Risk Assessment 8065-02 Unit 202: Safety at work Introduction page – click on the words you want to replace

Introduction Occupational Health and Safety or Workplace Health and Safety are some common terms used to describe the legal framework put in place by governments to minimise injuries in the workplace. All occupations have some inherent dangers and injuries are a serious cost to the community. Risk assessment is used to identify the hazards and risks within a workplace and the jobs performed. The higher the risk the more drastic action is required to manage the risk e.g. using a band saw has a high risk of possibly losing a limb and strict control measures are used to avoid an incident.

Hazards Hazards are any things that have the potential to cause injury, death or illness in the workplace. A hazard can arise from within the workplace or outside the workplace; it can be occasional, periodic or ever-present; it can be a process, event or activity. The following examples can be found in hospitality: Premises hazards Outside hazards include loose fittings, roof tiles, floor tiles, uneven floors, steep stairs, slippery or broken surfaces, pool equipment, surrounds and surfaces, garden beds and possible animals hiding within e.g. snakes Inside hazards include damaged carpets, broken or faulty equipment, broken or loose fittings, floor tiles, uneven floors, slippery or broken surfaces, rusty shelving etc., poor cleaning standards, poor lighting or signage, bottler necks, swinging doors Job hazards Incorrect use of equipment , ladders, broken or faulty equipment Tools used Exposure to dangerous chemicals, e.g. spillage of cleaning products or breakage of high- alcohol content beverages Organisational hazards A lack of policies, lack of SOPs or disregard of those, lack of focus and distractions