5 Common Risk Assessment Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)

Using the same risk assessment for each job

One issue we’ve noticed is builders or tradies using the same generic risk assessment for each job – not considering what’s going on with that specific site.

Why it’s risky? Every site and job is different – what applies to one residential renovation won’t necessarily apply to a commercial project. A one-size-fits-all approach can easily overlook key risks - and if an incident occurs, regulators won’t accept a generic form as a serious effort toward risk management.

How to avoid it: Use a site-specific risk assessment tailored to your work environment. Builder Assist provides editable Word templates, so you can quickly adjust the assessment to reflect the conditions, hazards, and activities relevant to each job.

Not involving your team

Sometimes we see that risk assessments are completed by one person in the office or in the ute before work starts – but they don’t involve the team on site.

Why it’s risky? If you have a team and they aren’t involved in the risk assessment process, they are less likely to understand it or even follow it.

How to avoid it: Make risk assessments part of your toolbox talk, walking through the hazards, and identifying controls. Our templates are written in plain language and structured clearly so they can be easily discussed and understood by everyone on your team.

Not updating the assessment if conditions change

Risk assessments done at the start of the project are often forgotten as soon as work begins. But things can change - weather, equipment, tasks, or the arrival of other trades can all introduce new risks.

Why it’s risky? When your risk assessment documentation doesn’t reflect current hazards, you can be exposed to liability and putting workers at risk. If SafeWork investigates after an incident, you need to show that you were actively managing risk throughout the job- not just on day one.

How to avoid it: Treat your risk assessment as a live document. Update it as site conditions change. With Builder Assist templates, you can easily adjust and reissue the form as needed - without wasting time starting from scratch.

Overcomplicating the risk assessment documentation

Risk assessments don’t have to be overly technical, and they shouldn’t use vague or jargon-loaded sentences that are hard to understand.

Why it’s risky? If the assessment isn’t clear and practical, it’s useless. Workers need to understand the hazards and controls in real-world terms.

How to avoid it: Use a format that’s clean, logical, and written in plain English. Builder Assist’s risk assessment templates are created by industry professionals who know how to strike the right balance between compliance and usability.

Overlooking key legal requirements

Writing a risk assessment from scratch can be challenging if it’s not an area you specialise in, it can be easy to miss key parts of the documentation.

Why it’s risky? Missing a key hazard - or failing to document your awareness of it—can lead to serious injuries, project shutdowns, or even fines.

How to avoid it: Our risk assessment documents are designed in accordance with current Work Health and Safety (WHS) regulations and industry standards – written by industry professionals. They prompt you to consider all major hazard categories and legal requirements, so you don’t miss a thing.