There are hazards in every workplace, and these can lead to accidents that harm employees and the reputation of a business. According to HSE, the current rate of non-fatal injuries at work in the UK reached 561,000 in 2022/23. Conducting risk assessments is a primary management tool that can mitigate accidents at work.
A risk assessment is a rigorous process of systematically identifying hazards, the associated risks and how measures can be employed to mitigate them. These should be employed regularly and ingrained into standard business procedures.
What is usually involved in a risk assessment?
Risk assessments consider all the aspects of a workplace and generally follow some simple steps. Employers should:
- List the risks to health and safety present in the workplace
- Evaluate who might be harmed and how
- Assess whether current precautions are effective
- Revise protective measures and implement more if necessary
Identifying Risks
Many hazards pose a risk to staff and business operations, however some are industry-specific. Some common types of risk assessments include:
Fire risks
Fire safety procedures are required to be established in workplaces by law. A sufficient fire risk assessment involves taking an organised look at what activities could cause harm to people from fire. Having emergency incident markers and lighting installed, as well as the safe storage of specialist electrical tools are solutions to mitigate fire risks.
Manual handling
Every year, around 300,000 workers suffer an injury from manual handling incidents. This type of risk assessment should be conducted in any environment where employees are at risk of ill health when lifting or moving loads. High-quality tutorial support and training materials on proper manual handling techniques should be provided.
Display Screen Equipment (DSE)
Computers, laptops and other device screens can pose a risk to employee health. DSE assessments evaluate every workstation and provide recommendations to alleviate common problems such as screen glare, bad posture and body pain.
Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH)
For workplaces that store and handle hazardous materials and chemicals, a COSHH risk assessment should be carried out. Workplaces should provide training and equipment that mitigates risk and injury.
Why is it important?
Compliance
Some industries require a risk management plan to stay compliant with legal requirements and avoid penalties. Employers have a responsibility by law to protect their staff and take all necessary precautions to mitigate threats. Risk assessments reduce a business’s legal liability.
Protection and preparation
Risk assessments are a company’s first line of defence against accidents. By looking at potential hazards ahead of time, a business can take proactive steps to reduce harm and be better equipped in the event of an incident.
Smart decision making
Risk management plans make business decisions more streamlined, especially during a crisis. A step-by-step plan allows operations to function under pressure and to allocate the required resources.
