Are your risk assessments done right?

Risk assessments are often dismissed as paperwork to meet legal requirements. But done right, they’re so much more:

A proactive process to spot hazards, protect your workforce and ensure everyone gets home safe and sound. 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝟱 𝗸𝗲𝘆 𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗽𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗸 𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗲𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗳𝘂𝗹:

1️⃣ Identify the Hazards

Where could things go wrong? Machinery, chemicals, waste, environmental factors, psychological factors...

👉 Poor ventilation in a workshop can silently harm your team.

2️⃣ Decide Who May Be Harmed and How

It’s not just employees – think about visitors, contractors or cleaning staff as well.

👉 A visitor could face risks without correct signage.

3️⃣ Evaluate the Risks and Decide on the Precautions

How high are the risks? Where can precautions reduce them further? Machine guards, ventilation systems, training, PPE ...

👉 Fire extinguishers are essential, but when was your last fire drill? 🔥

4️⃣ Record Your Findings and Implement Them

Write down the hazards, risks and precautions. Always share the plan with your team and ensure it’s understood and followed.

👉 Assign regular checks on safety equipment like fire alarms and emergency lighting.

🚨 𝗦𝗮𝗳𝗲𝘁𝘆 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 – 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗻 𝗽𝗮𝗽𝗲𝗿, 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝗮𝗻𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗲. 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱, 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗮 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲.

5️⃣ Review Your Assessment and Update it Accordingly 

Workplaces evolve – and so should your risk assessments!

Are new hazards introduced with updated equipment or processes?

Are current precautions still effective or do they need improvement?

👉 A new machine might require updated training or additional protective measures.

𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗶𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀: You are legally required to evaluate any risks that could impact the health and safety of your employees, as well as anyone else who may be affected by your work activities. 

But more importantly, they’re about protecting your people.

𝗗𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗹𝗲𝘁 𝗥𝗔 𝗯𝗲 “𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗽𝗮𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸.” 𝗟𝗲𝘁 𝘂𝘀 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗮 𝘀𝗮𝗳𝗲𝗿, 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 – 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀.