Why is risk assessment important

This can apply to any activity, such as security systems and facilities management, or purchasing new machinery in a production facility, or even just moving a photocopier in an office. All changing circumstances need to be assessed to ensure all eventualities and their associated risks have been considered, before you move on and fully implement that change.

We can work with you to carry out a comprehensive risk assessment programme to ensure that all your processes and activities are covered for potential hazards. Then we can help you implement and monitor control measures and manage future change, continually updating the documented risk assessments by re-visiting all operations on a regular basis. This maintains your risk assessments as current and valid, but also continuously identifies areas for improvement. Friend's Email Address.

Your Name. Your Email Address. Send Email. Search for:. Facebook 0 Tweet 0 LinkedIn 0 Email 0. Emergency planning A risk assessment can act as a plan to cover emergency situations, because you have to consider all potential eventualities in the same way as normal, everyday processes. Improvement Finding an alternative way to how an operation or process can be safely and securely carried out is a critical part of the risk assessment process.

Compliance We now know that risk assessments are a good and comprehensive management tool for an efficient organisation, but fundamentally, as an employer you have a legal duty to provide a safe and secure workplace. Managing change Risk assessments are a very useful tool when looking to forward plan and implement change.

Keeping records of your assessment and any control actions taken is very important. You may be required to store assessments for a specific number of years. Check for local requirements in your jurisdiction. Add a badge to your website or intranet so your workers can quickly find answers to their health and safety questions.

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OSH Answers Fact Sheets Easy-to-read, question-and-answer fact sheets covering a wide range of workplace health and safety topics, from hazards to diseases to ergonomics to workplace promotion. Search all fact sheets: Search. Type a word, a phrase, or ask a question. Risk assessment is a term used to describe the overall process or method where you: Identify hazards and risk factors that have the potential to cause harm hazard identification.

Analyze and evaluate the risk associated with that hazard risk analysis, and risk evaluation. Determine appropriate ways to eliminate the hazard, or control the risk when the hazard cannot be eliminated risk control.

The CSA Standard Z "Occupational health and safety - Hazard identification and elimination and risk assessment and control" uses the following terms: Risk assessment — the overall process of hazard identification, risk analysis, and risk evaluation. They help to: Create awareness of hazards and risk. Identify who may be at risk e. Determine whether a control program is required for a particular hazard. Determine if existing control measures are adequate or if more should be done.

Prevent injuries or illnesses, especially when done at the design or planning stage. Prioritize hazards and control measures. Meet legal requirements where applicable. The goal is to try to answer the following questions: What can happen and under what circumstances? What are the possible consequences? How likely are the possible consequences to occur? Is the risk controlled effectively, or is further action required?

There may be many reasons a risk assessment is needed, including: Before new processes or activities are introduced. Before changes are introduced to existing processes or activities, including when products, machinery, tools, equipment change or new information concerning harm becomes available. When hazards are identified. In general, determine: What the scope of your risk assessment will be e. The resources needed e. What type of risk analysis measures will be used e.

Who are the stakeholders involved e. What relevant laws, regulations, codes, or standards may apply in your jurisdiction, as well as organizational policies and procedures. In general, to do an assessment, you should: Identify hazards.

Determine the likelihood of harm, such as an injury or illness occurring, and its severity. Consider normal operational situations as well as non-standard events such as maintenance, shutdowns, power outages, emergencies, extreme weather, etc. Review all available health and safety information about the hazard such as Safety Data Sheet SDS , manufacturers literature, information from reputable organizations, results of testing, workplace inspection reports, records of workplace incidents accidents , including information about the type and frequency of the occurrence, illnesses, injuries, near misses, etc.

Understand the minimum legislated requirements for your jurisdiction. Identify actions necessary to eliminate the hazard, or control the risk using the hierarchy of risk control methods. Evaluate to confirm if the hazard has been eliminated or if the risk is appropriately controlled. Monitor to make sure the control continues to be effective.

Keep any documents or records that may be necessary. Documentation may include detailing the process used to assess the risk, outlining any evaluations, or detailing how conclusions were made. When doing an assessment, also take into account: The methods and procedures used in the processing, use, handling or storage of the substance, etc. The actual and the potential exposure of workers e. The measures and procedures necessary to control such exposure by means of engineering controls, work practices, and hygiene practices and facilities.

The duration and frequency of the task how long and how often a task is done. Yes, it is strongly recommended that all companies, regardless of size, thoroughly document any risk assessments that they conduct. If a safety-related incident should happen to occur, this documentation can be used to demonstrate that a risk assessment was done properly and that all necessary risk mitigation strategies were put into place. OEMs have a duty to their customers to make them aware of any residual risk associated with the operation of equipment.

The end-user should reduce any further identified risk through additional safeguards and administrative measures including supervision, warning signs, and training.

Generally, a risk assessment can be considered accurate if it can be demonstrated that all the minimum requirements established by an industry have been met or exceeded and that results are periodically reviewed and confirmed.

If you have conducted a good risk assessment, it will satisfy standards in most countries. It immediately follows management leadership and employee participation.

When identifying hazards, it is sometimes necessary to look systematically at the components that control the hazard or protect people from the hazard. Valves slow down, brakes wear out, mechanical door switches can fail, etc. If components are relied upon for safety, the failure modes and their effect on safety must be analyzed.

This article is for educational purposes only and is accurate as of the time of publication. Intuitive, easy-to-use, feature rich model available in 23 mm resolution in a full-featured design with no blind zone. Available in 7 defined area heights from to mm in 70 mm IP69 hygienic tubular enclosure with hydrophobic vents to prevent condensation.

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Cancel Send. Send Cancel. Don't show again. Sign in or create an account OK Don't show again. Image: A risk assessment helps determine the strategies needed to minimize hazards. Q: What is a risk assessment? Q: What steps must be taken in a risk assessment? The fundamental steps in the risk assessment process include: Identifying tasks and the associated hazards in the workplace, Assessing the probability and severity of harm, Reducing the risk of harm through the elimination of the hazard or through the use of safeguarding methods, and Documenting the process and the results.

Q: What standards should be followed? There are many standards! Q: Who is responsible for conducting a risk assessment?