Qwick Solve Limited

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Risk Assessment

This section refers to health and safety risks in the workplace

Carrying out a risk assessment is an important step in protecting your workers and your business, as well as ensuring that you comply with the law.

A risk assessment is simply a careful examination of what, in your work, could cause harm to people, so that you can evaluate whether you have taken enough precautions, or should do more to prevent harm.

There are five steps in evaluating risks in your workplace. :

IDENTIFY THE HAZARDS

This first step is to work out how people could be harmed. When you work in a place every day, it is easy to overlook some hazards, so here are some tips :

          • Walk around the workplace to identify potential hazards
          • Ask employees for their input
          • Contact the HSE (Health & Safety Executive
          • Talk to your trade association
          • Examine your own accident and ill-health records

DECIDE WHO MIGHT BE HARMED & HOW

For each hazard that you have identified, you also need to be clear about who might be harmed. You should remember :

          • Some workers have particular needs (e.g. new and young workers, new or expectant mothers and people with disabilities)
          • Cleaners, visitors, contractors etc., who may not be in the workplace all the time
          • Members of the public
          • Shared workplaces - how does your work affect others
          • Ask your staff for their input

EVALUATE THE RISKS - DECIDE ON PRECAUTIONS

Having decided upon the hazards, you then must decide what to do about them. You may be able to get rid of the hazard altogether. If not, you need to decide how to control the risks so that harm is unlikely :

          • Try a less risky option (e.g. use less hazardous chemicals)
          • Prevent access to the hazard (e.g. install a guard)
          • Organise work to reduce exposure to the hazard
          • Issue personal protective equipment
          • Provide suitable welfare facilities

RECORD YOUR FINDINGS AND IMPLEMENT THEM

Putting the results of your risk assessment into practice will make a difference when looking after people and your business.

A risk assessment should be documented - you need to be able to show that :

          • A proper check was made
          • You asked who might be affected
          • All significant hazards were dealt with
          • Precautions are reasonable, and the remaining risk is low
          • Staff or their representatives were involved in the process

REVIEW YOUR RISK ASSESSMENT AND UPDATE IF NECESSARY

Few workplaces stay the same - sooner or later you will bring in new equipment, substances and procedures that could lead to new hazards. It makes sense to review what you are doing on an ongoing basis. Every year or so, formally review where you are.

Look at your risk assessment again - have any changes taken place - are there any improvements you still need to make.

During the year, if any significant change takes place - don't wait. Check your risk assessment and, where necessary, amend it.