Risk Assessment

What is a risk assessment?

This is a procedure used to identify hazards and risks in the workplace. The assessment also identifies those risks that are significant, who is at risk and how to control reduce the risk.

What is a hazard? this is anything that has the potential to cause harm, loss or damage

What is a risk? this is the likelihood of a hazard being realised

Why do we Assess Risk?

There are a number of reasons why we risk assess:

• it is a legal requirement (Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, regulation 3)

• being able to identify hazards and risks will help reduce the level of accidents

• it can improve quality of the workplace and the working conditions

• by providing a safer working environment can help improve moral

• they can be used in the allocation of resources, both in the control of a hazard or in the prevention of the risks involved with a particular hazard

• it is good management practice to take all practicable steps to prevent accidents or loss in the workplace.

Failure of assessing the risk means:

• non compliance with the law resulting in fines, imprisonment and adverse publicity

• claims and compensation resulting from injury or even death

• the cost of accidents are expensive due to the loss of trained and competent staff and the costs associated with implementing corrective measures

Risk Assessment is not a complicate process, it is more about common sense and your knowledge of the tasks and workplace.

Are you sitting safely?

Often when we’re at work, we’re thinking about how to prioritise and respond to each of the ten emails that just landed in our inbox in the last ten minutes. Once these have been dealt with, we will probably start thinking about how to fit all of this work around the meetings we have scheduled that day.

While in the office, we’re probably thinking about everything apart from the most important aspect of our lives: our health. High standards of health and safety at work are key to maintaining good health as we work through to the end of our careers and approach retirement. Poor posture, repetitive wrist movements, and excessive sitting can all combine to pose serious health risks as we grow older. Read More

Great Advice Saves You Money

Sometimes when budgets tighten, businesses will look to save money by reducing the consultancy services that they outsource to experts.

Treating your health and safety advice in this way will actually end up costing you more money over the long-term. An experienced health and safety risk assessor will be able to save you an enormous amount of money each year. Here’s why:

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