Risk Assessments
Risk assessments are the cornerstone of UK health and safety legislation, and as such- not surprisingly –
they are a legal requirement that many companies still get prosecuted by simply not having them or a plan to
implement the findings.
Risk assessments are not there to stop us doing something but rather to make sure that if we do it – it is
safe to do. That might mean changing how we do something, or putting extra controls in place – whatever we
need to make it “safe”. Risk assessments, as the HSE say, are about risk management NOT risk elimination.
Controls
Controls put in place to minimise the risk depend upon what the hazard(s) are but could well include things
like training, safe systems of work (a documented way of completing the specific task), inspecting equipment
and PPE (personal protective equipment) to name just a few examples. How far you go with controls depends
upon on the risk – in most cases the law requires you only to do what is ‘reasonably practicable’.
What is a Risk Assessment?
Many people get worried even at the very thought of having to complete a risk assessment. A risk
assessment, at its most basic, is simply determining what the hazard is (fire, entrapment, electrocution etc.),
then coming to a conclusion on how likely the event is to happen and the severity of injury should the event
happen. Having completed you must decide what the risk is and what (if anything) needs to done to reduce
the risk to an acceptable level.
The HSE (Health and Safety Executive) have published their “5 steps to risk assessment”.
Their 5 steps are:
1.
Identify the hazards
2.
Decide who might be harmed – and how
3.
Evaluate the risks and decide on the required precautions
4.
Record the findings and implement them
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Risk Assessments