Risk Assessment Form (Singapore)

A Risk Assessment Form in Singapore records the findings or particulars it documents for the purpose at hand.

Regulation 3 of the WSH (Risk Management) Regulations 2006 requires every employer and self-employed person to conduct a risk assessment of the safety and health risks posed by the work activities carried out at the workplace, before the commencement of those activities. The risk assessment must identify every reasonably foreseeable hazard, evaluate the risk (considering the likelihood of occurrence and the severity of harm), and determine the control measures to be implemented to eliminate or minimise the risk. The risk assessment must be documented in writing and made available for inspection by MOM inspectors.

The risk assessment must be conducted by a person who has adequate training and knowledge to perform the assessment. Regulation 7 of the WSH (Risk Management) Regulations requires that the person conducting the risk assessment must have completed a risk management course approved by MOM or have equivalent qualifications and experience. MOM's Occupational Safety and Health Division maintains a register of approved risk management training providers.

The WSH Council, established under Section 38 of the WSHA, publishes Codes of Practice and Technical Advisory Guides that provide industry-specific guidance on risk assessment methodologies. The Code of Practice on Workplace Safety and Health Risk Management and the Technical Advisory Guides for specific industries (construction, marine, manufacturing, and process sectors) provide detailed guidance on hazard identification, risk evaluation matrices, and hierarchy of control measures.

The risk assessment must be reviewed and updated whenever there is a change in the work process, when new machinery or substances are introduced, when a workplace accident or dangerous occurrence is reported, or at least once every three years under Regulation 8 of the WSH (Risk Management) Regulations 2006. MOM inspectors conducting workplace inspections will review the risk assessment documentation and may issue improvement notices or stop-work orders if the risk assessment is inadequate or outdated.

Employers in the construction industry must comply with additional risk assessment requirements under the Workplace Safety and Health (Construction) Regulations 2007, which prescribe specific hazard categories (falls from height, scaffolding, excavation, crane operations, and confined spaces) that must be addressed in the risk assessment. The Building and Construction Authority (BCA) administers the Building Control Act (Cap. 29) and may require evidence of completed risk assessments as part of building permit applications.

The National Environment Agency (NEA) administers environmental health regulations that intersect with workplace risk management. Employers in industries that generate hazardous waste, air emissions, or water pollutants must integrate environmental risk assessments into their workplace risk management framework, addressing compliance with the Environmental Protection and Management Act (Cap. 94A) and the relevant Pollution Control Regulations.

A Risk Assessment Form is needed whenever a Singapore employer, self-employed person, or principal (person who engages a contractor) must identify, evaluate, and document workplace safety and health risks in compliance with the WSHA 2006 and the WSH (Risk Management) Regulations 2006.

Every employer commencing a new work activity must conduct a risk assessment before work begins. Regulation 3 of the WSH (Risk Management) Regulations requires the risk assessment to be completed before the commencement of any work activity that may pose a risk to the safety and health of any person at the workplace. Starting work without a completed risk assessment is a regulatory offence that may result in MOM enforcement action, including fines up to S$20,000 under Section 48 of the WSHA.

Employers introducing new machinery, equipment, or substances to the workplace must update the risk assessment to address the new hazards. The WSH (General Provisions) Regulations 2006 require employers to assess the safety of new machinery before use and to maintain safety data sheets for hazardous substances under the Workplace Safety and Health (Control of Hazardous Substances) Regulations.

Employers who have experienced a workplace accident or dangerous occurrence reported to MOM under Section 34 of the WSHA must review and update the risk assessment to address the root causes of the incident and implement additional control measures. MOM requires employers to submit an incident investigation report and may conduct a follow-up inspection to verify that the risk assessment has been updated.

Principals engaging contractors for work at the principal's workplace must verify that the contractor has conducted a risk assessment for the contracted work activities. Section 14 of the WSHA imposes duties on principals to take reasonably practicable measures to manage the safety and health of the contractor's employees working at the principal's workplace.

