About
Risk Assessments
A risk assessment is an important step in protecting your workers and your business, as well as complying with the law. It helps you focus on the risks that really matter in your workplace – the ones with the potential to cause harm. In many instances, straightforward measures can readily control risks, for example, ensuring spillages are cleaned up promptly so people do not slip or cupboard drawers kept closed to ensure people do not trip. For most, that means simple, cheap and effective measures to ensure your most valuable asset, your workforce, is protected.
The law does not expect employers to eliminate all risk, but you are required to protect people as far as is ‘reasonably practicable’
A risk assessment is simply a careful examination of what, in your work, could cause harm to people, so that you can weigh up whether you have taken enough precautions or should do more to prevent harm. Workers and others have a right to be protected from harm caused by a failure to take reasonable control measures.
Accidents and ill health can ruin lives and affect your business if output is lost, machinery is damaged, insurance costs increase or you have to go to court. You are legally required to assess the risks in your workplace so you must put plans in place to control risks.
Risk Assessment can be managed in five easy steps:
·        Identify the hazards
·        Decide who might be harmed and how
·        Evaluate the risks and decide on precaution
·        Record your findings and implement them
·        Review your assessment and update if necessary
Don’t overcomplicate the process. In many organisations, the risks are well known and the necessary control measures are easy to apply. You probably already know whether, for example, you have employees who move heavy loads and so could harm their backs, or where people are most likely to slip or trip. If so, check that you have taken reasonable precautions to avoid injury.
If you run a small organisation and you are confident you understand what’s involved, you can do the assessment yourself. You don’t have to be a health and safety expert.
Associated Legislation
The Management of Health and Safety at Work (MHSW) Regulations 1999 require all employers and the self-employed people to assess the risks from their work on anyone who may be affected by their activities.https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1999/3242/contents/made