Undertaking a health and safety risk assessment is a fundamental part of managing workplace safety. It’s typically a five-step process designed to systematically identify hazards and put in place measures to control the risks.
5 Steps to Undertaking a Risk Assessment
Step 1: Identify the Hazards
A hazard is anything that has the potential to cause harm.
- Walk around your workplace: Look at what could reasonably be expected to cause harm (e.g., loose cables, slippery floors, dangerous machinery, poorly stored chemicals).
- Ask employees: Workers often have the best insight into daily risks and less obvious hazards.
- Check instructions and data sheets: Manufacturers’ instructions for chemicals and equipment often highlight hazards.
- Review accident and illness records: Past incidents can pinpoint existing or recurring hazards.
- Consider long-term health hazards: Don’t forget issues like high noise levels, exposure to harmful substances, or work-related stress.
Step 2: Decide Who Might Be Harmed and How
You don’t need to list every person by name, but identify groups of people and detail how they might be affected.
- Groups to consider: Employees, contractors, visitors, maintenance staff, and the public.
- Vulnerable groups: Pay special attention to groups with particular needs, such as new or young workers, pregnant employees, or those with disabilities.
- How they could be harmed: For each hazard, specify the type of injury or ill health that could occur (e.g., a wet floor could cause a ‘slip and a broken leg’).
Step 3: Evaluate the Risks and Decide on Precautions
The risk is the likelihood that harm will occur and how serious the harm might be.
- Look at existing controls: List what you are already doing to reduce the risk.
- Determine if further action is needed: Compare your current controls against industry best practice. The goal is to reduce the risk to an acceptable level, known as “as low as reasonably practicable” (ALARP).
- Apply the Hierarchy of Controls (in order of preference):
- Eliminate the hazard completely.
- Substitute the hazard (e.g., use a less hazardous chemical).
- Use Engineering Controls (e.g., guard machinery, install local exhaust ventilation).
- Use Administrative Controls (e.g., safe work procedures, training, limiting exposure time).
- Provide Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) (e.g., gloves, safety glasses) as a last resort or supplementary measure.
Step 4: Record Your Findings and Implement Them
If you employ five or more people, you are usually legally required to record your significant findings.
- Record the essentials: Document the hazards, who might be harmed, the current control measures, and what further action is required.
- Create an action plan: Prioritise the high-risk, serious consequence hazards. Specify what action is needed, who is responsible for carrying it out, and by when.
- Implement the controls: Put the required measures into action and ensure they are understood by all affected staff.
Step 5: Review Your Assessment and Update if Necessary
A risk assessment is a live document that needs to be kept current.
- Review regularly: Your assessment should be reviewed at least annually, or when there is a significant change.
- Review after changes: Update the assessment if you introduce new equipment, change work processes, or if new staff join.
- Review after incidents: If an accident or near-miss occurs, it suggests the existing control measures may not be adequate.