Do You Need a Risk Assessment for an Employee with Epilepsy?

If an employee discloses that they have epilepsy, it’s essential for employers to assess whether any health and safety risks exist in their role and how best to manage them. This isn’t about excluding the employee from work or treating them differently—it’s about ensuring a safe and supportive environment for everyone. A well-conducted risk assessment protects not only the individual employee but also co-workers, clients, and the wider organisation.

Why Do a Risk Assessment?

A risk assessment helps identify any potential hazards that epilepsy might present in the workplace. For example, working at heights, near water, with electrical equipment, or operating heavy machinery could increase the severity of risk if a seizure occurs. Identifying such risks early allows you to take proactive steps to mitigate them while still enabling the employee to perform their role.

Under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Equality Act 2010, employers have a legal duty to provide a safe working environment and to make reasonable adjustments for disabled employees—including those with epilepsy.

What Should Be Included?

Risk assessments should be specific to the individual’s role and requirements. A generic or tick-box approach is unlikely to be effective. Elements to cover include:

• Nature and frequency of seizures: Are they tonic-clonic, absence, focal, or another type? How often do they occur?
• Triggers and patterns: Are there environmental triggers such as flashing lights, stress, or sleep deprivation?
• Working conditions and environment: Does the employee work alone, in hazardous locations, or with public-facing responsibilities?
• Safety implications of their specific duties: Does their job involve driving, operating equipment, or working at height?
• Emergency response plan: How should colleagues respond? Who calls emergency services? What aftercare might be needed?

It’s also worth considering:

• Any medication side effects that may impact performance or safety
• Travel requirements, especially for lone workers or those using public transport
• Any additional training needed for colleagues or managers

Collaboration is Key

Risk assessments should be a two-way conversation. Always conduct the assessment with the employee, not for them. Their lived experience is invaluable. They know what has worked in the past, what triggers to avoid, and what adjustments will be helpful.

You may also want to involve Occupational Health, HR, line managers, and—if appropriate—a qualified epilepsy trainer. This multi-disciplinary approach ensures that the resulting plan is both medically informed and operationally realistic.

It’s Not One and Done

Epilepsy can be unpredictable. Seizure patterns and frequency may change over time, especially as medication is adjusted. That’s why regular reviews of the risk assessment are essential.

Update the assessment if:

• The employee has a seizure at work
• Their medication changes
• Their job role changes or they move to a different environment
• They return from a period of sick leave

It’s good practice to schedule an annual review even if no major changes have occurred, to ensure everything remains appropriate.

Supporting Workplace Inclusion

While risk assessments are often seen as a compliance tool, they are also an opportunity to promote inclusion. When done sensitively, they show employees that you take their health seriously and value their presence in the workplace. A thorough assessment can also open the door to useful adjustments that help the employee thrive in their role.

Employers that approach epilepsy with understanding and flexibility are more likely to retain talented staff, reduce absenteeism, and build a reputation for inclusivity.

Final Thoughts

A risk assessment for an employee with epilepsy is not just a legal requirement—it’s a critical part of building a safe, fair, and supportive workplace. It should be collaborative, specific, and regularly reviewed. Done well, it can empower your employee to work with confidence and help your team to respond effectively and compassionately should a seizure occur.