Risk Assessment guidance

Step 1: What are the workplace hazards. Commonly divided into the following categories that will
give a guide as to what to look for:

Biological. Biological hazards include viruses, bacteria, insects, animals, etc., that can cause adverse
health impacts. For example, mould, blood and other bodily fluids, harmful plants, sewage, dust and
vermin.
Chemical. Chemical hazards are hazardous substances that can cause harm. These hazards can result
in both health and physical impacts, such as skin irritation, respiratory system irritation, blindness,
corrosion and explosions.
Physical. Physical hazards are environmental factors that can harm an employee without necessarily
touching them, including heights, noise, radiation and pressure.
Safety. These are hazards that create unsafe working conditions. For example, exposed wires or a
damaged carpet might result in a tripping hazard. These are sometimes included under the category
of physical hazards.
Ergonomic. Ergonomic hazards are a result of physical factors that can result in musculoskeletal
injuries. For example, a poor workstation setup in an office, poor posture and manual handling.
Psychosocial. Psychosocial hazards include those that can have an adverse effect on an employee’s
mental health or wellbeing. For example, sexual harassment, victimisation, stress and workplace
violence.

Step 2: Who might be harmed and how: Is it a single person or multiple people. Is it an
employee/contractor or member of the public?

Now quantify this risk- how severe an event/injury can occur from coming into contact with the
hazard and how likely is it to occur.

Risk= Severity x Likelihood

If the risk is low and acceptable without further action then you may not need to go any further just
remember that you must reduce the risk to ‘as low as is reasonably practicable’

Step 4- what can you do to control the risk further. Can you reduce the severity of an event e.g using
a manual handling aid like a sack barrow or can you reduce the likelihood e.g. working at height with
guard rails in place reduces the likelihood of a fall. Control measures can be a combination of things
and should take into account the hieracrchy of control, always try and adopt the measures at the top
of the hierarchy:
Elimination – physically remove the hazard.
Substitution – replace the hazard.
Engineering controls – isolate people from the hazard.
Administrative controls – change the way people work.
PPE – protect the worker with equipment.
Always try and use collective measures, collective measures protect more than one person at any
one time, eg scaffolds, airbags, nets etc and they are usually passive (ie they require no action by the
user to work effectively).

Step 5- Quantify the risk with control measures in place. Is it now acceptable and reduced as far as is
reasonable practicable? Record your findings and communicate them to persons carrying out the
work. You will also need to monitor your risk assessment to ensure it stays relevant and your control
measures keep working.