the fact of doing something just because there is a rule that says that you must do it

A lot of what the care home inspectors do is simply box ticking. 老人院的检查员所做的很多事情都是简单的逐项打勾而已。

Risk assessments are an essential part of ensuring health and safety. They are not just a box-ticking exercise. 风险评估是确保健康和安全的重要组成部分。风险评估不仅仅是在逐项打勾。