Step 3: Evaluate the risks and decide on precautions

Having spotted the hazards, you then have to decide what to do about them. The law requires you to do everything ‘reasonably practicable’ to protect people from harm. You can work this out for yourself, but the easiest way is to compare what you are doing with good practice.

There are many sources of good practice - HSE's website, HSE Infoline (Tel: 0845 345 0055) and Workplace Health Connect (Tel: 0845 609 6006) will all help.

So first, look at what you’re already doing, think about what controls you have in place and how the work is organised. Then compare this with the good practice and see if there’s more you should be doing to bring yourself up to standard. In asking yourself this, consider:

• Can I get rid of the hazard altogether?
• If not, how can I control the risks so that harm is unlikely?

When controlling risks, apply the principles below, if possible in the following order:

• try a less risky option (eg switch to using a less hazardous chemical);
• prevent access to the hazard (eg by guarding);
• organise work to reduce exposure to the hazard (eg put barriers between pedestrians and traffic);
• issue personal protective equipment (eg clothing, footwear, goggles etc); and
• provide welfare facilities (eg first aid and washing facilities for removal of contamination).

Improving health and safety need not cost a lot. For instance, placing a mirror on a dangerous blind corner to help prevent vehicle accidents is a low-cost precaution considering the risks. Failure to take simple precautions can cost you a lot more if an accident does happen.

Involve staff, so that you can be sure that what you propose to do will work in practice and won’t introduce any new hazards.