Risk assessment

Information and resources on risk. Explore the links below to learn more.

• What is risk assessment?Open

  A risk assessment is simply a careful examination of what, in your work, could cause harm to people, so that you can weigh up whether you have taken enough precautions or should do more to prevent harm. Workers and others have a right to be protected from harm caused by a failure to take reasonable control measures.

  The aim should always be to reduce the risks as much as is 'reasonably practicable'. 'Reasonably practicable' is a legal term that means employers must balance the cost of steps that they could take to reduce a risk against the degree of risk presented.

  All locations and facilities should be included in the risk assessment. Surrounding businesses, local fire, police and community utilities should also be included in the assessment.

• Legal responsibilities around risk assessmentOpen

  The Management of Health and Safety at Work (MHSW) Regulations 1999 require all employers and the self-employed to assess the risks from their work to anyone who may be affected by their activities, for example employees, people who use services, volunteers and the general public.

  The regulations require employers to carry out a systematic examination of their work activities and record the significant findings of the assessment. If an employer has five or more employees, the findings must be recorded in writing.

• How to assess risk in the workplaceOpen

  The HSE advocates taking a five-step approach to risk assessment:

  • Identify the hazards.
  • Decide who might be harmed and how.
  • Evaluate the risks and decide on precautions.
  • Record your findings and implement them.
  • Review your assessment and update if necessary.

  There are a number of pieces of legislation that  identify a specific risk assessment, including:

  • the Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992
  • the Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992
  • the Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992
  • the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002
  • the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2002.

  The Display Screen Equipment Regulations

  Once the assessment is completed, a business can make decisions regarding methods of reducing and managing risks. By completing a risk assessment, an organisation can implement the best strategies for contingency planning.

  Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 (RIDDOR)

  The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 lay a legal requirement on employers, self-employed people and people in control of premises to report work-related deaths, major injuries, work-related diseases and dangerous occurrences (near-miss accidents). The number to call and the definition of terms are available on the HSE website.