonomic, and psychosocial hazards present in each work area or for each work activity. Hazard categories under DOSH Technical Guidelines include: mechanical hazards (moving parts, sharp edges), electrical hazards (live conductors, faulty wiring), chemical hazards (exposure to hazardous substances regulated under the Toxic Substances Act, Cap. 346), fire and explosion hazards, biological hazards (pathogens, biohazard materials), noise and vibration hazards, ergonomic hazards (manual handling, repetitive strain), and psychosocial hazards (workplace stress, harassment under the Employment Act No. 11 of 2007).
Risk Evaluation: For each identified hazard, the risk assessment must evaluate the likelihood of harm (rare, unlikely, possible, likely, almost certain) and the severity of potential harm (negligible, minor, moderate, major, catastrophic). The product of likelihood and severity gives a risk rating (low, medium, high, extreme) using the DOSH 5x5 risk matrix methodology. High and extreme risks require immediate corrective action before work continues.
Existing Controls Review: Assessment of control measures already in place — engineering controls (machine guarding, ventilation), administrative controls (safe working procedures, work rotation, permit-to-work systems), and personal protective equipment (PPE) issued under Section 21 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act No. 15 of 2007.
Hierarchy of Controls: The residual risk after existing controls must be evaluated, and additional controls recommended following the OSHA 2007 and DOSH hierarchy: elimination, substitution, engineering controls, administrative controls, and PPE — in descending order of effectiveness. DOSH inspectors under Section 35 of OSHA 2007 will assess whether the employer has applied the hierarchy of controls correctly.
Action Plan and Responsibility: Each additional control measure must be assigned to a named responsible person, with a completion deadline. DOSH improvement notices under Section 39 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act No. 15 of 2007 specify remediation periods, and employers should use the action plan to demonstrate compliance.
Review Date and Sign-Off: The risk assessment must record the date completed, the date of the next scheduled review (at least annually under DOSH Technical Guidelines), and the signature of the Safety and Health Officer and a senior management representative. Management sign-off demonstrates the company's commitment to OSHA 2007 compliance at the leadership level.
Forms-legal.com provides this Kenya Workplace Risk Assessment Form template as a practical compliance tool for Safety and Health Officers, DOSH-registered workplaces, and employers fulfilling their general duty of care obligations under the Occupational Safety and Health Act No. 15 of 2007.
Additional compliance elements for a Workplace Risk Assessment Form (Kenya) used in Kenya include: Under the Employment Act No. 11 of 2007, the Employment and Labour Relations Court (ELRC) adjudicates workplace disputes in Kenya. Section 35 of the Employment Act 2007 governs termination of employment. The National Social Security Fund Act No. 45 of 2013 mandates employer contributions to NSSF. The Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) replaced NHIF in 2024. The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) administers PAYE under the Income Tax Act (Cap. 470). Forms-legal.com provides this template as a starting point for Kenya-compliant documentation.
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title = {Workplace Risk Assessment Form (Kenya) (Kenya)},
year = {2026},
howpublished = {\url{https://forms-legal.com/kenya/employment/health-safety/workplace-risk-assessment-kenya}},
note = {Free legal document template}
}Also available for these jurisdictions:
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Under Section 6 and Section 7 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act No. 15 of 2007 (OSHA 2007), every employer in Kenya has a legal duty to take all reasonably practicable steps to ensure the safety, health, and welfare of all employees at the workplace. A documented risk assessment is the primary mechanism through which an employer discharges this duty — without a risk assessment, the employer cannot demonstrate that hazards have been identified and controlled. DOSH Occupational Safety and Health Officers (OSHOs) authorised under Section 35 of OSHA 2007 routinely inspect risk assessments during workplace visits and audits. For workplaces employing more than 20 persons, Section 13 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act No. 15 of 2007 requires the appointment of a trained Safety and Health Officer whose responsibilities include conducting risk assessments and maintaining the employer's safety management records. Workplaces without a current, documented risk assessment may be issued a prohibition notice under Section 40 of OSHA 2007 suspending operations until compliance is achieved. Failure to maintain OSHA compliance records is also a criminal offence under Section 85 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act No. 15 of 2007.
Under the DOSH Technical Guidelines for Risk Assessment published under the Occupational Safety and Health Act No. 15 of 2007, a workplace risk assessment in Kenya must be reviewed at least annually and whenever there is a significant change to the workplace, work processes, equipment, or workforce composition. Trigger events requiring an immediate review include: introduction of new machinery or equipment; use of new chemicals or hazardous substances; a change in work processes or procedures; a workplace accident, dangerous occurrence, or near-miss event; a new legal or regulatory requirement; or changes in the workforce (employment of young persons, pregnant workers, or persons with disabilities whose specific risks must be assessed under Section 6 of OSHA 2007). DOSH OSHOs will check the date of the most recent risk assessment review during workplace inspections, and an outdated assessment may be treated as equivalent to no assessment for enforcement purposes. Best practice — consistent with DOSH Technical Guidelines — is to set a fixed annual review date, conduct interim reviews after any incident, and document all reviews in the risk assessment register.
