Every employer is under a statutory duty to arrange for a "competent person" to assess all risks arising at the workplace, or created by work activities. Some risks are of a general nature, but others will need to be considered against more specialised legislation.

The more common subjects that give rise to an assessment duty are:

	For General risks (Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations)
	Where exposure to substances may cause damage to health (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations)
	At workstations where VDUs are used (Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations)
	Where hazardous lifting or carrying tasks are undertaken (Manual Handling Operations Regulations)
	In noisy environments which could cause damage to hearing (Noise at Work Regulations)

Other specific requirements for assessments include: selection and use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and assessing the presence, type and location of asbestos.