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The past year, with the emergence and spread of SARS-CoV-2, the classification of it as a pandemic, and the subsequent lockdown and quarantine regulations that followed to curb the spread of the virus, has changed the way in which a lot of businesses operate. Employees were forced to work remotely, where possible, for long durations of time and it became imperative to include health and safety risk assessments for working from home, as the home environment, much like any other, also presents its own unique hazards and risks.

The types of health and safety risk assessment methods depend on the type of assessment that is being carried out. There are three main types that can be identified, which will be discussed in the article in detail, they are: Baseline Risk Assessment Issue-Based Risk Assessment Continuous Risk Assessment

Health and Safety Risk Assessment for Employees Overview Employers have a legal obligation to consult with employees, or Health and Safety Representatives, on matters relating to health and safety. It is imperative that employers make provision for health and safety risk assessment for employees as health and safety is the responsibility of employees as well and they have legal obligations as well. However, in the following sections, how employers must consult with their employees, over what, and why, will be discussed in detail.

Health and safety risk assessments involve a thorough examination of the work environment to ensure that there are no health or safety hazards and risks that may cause harm to employees, visitors, or to members of the public.

A health and safety risk assessment process is a systematic process that includes the following steps: Identification of hazards and risk factors that have the potential to cause harm to employees. An analysis and evaluation of the risks that are associated with the hazards identified. A determination of the appropriate ways in which the hazards can be eliminated or controlled where the hazard cannot be eliminated.

When employers consider the implementation and maintenance of an effective health and safety management programme, it is imperative to look further than what it will cost to implement and maintain a system to see the health and safety, and financial benefits that can be derived from ensuring a healthy and safe work environment.

All employers, whether they are self-employed workers, contractors, or owners and CEOs of larger organisations, are legally required to assess the hazards and risks to the health, safety, and wellbeing of employees, and anyone else who may be affected by their work activities.

Health and Safety Risk Assessment Audit Overview Risk assessments are a crucial and vital management tool used to ensure health and safety of employees and others that may visit and enter the premises. Employers are legally responsible for ensuring a healthy and safe workplace and a risk assessment is the best way to ensure compliance. Health and safety risk assessment audits are also a vital part of the process, ensuring that the risk assessment is relevant and that the control measures are still valid. However, before exploring this, it is important to examine the components of the risk assessment from start to finish.

Managing health and safety in the organisation is not only good for employees, but also shows positive impacts on the business and the employer. Regardless of the size of the business, it is imperative for employers to effectively manage health and safety. Employers are legally obligated to ensure a working environment that is healthy, safe, and free of harm for employees, visitors, and members of the public who enter the premises, or who may be affected by activities of the organisation.