We all carry out Risk Assessments throughout our working & non working lives, often unconsciously. A simple example is when we cross road we look for a gap in the traffic and then attempt to cross safely. When we do this we subconsciously considering various factors like the speed of comming traffic, the road, the weather conditions, our own agility, the load we are carrying etc.

Risk can be defined as the likelihood that a hazard will cause actual harm. Risk assessment encourages the identification of items and situations that may cause accidental injuries or health problems, and the development of a measured and appropriate responce. Risk Assessment is essentially Proactive, designed to focus attention on what could happen, before it does happen.

The main purpose of carrying out risk assessments is to minimise the risk of accidents, injuries, ill health or losses occurring within an environment through:

• the identification of hazards
• evaluation of the risks associated to those hazards
• putting in place control measures to minimise the risks.

Once a risk assessment has been carried out, it should become a working document, which is reviewed regularly to ensure it is remains valid for its purpose and the control measures need to be implemented to ensure its effectiveness.

The benefits of carrying out Risk Assessments are varied and can include both human and financial benefits and compliance to legislation. Following are some of the key benefits of carrying out a Risk Assessment:

• Prevention of accidents, injuries & ill health & the costs associated with them
• Reduce deficiency in products or services
• Increasing quality standards, efficiency & productivity
• Increasing staff morale & motivation
• Legal compliance
• Reducing damage, uninsured losses & claims for compensation
• Controlling costs

The most daunting aspect of Risk Assessment is to determine just where to start. To ensure a successful and smooth running risk assessment programme it is important to invest time & effort at the preparatory stage.The Risk Assessment process can be considered as the following seven systematic stages:

1. Identification of the hazards
2. Identification of the people at risk
3. Evaluation of the risk
4. Identifying additional control measures
5. Identifying information & training needs
6. Making records
7. Monitoring & review

Hierarchy of control is a tried & tested grading of controls for health & safety matters. When you need to recommend control measures, you should use this hierarchy to make your decision-making more straightforward and to ensure that the controls you select are the most appropriate.

The Hierarchy is:

1. Elimination or Avoidance
2. Substitution
3. Controlling Risks at Source
4. Safe Working Procedures
5. Training, instruction and/or supervision
6. Personal Protective Equipment