Risk Assessment
Ensuring the safety of your workforce
What does a risk assessment include?
Risks need to be considered in every aspect of a working environment. For instance, items to include could be:
- Hazards: electrical safety, fire safety, manual handling, hazardous substances, risk factors for repetitive strain injury, stress, violence, infectious diseases (COVID-19);
- Tasks: cleaning with chemical substances, maintenance work or dealing with the public;
- Organisational factors: staffing policies, systems of work, equipment-purchasing policies, consultation and participation, management techniques or working hours, shift patterns, lone working;
Do I have to conduct a risk assessment?
By law, (Managing risks and risk assessment at work – Overview -HSE) every employer needs to conduct risk assessments on the work their employees do. If the company employs more than five employees, then the results must be recorded with details of any groups of employees particularly at risk such as older, younger, pregnant or disabled employees.
Clear guidance for a secure workplace
frequently asked questions
A risk assessment is a systematic process of identifying, evaluating, and prioritising potential hazards in the workplace to determine the best course of action for controlling or eliminating risks to health and safety.
Risk assessments are vital for preventing accidents, injuries, and illnesses in the workplace. They help organisations identify hazards, assess risks, implement control measures, and ensure compliance with health and safety regulations.
Employers, managers, or designated health and safety officers are typically responsible for conducting risk assessments in the workplace. However, all employees should be involved in the process and contribute to identifying hazards and implementing control measures.
The steps typically include identifying hazards, assessing the risks associated with those hazards, implementing control measures to mitigate risks, recording findings, and reviewing and updating the assessment regularly.
Risk assessments should be conducted regularly, especially when there are significant changes in the workplace or work processes. It is recommended to review risk assessments annually or whenever there are modifications that may impact safety.
While internal risk assessments are possible, engaging external assistance brings the benefit of specialised expertise, ensuring a comprehensive and unbiased evaluation. External professionals can provide insights and suggestions based on their extensive experience.
If you have any further questions or need additional information, please feel free to reach out to our team.
We are here to assist you and provide the necessary support for your organisation’s health and safety requirements.
