What Is a Risk Assessment?
A risk assessment is a systematic process of identifying hazards in the workplace, evaluating the risks they pose, and determining appropriate control measures. It is a legal requirement under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 for all employers.
The Five Steps to Risk Assessment
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) recommends a straightforward five-step approach:
- Identify the hazards: Walk around your workplace, consult employees, review accident records, and check manufacturer instructions.
- Decide who might be harmed and how: Consider employees, visitors, contractors, and members of the public. Pay particular attention to vulnerable groups.
- Evaluate the risks and decide on precautions: For each hazard, consider how likely it is to cause harm and how serious that harm could be. Apply the hierarchy of controls.
- Record your findings and implement them: If you employ five or more people, you must record your significant findings in writing.
- Review and update regularly: Risk assessments are living documents. Review them when circumstances change, after incidents, or at least annually.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Making risk assessments too generic — they must be specific to your workplace
- Not involving employees who do the actual work
- Focusing only on physical hazards and ignoring psychosocial risks
- Completing the assessment but failing to implement the controls
- Treating it as a one-off exercise rather than an ongoing process
When Should You Review a Risk Assessment?
Review your risk assessments when there are significant changes to your workplace, work processes, or equipment. Also review after any accident, incident, or near miss, and at regular intervals (typically annually) as good practice.
Need help with your risk assessments? Our consultancy team can carry out comprehensive assessments or train your staff to do them effectively.
