Risk assessment is a cornerstone of the Internal Responsibility System under the Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Act. Employers and supervisors have explicit statutory obligations, including the employer requirement to appoint competent supervisors [Section 25(2)(c)] who are qualified by knowledge, training, and experience to recognize hazards.

Under clauses 25(2)(a), 25(2)(d), and 27(2)(a), workplace leaders are legally bound to advise workers of any potential or actual hazards and provide the necessary instruction, supervision, and training to maintain a safe environment. Conducting risk assessments is a mandatory step under general duty clauses 25(2)(h) and 27(2)(c) for higher-risk activities and equipment.

Designed for supervisors, instructors, personnel, and students fulfilling their due diligence obligations, this toolkit provides a structured framework to evaluate hazards and lower workplace risks as low as reasonably achievable. Beyond identifying safety gaps, completed assessments inform the mandatory, job-specific training that supervisors must provide to workers. 

NOTE: Workplace Violence Risk Assessments are found HERE, the risk assessment toolkit provided below is not intended for Workplace Violence purposes.

The Risk Assessment Toolkit comprises of three elements:

1. Lakehead University Workplace Risk Assessment Guideline
   • This document is a reference guide that goes over what a risk assessment is, the steps required to complete one, and some resources that may be helpful.
2. Risk Assessment Tool
   • This spreadsheet contains the tool itself where your risk assessment can be completed and documented and includes instructions and examples.  You will be prompted to make a copy of the google sheet to your google drive.
3. Risk Assessment Examples
   • This document provides a more detailed rationale of the risk assessments for the Examples found on the Risk Assessment Tool.

It is not mandatory to use the provided toolkit, it is simply offered to help make completing a risk assessment easier. Completed risk assessments do not need to be submitted to Human Resources, but if assistance is needed you can contact Health and Safety and we will be happy to help.