How to Conduct a Health and Safety Risk Assessment
A health and safety risk assessment is a systematic process of identifying hazards in the workplace and evaluating the risks they pose. It is required under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, which obliges employers to perform suitable and sufficient risk assessments.
The 5 Steps to Risk Assessment (HSE Method)
Step 1: Identify Hazards
Walk around your workplace and identify what could cause harm:
- Physical hazards — machinery, vehicles, slips, trips, falls
- Chemical hazards — cleaning products, solvents, dusts
- Biological hazards — bacteria, viruses, waste
- Ergonomic hazards — manual handling, repetitive tasks, poor posture
- Psychosocial hazards — stress, workload, lone working
- Environmental hazards — noise, temperature, lighting
Step 2: Decide Who Might Be Harmed and How
Consider:
- Employees (including young workers, new/expectant mothers)
- Contractors and agency workers
- Visitors and members of the public
- People who may not be present all the time (cleaners, maintenance)
- People with specific vulnerabilities or disabilities
Step 3: Evaluate the Risks and Decide on Controls
For each hazard, assess the likelihood of harm occurring and the severity of potential harm. Then implement the hierarchy of control:
- Eliminate the hazard entirely
- Substitute with a less hazardous alternative
- Engineering controls — guards, barriers, isolation
- Administrative controls — procedures, training, rotation
- Personal protective equipment (PPE) — last line of defence
Step 4: Record Your Findings
Document:
- The hazards identified
- Who might be harmed and how
- The existing control measures
- Any additional controls needed
- Who is responsible for implementing controls
- Review dates
Step 5: Review and Update
Review your risk assessment:
- At least annually
- After any accident or near-miss
- After changes to work activities, equipment or personnel
- After new legislation or guidance is published
Legal Requirements
Under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999:
- Employers with 5 or more employees must record risk assessments in writing
- Employers with fewer than 5 employees do not need to write down risk assessments, but it is good practice
- Risk assessments must be suitable and sufficient
- Non-compliance can result in enforcement notices and prosecution
Book Risk Assessment Training in Yorkshire
Livius Training provides risk assessment training and IOSH Managing Safely courses covering risk assessment methodology. View health and safety courses or call 01423 396780.
