Risk Assessment: Conducting, Recording and Reviewing

RISK ASSESSMENT
Conducting, Recording and Reviewing

In relation to any task, process, situation, activity, article or substance, risk assessment should inform the relevant employer or duty holder about the hazards, agents of harm and risks that are actually and potentially associated with it. The assessment should specify who can be harmed (or what could be damaged), how the harm and/or damage can occur and the controls necessary to reduce risk to the required level. Conducted properly, and provided controls are appropriate, effectively implemented and monitored, assessments address legal obligations and, for instance, matters raised by moral and economic arguments. As well as assisting the drive to reduce accidents, injury, ill-health, disease and property damage, risk assessments can provide greater understanding of the mechanisms of exposure and the types of accident that can occur.

The following resource will assist risk assessors and/or those seeking to understand the general risk assessment and review process, related terms, definitions and considerations. It will also assist accident investigators who need to enquire into the method and suitability of assessments as part of their investigations or when potential improvement opportunities have been identified.

Where the resource mentions harm to people, the process and methods described are equally applicable to damage i.e. to equipment, building, assets, the environment etc.

Whilst the legislation cited is specific to England & Wales, a professional application of the resource will assist compliance in any Country.

 

CONTENTS OF THIS RESOURCE

INTRODUCTION

Hazard – Defined

Risk – Defined

Assessing the Full Extent of the Risk

Evaluating the Existing Controls

Suitable and Sufficient Risk Assessment

GENERAL HAZARD CATEGORIES, HEALTH RISKS AND AGENTS OF HARM

ACUTE AND CHRONIC EFFECTS

EXAMPLES OF HAZARDS AND SOME OF THEIR POTENTIAL RISKS (1)

SPECIFIC ASSESSMENTS AND SPECIAL CASES

IDENTIFYING PEOPLE AT RISK

TYPES OF ACCIDENT

Accident – Defined

Near-miss – Defined

Incident – Defined

Dangerous Occurrence – Defined

Occupational ill-health – Defined

CONDUCTING A RISK ASSESSMENT

METHODS OF EVALUATING (RANKING OR RATING) RISK

RECORDING ASSESSMENTS

REVIEWING ASSESSMENTS

THE PRINCIPLES OF PREVENTION

EXAMPLES OF HAZARDS AND SOME OF THEIR POTENTIAL RISKS (2)

Exercise: Risk Assessment for Hand Held Petrol Driven Chainsaw

 

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