General Risk Assessment Principles

By Author: Charles.
Total Articles: 13
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Risk assessments all too often become overcomplicated, lengthy documents which prove of no real use to the end user. As part of Lord Young’s recent review, emphasis has been placed on simplifying and reducing the amount of Health & Safety documentation particularly for perceived ‘low risk’ properties / activities. It is true to say that H & S is often blamed for the cancellation of popular longstanding activities with very little detail on why; toothpicks in restaurants, banning conkers in schools and no bumping on bumper cars being good examples.

In general terms assessments fall into one of the following categories;

Generic: A general risk assessment where hazards and control measures relevant to all / the majority of tasks being undertaken on a routine basis are identified

Individual: Taking into account additional hazards only relevant to that one operative / service user

Specific: Deals with a one off or site specific activity
All the above need not be mutually exclusive and in the large number of cases generic risk assessments can be adapted and modified to produce a site ...
... specific Risk Assessment from which a safe system of work can be developed.

The HSE defines risk assessment as a 5 step process, as below, and should involve teams, individuals and those with the relevant expertise.
1.Identify the hazards
2.Who might be harmed
3.Evaluate risk and decide on the precautions necessary
4.Record the assessment and implement the findings
5.Review and update regularly
For simpler tasks this can be undertaken at a site level and need be no more involved than a Company Manger going through the above process and recording the assessment on a template similar to those found in the HSE website.

For more complex hazards, such as fire, water, asbestos etc it may be necessary to engage the expertise of an external consultant to commission a specific risk assessment. Again, these should be as simple and logical as possible such that can be understood and acted upon by the end user.

For more information about risk assessments in general or for independent advice on building risk management please visit www.nemco-utilities.co.uk or call the office on 01284 724503.

Nemco Utilities is a premier supplier of Risk assessment services across UK for the prevention and control of risks associated with air, fire and water pathogens.