Conducting a Risk Assessment

Conducting a Risk Assessment – Conducting a proper risk assessment is vital to any business. It is the first thing inspectors from the Department of Labour will ask for when they visit a site. But a template for such assessment doesn't exist.

A risk assessment is expected to list any possible risk for injury or incident that could affect health and productivity of staff. It also is expected to elaborate on any controls that are in place already as well as those that have to be implemented. Be it employees having been exposed to extreme temperatures to those working with explosives; the moment you fail to explain why the company suddenly experiences a higher sick rate, you virtually admit that you haven't done your risk assessment appropriately.

Templates for risk assessments don't exist as the assessment has to be refreshed and updated all the time. A change in technology or the appointment of a new team can make existing plans suddenly become redundant. As long as you can vouch for having done a proper check, considered all people that can be affected, have assessed anything that could be considered as a significant risk, are confident that the risk remains low and that you are satisfied that you have all reasonable precautions taken, u should be on the safe side ?�.but only for a short period of time. Don't forget, the moment even the smallest variable changes, your risk assessment is outdated!