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Peninsula Group, HR and Health & Safety Experts
(Last updated )
Peninsula Group, HR and Health & Safety Experts
(Last updated )
In this guide, we'll look at what a risk assessment is, whether they're a legal requirement, and how to conduct them for different health and safety issues.
Find the safest and easiest way to resolve your workplace issue
Workplaces can present all kinds of safety hazards - affecting their staff, as well as the public. A great way to help identify and control these is by using a risk assessment.
Risk assessments come in all shapes and sizes; so, employers must use them in accordance with their work practices. You must be aware of the consequences of neglecting this legal duty. Employers could end up facing personal injuries claims, business closure, and even imprisonment (if applicable).
In this guide, we'll look at what a risk assessment is, whether they're a legal requirement, and how to conduct them for different Health & Safety issues.
A risk assessment is the process of identifying, analysing, and controlling hazards in the workplace.
Depending on the issue, a risk assessment help employers implement control measures to eliminate risks found within their work practices.
Some businesses will only need basic risk assessments, like an office. Whilst others may require specific ones, like a construction site. It all depends on the identified hazard – and to not let it cause harm to anyone on the business premises.
Risk assessments are probably one of the best measures when it comes to identifying hazards at work. They help ensure the safety of employees and non-employees (like customers, contractors, and the public).
A proper risk management process can also help employers understand what personal protective equipment (PPE), control measures, and legal compliance applies to their business.
When you follow the right steps, you're guaranteed to promote a secure workplace and prioritise risk analysis in the best manner.
Yes, there are different types of risk assessments employers can use. That's because all business industries present their own kind of specific workplace hazards and risks.
There are three general assessments employers can use:
Employers must legally perform risk assessments to eliminate operational risks to staff and anyone found in their workplace. You must use them when:
Only certain risk assessment findings need to be reported to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
The HSE is a UK government agency that's responsible for encouraging, regulating, and enforcing health, safety, and welfare in the workplace. Employers may need to identify and report hazards linked to:
A risk assessment can only be carried out by a competent person. This can be the employer, a trained employee, or a professional health and safety auditor.
Competent people must be experienced in assessing hazard injury severity, judging likelihood of occurrence, and applying reasonable control measures. Employers should work alongside their competent person when it comes to planning risk assessments. Think about:
Once you've planned the foundation of your risk assessment, you'll be able to conduct them across your entire business.
Every workplace will present their own kinds of risks - some might be minor, others major. Despite that, all employers have a legal duty when it comes to conducting risk assessments.
With the right risk assessment, you'll be able to protect employees and anyone connected to your business. In the end, they can help create a safer workplace and encourage business success.
All employers must comply with the HSE’s ‘Risk Assessment: A Brief Guide to Controlling Risks in the Workplace’. This provides detailed guidance on how to conduct a risk assessment for your workplace. Let's take a look at the steps:
The first step involves identifying potential hazards found in the workplace. Employers must think about risks linked to their equipment, materials, and work practices.
It's important to identify hazards and risks as separate factors. Hazards have the ability to cause harm to people, property, or the environment. Risks have the ability to actually cause harm or damage to other parties.
Employers should assess which specific people might be harmed by hazards. Identify anyone that's considered to be at lower, medium, and higher risk (i.e., like pregnant workers). These people may require further safety steps when it comes to hazards.
You should also think of potential harm to non-workers found on your premises. For example, causing harm to contractors, customers, or the public. You must assess risks to them as they fall under your legal duty of care.
The next step is all about evaluating risks found within your working process. You'll need to evaluate the severity of the hazards identified; and think about how severe they could impact others. Remember, the bigger the hazards, the more effective controls you may need.
Some risk assessments may identify the need for protective personal equipment (PPE) or safety training for manual handling tasks. From here, you'll be able to implement preventive and protective measures to control risks.
Employers should then record all significant findings found through assessments. This can be done using paper or digital risk assessment forms. Some risk findings may class as low, medium, and high. For more complicated workplaces, you may need to score risks individually based on their severity and occurrence.
Employers should aim to permanently eliminate hazards and risks - or to use control measures to minimise them within reason. If you hire five or more workers, you must document risk assessment findings. This will help improve your future work practices and protect you from potential liability claims.
The last step is reviewing your risk assessment. Once you identify hazards, you need to implement changes into your work process. It's best to review assessments again after any significant work changes or legislative amendments.
If employees (or non-employees) face ill-health or injury due to your work process, you may need to report it to the HSE (as it could be an integral part of their inspection reports).
In the UK, it's a legal requirement for employers to conduct risk assessments when necessary. This applies to all workplaces - from offices to construction sites. When it's done properly, you're able to prioritise health and safety within your working practices.
There are many laws and regulations connected to risk management. For example:
Without legal compliance, employees (and non-employees) might be harmed. These incidents could lead to employers facing claims of personal injury, gross negligence, and even corporate manslaughter.
Yes, there are all kinds of tools and techniques employers can use for a risk assessment. The most common tools used are risk matrix, decision tree, failure modes, and effects analysis (FMEA), and bowtie model. Let's look at risk matrix in more depth:
A risk matrix is used during a risk assessment when you need to measure the level of a risk. The overall risk of a hazard is judged based on two control measures: consequences and likelihood.
When assessing risk matrix consequences, employers need to ask 'how severe would an employee's injury be if they were exposed to a hazard?' The consequences are then categorised into four groups:
When assessing risk matrix likelihood, employers need to ask 'what is the likelihood that an employee would face an injury if they were exposed to a hazard?' The likelihood is then categorised into four groups:
From creating a risk assessment template to outlining safety compliance - every business will have its own requirements to control the risks of hazards identified.
That's where risk assessments come in. Remember, the assessment is a process that helps evaluate the risks to all people found on your business premises - not just workers.
Be aware of the costs of neglecting this legal obligation. Employers could end up causing personal injuries, facing business closure, and even facing imprisonment (if applicable).
Peninsula offers expert advice on risk assessments. Our teams provide 24/7 HR advice which is available 365 days a year. We take care of everything when you work with our HR experts.
Want to find out more? Contact us on 0800 028 2420 and book a free consultation with an HR consultant today.
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