The DOSH Technical Guidelines under the Occupational Safety and Health Act No. 15 of 2007 require employers in Kenya to apply the hierarchy of controls when selecting risk control measures. The hierarchy, in descending order of effectiveness, is: (1) Elimination — remove the hazard entirely from the workplace (the most effective control); (2) Substitution — replace the hazardous substance or process with a less hazardous one; (3) Engineering controls — physical modifications to the workplace or equipment (machine guarding, ventilation systems, safety interlocks, noise enclosures); (4) Administrative controls — work procedures, safe work method statements, job rotation, reduced exposure times, permit-to-work systems, and OSHA 2007-compliant training programmes; (5) Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) — helmets, gloves, respirators, high-visibility vests, safety footwear, as required under Section 21 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act No. 15 of 2007. DOSH inspectors assess whether the employer has applied controls at the highest practicable level of the hierarchy. Relying solely on PPE when engineering or administrative controls are practicable is a common enforcement finding in Kenya. PPE must comply with Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) specifications where applicable.
Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act No. 15 of 2007, the workplace risk assessment must be conducted by a competent person — defined in Section 2 of OSHA 2007 as a person who possesses the necessary practical and theoretical knowledge and experience to carry out the task. For workplaces employing more than 20 persons, Section 13 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act No. 15 of 2007 requires the employer to appoint a trained Safety and Health Officer, who must hold a certificate of competence issued by an institution accredited by the National Industrial Training Authority (NITA) or recognised by DOSH under the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection. Trained Safety and Health Officers registered with DOSH are the standard practitioners for conducting risk assessments in Kenya. For smaller workplaces (fewer than 20 employees), the employer personally or a senior manager trained in basic OSHA 2007 risk assessment methodology may conduct the assessment. For high-hazard industries — construction (regulated under the NCA Act No. 41 of 2011), mining (regulated under the Mining Act No. 12 of 2016), and chemical manufacturing (regulated under the Toxic Substances Act, Cap. 346) — DOSH requires involvement of specialist occupational hygienists or safety engineers. Employers may also engage DOSH-accredited external consultants to conduct risk assessments, particularly for new workplaces or complex hazard scenarios.
Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act No. 15 of 2007, DOSH conducts annual Occupational Safety and Health Audits of registered workplaces in Kenya. The DOSH Annual Safety and Health Audit assesses the employer's overall OSHA 2007 compliance posture, and the current workplace risk assessment is one of the primary documents reviewed by DOSH Occupational Safety and Health Officers (OSHOs) during the audit. The audit evaluates whether the risk assessment covers all areas and activities of the workplace, whether it has been reviewed within the required period, whether identified hazards have been controlled at the appropriate level of the hierarchy of controls, and whether the residual risk ratings are acceptable. Workplaces scoring below the DOSH threshold on the audit may receive an improvement notice under Section 39 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act No. 15 of 2007 requiring specific remedial actions. A satisfactory DOSH audit result is a prerequisite for renewal of the DOSH Workplace Certificate of Registration, which is required for all workplaces under Section 10 of OSHA 2007. Many Kenyan insurance companies issuing employers' liability insurance policies (required for workplaces under the Insurance Act No. 4 of 2015) also require evidence of a current, DOSH-compliant risk assessment as a condition of coverage.
A well-documented and regularly reviewed workplace risk assessment is a significant but not absolute defence in Work Injury Benefits Act No. 13 of 2007 (WIBA) proceedings before NSSF and the Employment and Labour Relations Court of Kenya. Under WIBA, employers are strictly liable for compensating employees injured in the course of employment — but the level of compensation and any additional civil liability under the general law may be affected by whether the employer took all reasonably practicable steps to prevent the injury. A current risk assessment that identified the relevant hazard, assessed its risk, implemented appropriate controls under the OSHA 2007 hierarchy, and provided the injured worker with relevant training and PPE demonstrates that the employer met the standard of care required by Section 6 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act No. 15 of 2007. This can limit the employer's exposure in civil negligence claims and may support the employer's position in DOSH enforcement proceedings. Conversely, an absent, outdated, or incomplete risk assessment that failed to identify or control the hazard that caused the injury is strong evidence of employer negligence and will likely aggravate the Employment and Labour Relations Court's assessment of liability. Employers should treat the risk assessment as both a compliance document and a legal risk management tool.
This template is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change over time. Consult a qualified attorney for advice specific to your situation.Full disclaimer
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