Risk Assessment

There is no such thing as a risk free workplace but you can minimise threats to health and safety through risk assessment. The following steps are the key to making health and safety pay:

Step 1: Look for the hazards
Step 2: Decide who might be harmed
Step 3: Evaluate the risks and whether existing precautions are adequate, or whether more can be done
Step 4: Record your findings
Step 5: Review and revise your assessment


Step 1: Looking for hazards in the workplace

Identify the hazards, which potentially cause harm to your work force or visiting public. The following are key areas to consider:

  • Slipping / tripping hazards, like poorly maintained floors or stairs
  • Fire, like flammable materials
  • Chemicals, like battery acid
  • Moving parts of machinery, like blades
  • Working at height, such as from mezzanine floors or scaffold
  • Ejection of material, like from plastic moulding
  • Pressure systems, like steam boilers
  • Vehicles, like fork-lift trucks
  • Electricity, look for poor wiring
  • Dust from grinding or wood
  • Fumes, from welding or chemical
  • Manual handling
  • Noise, damaging workers' hearing
  • Poor lighting
  • Low temperature

Step 2: Who might be harmed?

Consider groups of people doing similar work, or who may be affected.

  • Office staff
  • Maintenance personnel
  • Contractors
  • People sharing your workplace
  • Operators
  • Cleaners
  • Members of the public

Don't forget:

  • Staff with disabilities
  • Visitors
  • Inexperienced staff
  • Lone workers

They're potentially more vulnerable.

Step 3: Is there more you can do to control the risk?

For the hazards listed, do your precautions:

  • Meet the standards set by a legal requirement?
  • Comply with a recognised industry standard?
  • Represent good practice?
  • Reduce risk as far as reasonably practicable?

Have you provided:

  • Adequate information?
  • Sufficient training?
  • Adequate systems or procedures?

If you have taken care of all the above then you need to indicate the precautions in place and consistently keep them up to date. If your risk control falls short, create an 'action list' of points to improve upon.


Step 4: Record your findings

Keep a book handy to all relevant staff and add to it as and when you need to.


Step 5: Review and revise

Reduce complacency and ensure your risk control remains at its optimum level by constantly reviewing and updating your hazard precautions. Identify problems and take the relevant procedures to reduce the risks. This is especially important when making changes to your workplace, like introducing new machinery, substances and practices. All may require significant changes to your health and safety procedures.


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For information and advice on making your business a better business contact the HSE Infoline

0845 345 0055

Opening hours Mon-Fri 8am to 6pm