Take 5 Safety Checks

The Take 5 process is a rapid hazard assessment tool designed to be used immediately before starting a specific task. It encourages workers to “Take 5” minutes to think about the job, identify hazards, and implement controls.

Why this works this way

Take 5 isn’t itself a statutory document — there’s no single regulation that says “you must complete a Take 5.” It supports the same general risk-management duty as a full Risk Assessment, just at the point of work, for a single task. That’s why it’s fast and lightweight rather than a formal sign-off process.

This is general information, not legal advice — confirm specific requirements with your WHS advisor or the current legislation for your jurisdiction.

Hazard Categories

The Take 5 form prompts workers to consider specific categories of hazards relevant to construction, such as:

• Working at heights
• Electrical hazards
• Hazardous materials
• Environmental conditions
• Mobile plant and traffic

Workers select the categories applicable to their task and provide details on how they will control these risks.

Documentation and Evidence

To ensure thoroughness, the Take 5 process requires:

• Photo Upload: Workers must upload a photo of the work area to provide visual context.
• Signature Canvas: A digital signature is required to confirm the assessment has been completed.

Offline Support & Background Sync

Construction sites often have poor or non-existent internet connectivity. The Take 5 feature is built with robust offline capabilities.

If a worker completes a Take 5 while offline:

1. The submission is securely saved to the device’s local storage.
2. The UI indicates that the app is offline and the form will be submitted automatically when connectivity is restored.
3. Once the device reconnects to the internet, background sync processes automatically push the saved Take 5 data to the server, ensuring no safety records are lost.