Risk Assessments
WHY DO YOU NEED RISK ASSESSMENTS?
Every employer is under a statutory duty to arrange for a "competent person" to assess all risks arising at the workplace, or created by work activities. Some risks are of a general nature, but others will need to be considered against more specialised legislation.
Their purpose is to enable control measures to be devised by making a balanced judgment about the extent of the risk and its consequences against the time, trouble and cost of the steps needed to remove or reduce it.
Employers with five or more employees are required to record the significant findings of the assessment and any group of employees found to be particularly at risk.
WHERE ASSESSMENTS ARE NEEDED?
The more common subjects that give rise to an assessment duty are:
- General risks - (Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations).
- Where work activity take the individual to height - (The Work at Height Regulations)
- Where exposure to substances may cause damage to health - (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health COSHH)
- Where hazardous lifting or carrying tasks are undertaken - (Manual Handling Operations Regulations).
- Fire Safety - (Regulatory Fire Safety Reform Order).
- Where equipment is used including hand tools - (Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulation).
- Where personal protective equipment is needed as a last resort - (Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulation)
Risk assessments must be checked to ensure their validity, or when reports indicate that they may no longer be valid.
DO YOU PROVIDE A "SAFE WORKING ENVIRONMENT" FOR YOUR EMPLOYEES?
Our risk assessment process will help you to:
- Identify the hazards to which your employees and others are exposed.
- Establish the likelihood of harm from the hazards being realised i.e. the risk.
- Evaluate the extent of the risks (taking into account the existing control measures or precautions).
It is a working document which can be used to guide future actions aimed at improving health and safety. An action plan should them be produced in order that control measures may be readily identified and implemented.
Need more information on Health and Safety Policies?
Please phone 01773 606373 or fill out the quick contact form below. One of our expert advisors will be happy to assist you.