The risk assessment is important because it identifies the control measures needed to reduce health and safety risks to an acceptable level. This is not an exercise in creating additional documentation, but rather documenting risk control processes. To know how to control a hazard, you must first understand the nature and extent of the risk posed by another activity or hazard. As an employer, it is your responsibility to ensure that all employees and non-employees, including customers, visitors, or any public member, are safe from any potential risk at the workplace and that all risks are effectively controlled and communicated.
Risk Assessment is a process of identifying the most important risks in the workplace and applying appropriate corresponding controls to manage these risks. Risk assessment allows employers to prioritize actions needed to control risk. The duty to ensure that sufficient risk assessments are carried out came from the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999.
What must employers show when conducting an assessment?
All assessments must be relevant and complete. This means it must focus on significant risks, prioritize measures that comply with the law, and are relevant to the work performed. It must also be valid for a reasonable amount of time. Documents such as accident records, previous tests, evaluation results, and safety committee discussions can all help determine what constitutes a significant risk. Consulting with workers will allow employers to get a full picture of the real risks associated with the work process. For example, people performing daily tasks will be able to provide information on how tasks are done and whether shortcuts are used to speed up workflow, which may increase the associated risk.
When should a risk assessment be conducted?
A risk assessment must be performed before doing the activity or task. This is why all activities that may pose a risk must be checked in advance. If you know what could be harmful, the necessary precautions can be taken to ensure that when operating, it will be done safely and with minimal risk.
Risk Assessment Training
It is important that those involved in the risk assessment process be capable to counter the risks. Training is one of the best ways to demonstrate the capability of handling potential risks. We at TNA Training and Safety Consultants in the UK, have a comprehensive Risk Assessment Training course for those involved in the risk assessment for their workplace. Our online course is available 24/7, and once trainees complete their training, they can download their training certificate.
The employer can prove that what he did was appropriate and perfect
Ensuring that perfect risk assessments are carried out in the workplace is essential to ensure that if something goes wrong (employee injury), employers can demonstrate that what they did was appropriate and complete. In that way, the burden on the shoulders of the employer can be significantly released.
While the employer needs to have a record of the risk assessments, the most important factor is that they can demonstrate that they acted on them. For example, if an employer determines that a hazard exists, you must specify how to reduce the associated risks. In some cases leading to prosecution, hazards were not identified and proper control measures were not put in place to reduce the risk. Keep detailed records of all measures you have taken to reduce risk, e.g. repairs or modifications. Your records must be updated and show who did the work.
How Can We Help?
TNA Training and Safety Consultants in the UK, provide online risk assessment training that explains the risk assessment process in greater detail. The International Institute Of Risk & Safety Management (IIRSM) has approved our course. We can provide tailored risk assessment training for your company. We will go to your place and gather all of the information required to provide our service. Training will be provided to those who will be involved in the risk assessment process and will be tailored to your activity. Finally, we can assist you with your risk assessment. In our rewarding online security training, participants will learn the tools they need to keep themselves and their surroundings safe.
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