⚠️ What?
The risk assessment process requires that you observe your workplace and identify all of the hazards associated with the working activities you undertake. This could be in the office, warehouse or other people’s premises.
👨👩👧 Who?
Once you’ve identified the hazards you then have to identify who is going to be affected by the hazards. This could be:
- your staff
- members of the public
- contractors
- visitors to your premises
- young persons
- those with disability
- pregnant women
❓How?
Now you need to identify how these persons would be affected by a hazard. For example:
- are they going to breathe in the dust and fumes?
- are they going to slip or trip on your premises?
- are they going to be affected by the noise that your working practices generate?
⏰ When?
Once you have identified the above, you need to identify the likelihood of the hazards occurring and, if it was to occur, what is the consequence that is going to occur...
⬇️ A one-off activity that is undertaken once a year, with minimal risk of injury, could be scored as a low risk.
⬆️ An activity which is undertaken several times a day and that carries a high risk of, say, amputation would be classed as a high risk.
Where there is significant risk, it has to be recorded in writing and the information shared with your workforce and interested parties.
👉 The risk assessment has to be reviewed on a yearly basis or whenever there is significant change e.g., legislation, new premises or new staff.
Risk assessments do not exist on their own and additional documentation such as inspection regimes, standard operating procedures, action plans and training matrixes would also be produced as supportive documentation towards your safety management system.
💡 Are you in charge of beginning Risk Assessments and feel overwhelmed? You can find answers in our playlist of short videos about Risk Assessments on our YouTube channel.
What No Safety provides advice, support and services to assist you with Risk Assessments, Inspections and more – get in touch to see how we can help:
abarrett@whatnosafety.co.uk | 01722 326 390 | www.whatnosafety.co.uk