Employers in designated sectors — construction, marine, process, and metalworking — must conduct sector-specific risk assessments that address the hazard categories prescribed by the applicable WSH Regulations. Construction employers must address fall prevention under the WSH (Work at Heights) Regulations 2013, and process industry employers must address major hazard installations under the WSH (Major Hazard Installations) Regulations 2017. A related Workplace Safety and Health Plan documents the employer's overall WSH management system, while an Incident Report Form records specific workplace accidents for MOM notification.

A Singapore Risk Assessment Form must contain the following elements to comply with the WSH (Risk Management) Regulations 2006 and the WSHA 2006.

Organisation details must state the employer's registered company name and UEN as registered with ACRA, the workplace address where the risk assessment applies, the industry sector (aligned with MOM's industry classification), and the name and designation of the person responsible for workplace safety and health.

Competent person details must identify the person who conducted the risk assessment, including their name, qualifications, and the MOM-approved risk management course completed (or equivalent qualifications). Regulation 7 of the WSH (Risk Management) Regulations requires that the risk assessment be conducted by a person with adequate training and knowledge.

Work activity description must describe each work activity assessed, including the location within the workplace, the number of workers involved, the tools and equipment used, the materials handled, and the duration and frequency of the activity.

Hazard identification must list every reasonably foreseeable hazard associated with each work activity. Hazards should be categorised by type: physical hazards (noise, vibration, heat, cold, radiation), chemical hazards (toxic substances, flammable materials, corrosives), biological hazards (infectious agents, allergens), ergonomic hazards (repetitive motion, manual handling, awkward postures), and psychosocial hazards (work-related stress, workplace violence). The WSH Council's Code of Practice on Risk Management provides a recommended hazard identification checklist.

Risk evaluation must assess each hazard using a risk matrix that considers the likelihood of occurrence (rare, unlikely, possible, likely, almost certain) and the severity of harm (negligible, minor, moderate, major, catastrophic). The resulting risk rating (low, medium, high, or extreme) determines the priority and urgency of control measures. MOM expects employers to use a recognised risk evaluation methodology consistent with the WSH Council's guidelines.

Control measures must describe the specific actions taken to eliminate or minimise each identified risk, following the hierarchy of controls prescribed by the WSH Council: elimination (removing the hazard entirely), substitution (replacing the hazard with a less dangerous alternative), engineering controls (physical barriers, ventilation, machine guarding), administrative controls (safe work procedures, training, permits to work), and personal protective equipment (PPE as a last resort). Each control measure should specify the responsible person, the implementation timeline, and the verification method.

Residual risk assessment must evaluate the risk remaining after control measures have been implemented. If the residual risk remains at an unacceptable level (medium or higher), additional control measures must be identified and implemented. The risk assessment must demonstrate that all risks have been reduced to as low as reasonably practicable (ALARP).

Review schedule must specify the dates for periodic review of the risk assessment — at minimum every three years under Regulation 8 of the WSH (Risk Management) Regulations, or sooner if triggered by a workplace accident, change in work process, or introduction of new hazards. The forms-legal.com Risk Assessment Form template covers all mandatory elements under the WSH (Risk Management) Regulations 2006, with the risk matrix format and hierarchy of controls structure recommended by the WSH Council and MOM. A related Workplace Safety and Health Plan provides the overarching WSH management framework, and a Work Injury Compensation Claim form documents claims arising from workplace injuries.

Documentation and record-keeping must specify that the completed risk assessment form, including all supporting documentation (photographs, measurement records, safety data sheets, and calibration certificates for monitoring equipment), must be retained at the workplace for a minimum period of three years under Regulation 9 of the WSH (Risk Management) Regulations 2006. The records must be available for inspection by MOM officers, WSH inspectors, and auditors. Electronic records are acceptable provided they can be produced in printed form upon request. Under Singapore law, the Workplace Safety and Health Act 2006 and the Workplace Safety and Health (Risk Management) Regulations 2006 govern the core requirements for this type of document.