Risk Assessment
Every employer is under a statutory duty to arrange for a "competent person" to assess all risks arising at the workplace, or created by work activities. Some risks are of a general nature, but others will need to be considered against more specialised legislation.
What is a risk assessment?
A risk assessment is nothing more than a careful examination of what, in your work, could cause harm to people, so that you can weigh up whether you have taken enough precautions or should do more to prevent harm. The aim is to make sure that no one gets hurt or becomes ill. Accidents and ill health can ruin lives, and affect your business too.
| What is a hazard and risk? |
Hazard means anything that can cause harm(eg work from ladders, chemicals)
Risk is the chance/likelihood, high or low, that somebody will be harmed by the hazard.
Meaning : Reducing the risk of injury from those hazards to as low as is “reasonably practicable” |
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Where assessments are needed?
The more common subjects that give rise to an assessment duty are:
General risks (Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations)
- Display Screen Equipment (Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations)
- Manual Handling tasks (Manual Handling Operations Regulations)
- Exposure to substances may cause damage to health (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations)
Example - Display Screen Equipment Assessments |
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If you have employees who regularly use display screens equipment as a significant part of their work then you need to:
- analyse workstations, and assess and reduce risks;
- ensure workstations meet minimum requirements;
- plan DSE work so that staff have breaks or changes of activity;
- provide eyesight tests for DSE users who request them, and provide spectacles if special ones are needed; and
- provide health and safety training and information for DSE users.
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arusafe can help!
We can assist in preparing documentation, carrying out general office inspections, and undertaking more detailed surveys such as legionella assessments and fire safety risk assessments.
