Dynamic risk assessments enable workers to make informed, proportionate safety decisions when conditions change during a task. This approach helps prevent incidents, reduces the likelihood of escalation, and supports safer operational decision-making in real time.
In this guide we discuss the purpose of dynamic risk assessments, when they are needed and how to apply the process effectively in real situations.
What does dynamic risk assessment mean?
A dynamic risk assessment is when a worker actively evaluates risk in real time while a task is taking place. Unlike a written risk assessment, which is planned and documented in advance, a dynamic assessment is made in the moment based on what is happening.
For example, if a route becomes blocked, weather turns quickly, equipment fails, or a person acts unpredictably, a dynamic risk assessment is the short mental process of stopping, thinking, assessing what has changed, and deciding whether to continue, change approach, or stop entirely.
For more information, please read our article, What is a dynamic risk assessment?
What is the purpose of a dynamic risk assessment?
The purpose of a dynamic risk assessment is to ensure safe decision-making when real-world conditions change.
In practice, this prevents people from carrying on with a task just because it was considered safe earlier. Instead, they pause briefly, re-evaluate the current situation, and decide whether to continue as planned, adjust the controls, or stop the work altogether.
Who carries out a dynamic risk assessment?
A dynamic risk assessment is carried out by the person who is actively doing the task at the time.
Employers must provide formal risk assessments and safe systems of work, but the individual on the ground (an employee, contractor, supervisor, or volunteer) makes the real-time judgement call. They are the person best placed to notice when something changes, assess the new risk, and decide whether to continue, adjust controls, or stop the task altogether.
What factors may lead to a dynamic risk assessment?
A dynamic risk assessment is prompted when something changes during a task that could affect the original level of risk. This could mean a new hazard appears, an existing control measure becomes ineffective, or the situation simply doesnโt look or feel as safe as expected.
Common triggers include:
- Sudden changes in weather (for example, wind picking up on a roof or a storm affecting visibility).
- Equipment becoming faulty, unavailable or damaged.
- People behaving unpredictably (such as a service user becoming unsteady during a transfer).
- Unexpected obstacles or substances appearing in the work area.
- Changes to access routes or traffic routes that affect safe movement.
- The presence of new vehicles, machinery or people entering the area.
- Environmental changes such as lighting, noise or surface conditions.
Which factors should a dynamic risk assessment consider?
When completing a dynamic risk assessment, the worker should focus on what has changed and whether those changes increase the likelihood or severity of harm.
Key points to consider include:
- What hazard has been identified? Be clear about the risk you are reacting to (for example a spillage, an unstable load, a person becoming aggressive, or a blocked route).
- Who could be harmed and how? Consider yourself, colleagues, members of the public, or service users who may be affected by the change.
- How serious could the harm be? Think about the potential consequences, from minor injury through to serious injury or death, depending on the situation.
- Are the existing controls still suitable? A control measure that was adequate five minutes ago may no longer be effective if conditions have shifted.
- Is there a safer way to continue? Could you use a different route, method, tool, piece of equipment or technique to reduce the risk?
- Should the task stop altogether? If the answer to this is yes, the safest option is to pause work until conditions are safe again.
Which factors matter most will depend on the specific environment, the activity, and the level of risk involved.
How do you risk assess a high-risk situation dynamically?
A dynamic risk assessment is a quick, structured thought process. It does not need to take long, but it must be deliberate.
A simple and effective sequence is:
Stop and observe
Before acting, pause briefly and look around you. Take in the environment, the people involved, the equipment available, and any hazards you can see or sense. This moment of observation enables you to gather information before making decisions.
Identify what has changed
Compare the situation in front of you with what you expected based on the task plan or written risk assessment. Are surfaces wet? Is equipment missing? Has a person become unsteady or distressed? This step is about recognising the new or changed factor that is altering the level of risk.
Assess the likelihood and severity of harm
This is where you consciously evaluate risk. Ask yourself:
- How likely is it that someone could be harmed? (unlikely / possible / likely)
- How bad would that harm be? (minor injury / significant injury / serious harm or fatality)
If a situation is both more likely to cause harm and could cause serious harm, the risk is high, and action is needed immediately.
Decide whether to continue, adapt, or stop
Use your judgement based on the level of risk identified. Can you carry on safely if you take a different route, ask for assistance, use alternative equipment, or change your technique? If none of these make the situation safe, the correct decision is to stop and wait until conditions can be made safe.
Report or escalate if required
If you have identified a new hazard that needs longer-term control (for example, faulty equipment, poor lighting, damaged flooring), it must be reported so that the risk can be formally addressed. This ensures the issue is not just managed in the moment but controlled properly for the long term.
What is a dynamic risk assessment in manual handling?
A dynamic risk assessment in manual handling is the moment-by-moment judgement a worker makes while lifting, carrying, pushing or pulling a load, to ensure the movement remains safe as the task unfolds.
It recognises that manual handling tasks do not always go exactly as planned. Loads can shift, people being assisted can move unpredictably, and the environment can change without warning.
Scenarios that require dynamic assessment include:
- The load is heavier, bulkier or more unstable than expected once handled.
- A patient or service user suddenly becomes unsteady, distressed, or resists the movement.
- New obstacles appear that restrict the route or safe space for movement.
- Another person or vehicle enters the work area.
- A floor surface becomes slippery or uneven.
In these situations, a dynamic risk assessment means stopping briefly, noticing the change, reassessing the risk, and deciding how to proceed or whether the task should pause entirely until safer conditions can be established.
What are the benefits of dynamic risk assessments?
Dynamic risk assessments:
- Enable quick hazard reduction, because new hazards can be recognised and addressed immediately.
- Help prevent injury and escalation, as stopping or altering a task early prevents minor issues turning into serious incidents.
- Increase confidence for workers, because people feel more capable and prepared when they have a clear framework for decision-making in changing conditions.
Another major benefit is that dynamic assessments keep controls relevant. Even the best written risk assessment is based on a moment in time, but workplaces are dynamic. Loads shift, people behave unpredictably, the weather changes, equipment becomes unavailable or malfunctions.
Dynamic risk assessments do not replace formal written risk assessments (which are a legal requirement for employers) but enhance them. They act as an essential final layer of real-time safety, making sure decisions are not just safe on paper, but safe in practice.
Dynamic Risk Assessment Training
Dynamic risk assessments require workers to recognise when conditions have changed, understand how that change affects the level of risk, and take appropriate action quickly. Our Dynamic Risk Assessment Training provides a structured approach for developing these skills, combining core principles with practical application.
The course can be tailored to your organisation, and it is available as an eLearning course, virtually, or face-to-face. Find out more about Dynamic Risk Assessment Training on our website, or contact our friendly team on 0203 011 4242 / info@praxis42.com
Adam Clarke
Managing Director (Consulting)
