Risk assessment
This page provides information and advice about risk assessment. All employers need to carry out what might be considered to be risk assessments on a day to day basis during the course of their work.
The Management of Health and Safety at Work (MHSW) Regulations 1999 require all employers and the self-employed to assess the risks to workers and any others who may be affected by their undertaking.
Many employers already carry out what might be considered to be risk assessments on a day to day basis during the course of their work - they will note changes in working practices, recognise faults as they develop and take necessary corrective actions.
Regulation 3 of MHSW however requires that employers should undertake a systematic general examination of their work activity and if they employ five or more people record any significant findings of that risk assessment.
Risk assessment also fits into a four-part process for risk control, through the setting of performance standards, as follows: -
- Hazard identification
- Risk Assessment
- Risk control - the selection of suitable measures to eliminate or control risks.
- Implementing and maintaining control measures.
Definitions can be useful:
Hazard: Something with the potential to cause harm
Risk: The likelihood that the harm from a particular hazard is realised
Risk assessment in practice
There are no fixed rules about how a risk assessment should be carried out; it will depend on the nature of the undertaking and the type and extent of the hazards and risks.
The process should be practical, participative and systematic and cover risks which are reasonably foreseeable.
For small undertakings with few or simple hazards a suitable and sufficient risk assessment can be a straightforward process based on personal judgement, experience and knowledge.
In larger or more complex cases, specialist knowledge may be required.
In particular, a risk assessment should:
- ensure all relevant hazards and risks are addressed, with the aim of identifying significant risks in the workplace, ie
- identify the hazards (by observation, using sources of information such as legislation or published guidance, trade publications, accident or ill health records, manufacturers' or suppliers' information).
- assess the risks (including residual risks) from the identified hazards
- ensure all aspects of the work activity are reviewed - address what actually happens in the workplace, including non-routine operations
- ensure that all groups of employees and others who might be affected are considered
- identify groups of workers who might be particularly at risk
- take account of existing preventative or precautionary measures
The level of detail should be broadly proportionate to the risk. In some cases, employers may make a rough assessment, to eliminate from consideration those risks on which no further action need be taken, before conducting fuller assessments.
Recording the assessment
Employers with five or more employees must record the significant findings of their risk assessment.
It needs to be part of an employer's overall approach to health and safety and where appropriate should be linked to other relevant health and safety documents (e.g. policy statement).
This record would normally be in writing but can also be recorded electronically as long as it is retrievable.
Various written formats have, and can, be used; employers should select or develop a format appropriate to their needs. Assessments need to be suitable and sufficient, not perfect.
A template suitable for small businesses is available at Guidance on using the risk asssessment and policy template HSE website.
Leaflet IND(G)163 (rev1) '5 steps to risk assessment' includes a pro-forma risk assessment sheet aimed at firms in the commercial, service and light industrial sectors.
A free downloadable copy in PDF is available - Five steps to risk assessment (Health and Safety Executive books website).
Preventative and protective measures
In deciding upon the preventative and protective measures, the following principles should be applied:
1. It is always best if possible to avoid a risk altogether.
2. Combat risks at source.
3. Wherever possible, adapt work to the individual.
4. Take advantage of technological and technical progress.
5. They should form part of a coherent policy and approach.
6. Give a priority to those measures which protect the whole workplace.
7. Workers need to be involved, and understand what they need to do.
8. The development of a 'safety culture' within the organisation.
Examples of risk assessment
Case studies providing sample risk assessments for a wide range of industries is available from Example risk assessments (HSE website).
Last updated : 29/10/2010
