Who this is for: general managers, owners, and health-and-safety leads at hotels, hotel groups, motels, resorts, and bed and breakfasts who need to assess and control workplace and guest risks.
A note before you use this: this template is general guidance, not legal advice. Health-and-safety rules differ by country and state, so follow your own policy and local law, and get advice from a qualified professional for a specific situation.
A risk assessment template turns a walk of your property into a risk register: the hazards, who is at risk, how likely and how serious each is, the controls in place, and the further action needed. Copy the register, score each risk with the matrix, and assign every action to an owner with a review date.
What's in the Template
- A five-step method: identify, decide who is at risk, rate, control, and review
- A likelihood and severity risk-rating matrix
- A ready-to-fill risk register with worked examples
- A list of common hotel hazards and the hierarchy of controls
- Downloadable PDF you can brand and print
How to Assess Risk
- Identify hazards: walk each area and list anything that could cause harm.
- Decide who is at risk: note staff, guests, contractors, and visitors.
- Rate the risk: score likelihood and severity, then read the rating from the matrix.
- Add controls: record existing controls and any further action needed.
- Assign and review: give each action an owner and a date, and review on a schedule.
The Risk Rating Matrix
Risk rating is likelihood times severity. Read the rating where the row and column meet.
| Likelihood \ Severity | Minor | Moderate | Major |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unlikely | Low | Low | Medium |
| Possible | Low | Medium | High |
| Likely | Medium | High | High |
Common Hotel Hazards to Assess
- Slips, trips, and falls: wet floors, loose mats, cords, uneven surfaces.
- Fire: kitchen equipment, electrical faults, blocked exits.
- Chemicals: cleaning and pool products, storage and labeling.
- Manual handling: lifting linen, moving furniture, deliveries.
- Food safety, security, pool and spa, and water systems such as Legionella.
Hierarchy of Controls
Work down the list. Prefer removing the hazard over relying on PPE.
- Eliminate: remove the hazard entirely where possible.
- Substitute: replace it with something less hazardous.
- Engineering controls: isolate or guard it, such as rails or ventilation.
- Administrative controls: training, signage, procedures, and scheduling.
- PPE: gloves, non-slip shoes, and protective equipment as a last line.
Keep Hazards and Actions off a Lost Spreadsheet
A risk assessment finds the hazards, but a spreadsheet of actions is easy to lose track of. With roommaster, operations run on one record, and a hazard that takes a room out of service shows live to the front desk, so a logged risk does not sit unseen while the room is still being sold. See how it works on the roommaster platform.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is a hotel risk assessment?
It is a structured review that identifies hazards, decides who could be harmed, rates each risk by likelihood and severity, records the controls in place, and sets further action. The result is a risk register that is assigned to owners and reviewed on a schedule.
2. How do you rate a risk?
Score how likely the hazard is to cause harm and how severe the harm would be, then read the risk rating where the two meet on the matrix. Re-score the residual risk after you add controls to confirm it is acceptable.
3. Is this template legal advice?
No. It is general guidance to help you assess and control risk consistently. Health-and-safety law varies by location, so follow your own policy and local law and consult a qualified professional for a specific situation.
