Health and Safety Risk Assessment

A health and safety risk assessment can simply be defined as a process which involves the identification of hazards and risks, the analysing and evaluation thereof, and determining the best way to control or eliminate the risk. A health and safety risk assessment is a crucial part of any effective occupational health and safety management plan. When an effective health and safety risk assessment is conducted, hazards and risks can be uncovered and the people who are most likely to be at risk can be identified and safeguarded.

What is a Risk Assessment? A health and safety risk assessment is a term which is used to describe an overall process involving: The identification of hazards as well as risk factors which have the potential to cause harm. The analysing and evaluation of the risk associated with that hazard. Determining the appropriate way to control the risk if the hazard cannot be eliminated. A health and safety risk assessment is a crucial part of any effective occupational health and safety management plan

Health and Safety Risk Assessment – Legal Requirements Is a Risk Assessment a legal requirement? Whether an employer runs a large, medium, or small organisation, or whether they are a sole trader, they must ensure that they are consistently compliant with the relevant laws that dictate their industry and trade. The necessary health and safety protocols must be followed and often there may be questions asked regarding risk assessments. Is a risk assessment a legal requirement? The short answer is yes. It is a legal requirement; however, it does not have to be a tedious, time-consuming exercise.

Leadership plays a crucial role in promoting organisational values as well as behaviours towards the transformation of health and safety performance and overall protection of employees along with service providers, contractors, and members of the public.