What is a Risk Assessment?

A risk assessment is an important tool for health and safety management and its main objective is to determine the measures required to comply with Health and Safety legislation and law including the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and other associated regulations. Risk assessment is a specific requirement under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999. A Risk Assessment considered what might cause harm (Hazards) and what is needed to avoid it and assesses the effectiveness of any control measures in place. Additional control measures can then be identified and put in place to reduce risks to as low as “reasonably practicable”.

Who carries out a Risk Assessment?

As an employer, you have a requirement by law to protect your employees, and others, from harm, and carry out suitable and sufficient Risk Assessment.

Is a risk assessment a requirement by law? 

Yes, under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, you are required to carry out suitable and sufficient Risk Assessment, this must be recorded if you have 5 or more employees.

How should a risk assessment be carried out? 

Assessing risk is just one part of the overall process used to control risks in your workplace.
For most small, low-risk businesses the steps you need to take are reasonably straightforward however it is advised that you get competent Health and Safety Advice.
Risk Assessment is a step-by-step process for controlling health and safety risks caused by hazards in the workplace.

The 5 steps to risk assessment are:

• Identify hazards
• Identify who could be harmed and how
• Assess the risks and identify suitable controls to reduce the risks to a suitable level
• Record your findings
• Review the risk assessment at suitable intervals or after any significant change

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