Understanding risk assessments
A risk assessment is a systematic review of work activities that considers what could go wrong and implements preventative control measures for the purposes of health and safety. The aim of a risk assessment is to eliminate, reduce or minimise the risk of injury, damage or loss in the workplace.
What is a risk assessment?A risk assessment is a systematic review of work activities that considers what could go wrong and implements preventative control measures for the purposes of health and safety. The aim of a risk assessment is to eliminate, reduce or minimise the risk of injury, damage or loss in the workplace.
A risk assessment is a systematic review of work activities that considers what could go wrong and implements preventative control measures for the purposes of health and safety. The aim of a risk assessment is to eliminate, reduce or minimise the risk of injury, damage or loss in the workplace.
Are risk assessments mandatory?
Risk assessments are legal requirements for all organisations, regardless of whether they operate in low or high-risk working environments. For companies with five or more employees, it’s compulsory to keep a written record of your risk assessment that all employees can access upon request.
What are the 5 types of risk assessment?
Qualitative Risk Assessments
These are the most common types of risk assessments. An assessor will use personal judgement to identify workplace hazards, assess risks and plan adequate control measures.
Quantitative Risk Assessments
This risk assessment uses tools to calculate the likelihood and severity of risks. For example, you might measure probability and severity on a scale of one to three, one being highly unlikely and three being highly likely.
If a risk is deemed to be a three in terms of both probability and severity, then you know that it needs to be urgently addressed in terms of controlling the hazard
Generic Risk Assessments
Generic risk assessments are templates used across different locations by different companies for similar events or activities. It’s important to note when using generic risk assessments that all activities are unique and therefore you should regularly update and check them to ensure they’re effective at controlling risks.
Site-Specific Risk Assessments
Site-specific risk assessments are very important because they’re put into place solely for certain events at certain locations. Without these risk assessments, the whole event or activity could be putting not only attendees at risk, but members of the public or visitors who happen to be nearby or on-site at some point during the event.
Dynamic Risk Assessments
Dynamic risk assessments are used for unexpected circumstances when a new or previously unknown risk presents itself. If there is a sudden risk to health and safety, existing written assessments might not be applicable. Dynamic risk assessments signify the importance of constantly looking for new risks and being aware of surroundings.
Why are risk assessments important?
Risk assessments are important because they entirely encompass health and safety in the workplace. Whether the setting is a small office-based company or a global organisation with sites around the world, being aware of risks and knowing how to minimise them is essential.