What is a Risk Assessment?

A risk assessment is a means of examining those tasks in your work which could cause harm to people whether they  are your employees, visitors or members of the public. The information gained from the examination will then allow you to determine what precautions to take, and to what extent. People who come into contact with those tasks have a right to be protected, and you must implement reasonable control measures.

Your failure to adequately control risk could not only cost your business if output is lost, but machinery could be damaged, insurance costs could increase, you might have to go to court, and ultimately it could also cost someone their life. You are legally required to assess the risks in your workplace so that you put in place a plan to control the risks.

How to assess the risks in your workplace
Step 1: Identify the hazards.
Step 2: Decide who might be harmed and how.
Step 3: Evaluate the risks and decide on precaution.
Step 4: Record your findings and implement them.
Step 5: Review your assessment, and update if necessary.

When thinking about your risk assessment, remember:
a hazard is anything that may cause harm, such as chemicals, electricity, working from ladders etc;
the risk is the chance, high or low, that somebody could be harmed by these and other hazards, together with an
indication of how serious the harm could be.

In many organisations, the risks are well known and the necessary control measures are easy to apply. You probably already know whether, for example, you have employees who move heavy loads and so could harm their backs, or where people are most likely to slip or trip. If so, check that you have taken reasonable precautions to avoid injury.

For further advice contact the mhl SUPPORT LINE: 08 700 200 999