Objective To identify public places and health risk factors that need attention, clarify the importance and priority of risk management in key public places, and determine the differentiated risk management system needs of different public places.

Methods Environmental health risk assessment in public places was carried out based on risk matrix and ranking assignment method. Based on the results of the literature review and existing field survey data from public place health hazard monitoring programs, a risk assessment model grounded in the matrix method was constructed based on qualitative, quantitative, and semi-quantitative results.

Results Based on the literature review, over 20 risk indicators were included. Indicators such as qualified rate from field measurement data were ranked and assigned values to calculate risk scores, which were then entered into the model to determine risk levels. Swimming facilities and bathhouses presented extremely high risks. The residual chlorine in the footbath of swimming facilities, the oxidation-reduction potential, the free residual chlorine in the swimming pool water, and noise were identified as high-risk indicators. For bathhouses, the free residual chlorine in the bath water and the total number of colonies on slippers were high-risk indicators. Hotels presented high risks, with Legionella pneumophila in cooling water, and PM_2.5 as high-risk indicators. Waiting rooms presented moderate risks, with PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 as high-risk indicators. Shopping malls or supermarkets, barbershops, and beauty salons presented low risks, with noise identified as a high-risk indicator in these places.

Conclusion By integrating risk matrix and ranking assignment method, a multi-dimensional risk assessment framework applicable to public places was constructed. The ranking assignment method was used to quantitatively score each risk factor and determine the priority of health risk management in public places, which provides technical support for putting forward strategies and recommendations for the construction of risk assessment management system in public places.