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Hi all
This month we are looking at one of those subjects which can frighten businesses or self employed and is often seen as one of the most boring subjects ever. "Risk Assessments". In the UK risk assessments are a legal requirement under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations. If you employ more than 4 people (even if you have 4 part time employees in different locations) then you have to ensure that your risk assessments are written down. However don't think that because you only have 1 employee you get away with it as you still have to carry these out but you just don't have to write them down.
Below I have written out how to carry out a basic risk assessment using the "5 steps" approach.
How to carry out Risk Assessments
Employers are required to complete risk assessments under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999.
There are many potential accidents just waiting to happen in the workplace and resulting accidents and health problems can change or even devastate lives forever and damage your business. Carrying out a risk assessment will identify and minimise these risks, although impossible to remove all risks, you are obliged to protect people as far as 'reasonably practicable'.
5 Steps to Risk Assessment
If you decide to carry out the assessment yourself there are 5 Steps to the Risk Assessment as recognised and recommended by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
1. Identify the hazards
Identify the areas you believe could cause an accident or prove harmful in your workplace. Involve your staff in this process as they will be aware of dangers that might not be instantly obvious to you. Check through the accident and sickness records as these can highlight possible issues. Manufacturers' instructions and guidelines can also help to identify potential dangers when using equipment or substances. The HSE website issues useful information on hazards and guidelines on how to control them. Also take into consideration possible long term effects that might harm, such as constant high levels of noise.
2. Decide who might be at risk and why
Identify who might be at risk. People in a higher risk category are trainees, pregnant women, young workers and those with disabilities. Also take into consideration the people who aren't there for the work day, such as visitors, clients and service providers.
3. Evaluate the risk and decide on precautions
Once the risks are identified, assess if existing precautions are sufficient and if not think about improving conditions to minimise risk.
If the risk cannot be removed completely, consider controlling it by considering less hazardous options, avert access to the hazard, re-organise the workplace to minimise contact to the danger, provide protective equipment or provide safety facilities such as first aid.
4. Record your findings and implement them
If you have over 5 staff you have to keep written records of your risk assessment. Details need to demonstrate you carried out a proper check, you identified who might be affected, risks were dealt with, you took into account the number of people who could be involved, the precautions put into place are reasonable and the staff were involved.
Prioritize the tasks and deal with the most important first. Try to come up with long term solutions. Arrange training programs for staff on risks in the work place and ensure they know how to deal with them. Put regular checks into place to ensure controls stay in place and delegate tasks and responsibility to staff.
5. Review your assessment and update if necessary.
Companies are always updating with new technology, equipment and procedures, these could lead to new hazards so ensure you go through the same process as before. It's a good idea to re-examine your assessment regularly to make sure that the precautions are still working effectively and see if improvements can be made.
When you carry out your risk assessment try to cover everything possible to cover every eventuality. Find out as much information as you can on the guidelines, read it and pass it onto your staff. Health and Safety guidelines are there to help you find ways to avoid accidents, use them to your advantage.
Please remember if you're carrying out risk assessments in your workplace then ensure that your staffs are suitably trained. Courses for risk assessments can be seen at: http://www.rbhealthandsafety.co.uk/healthandsafety.html
Alternatively you may want to get a consultant to carry out your risk assessments for you, this may not cost as much as you think:
http://www.rbhealthandsafety.co.uk/gen_assessment.html
Should you want to discuss any aspects of health and safety risk assessments then please feel free to get in touch?
www.rbhealthandsafety.co.uk
Any ideas on subjects for next months issue? If you do then please get in contact.
"Richard Beale plays the lead role in one of the UK's leading health and safety training and consultancy services working with companies throughout the UK and abroad. His enthusiasm for his subject, along with many years experience in the industry has earned him the right to speak on this important subject. Each month, Richard will be sharing with us principles fundamentals and concepts that can keep us safe at home and in the workplace." |
