Risk Assessments By Shenika Dillon

What is a risk assessment and why are they carried out ? A risk assessment is a systematic method in which a employer would carry out to protect there employees and there business, as well as abiding by the law. The assessment considers what could go wrong causing injuries and damage to employees and equipment (risks ) and hazards within the working environment. The assessment is designed to eliminate reduce or minimize the chances of a risk accruing. Look at your risk assessment again.

It’s the law The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 It is legal requirement that any employer or self employed person is to make an assessment of the health and safety risks that could occur within the working environment. The purpose of the assessment is to identify what needs to be done to control health and safety risks.

Difference between a hazard and a risk Hazard : A hazard is something that could potentially harm you. Risk : A risk something that could potentially go wrong due to a hazard

When carrying out a risk assessment we follow 5 steps

1- Identify the hazards : Having a systematic approach walk around the work area and. Note down: X- Tools X- Equipment X- Material being used X- Explain how it can cause harm to people X- Ask your employees what they think

2 - Decide who may be harmed and how ? Who may be harmed : The employees are the most obvious of people who could be potentially harmed But we should also remember : If it was a public location like a park Members of the public could be hurt by your activities. Where as on a movie set : Cleaners, visitors, contractors, maintenance workers etc. who may not be in the workplace all the time still need to be accounted for

Decide how they may be harmed Decide how severe the potential injury could be : ? E.G the work tripping over the pile of letters

3 - Evaluate the risks and decide on the precautions Having spotted the hazards you should evaluate what your already doing and see if these levels of precautions are susceptible or does more need to be done to ensure your employees are safe ? In asking yourself this, consider: Can the hazard be eliminated ? If not what else could be done to reduce the chances of a risk occurring.

4- Record your findings and implement them Record your finding don’t overcomplicate it when creating the table e.G : tripping over a cable, employees alerted, cable taped down.

5- Review your assessment Working environments are constantly changing so new hazards will occur. You should review what you are doing on an ongoing basis,so risk assessments should be carried out yearly for the safety of workers and incases of inspection. Look at your risk assessment again. Have there been any changes? Have the levels of precautions taken been successful or do you need to higher the standards ? Have your workers spotted a problem? Make sure your risk assessment stays up to date.

How would the issues effect the production ? If and employee was to trip over a wire and you as the manager didn’t complete the risk assessment. You would : 1 be fined as you broke the law 2 Have to attend court to explain why the assessment was not conducted 3 loose an employee for a while as the would have to recover from there Injuries. And the could possible claim compensation 4 your company would suffer as when you are undergoing investigation you are forced to close

Summary Risk assessment is a legal requirement Follow the “ 5 steps to Risk Assessment ” ; Identify the hazards Decide who can be harmed Evaluate the risk Record significant findings Review and revise Risk assessment is must and if not completed and regularly updated you could get yourself and your company into a sufficient amount of unnecessary bother

Any Questions ?