Evaluating risk – ‘Risk' and 'excitement' are closely connected and jobs should never become boring. But, when possible, health and safety practitioners should do whatever they can to reduce risk.
Employers can expect employees to apply common sense when working or lounging around the workplace. But that shouldn't stop them from striving to reduce risk where possible. Regular risk assessments are important but it doesn't stop with compiling a report; the risk also needs to be evaluated.
The fact that a likely incident has never occurred can never be the benchmark. Incidents do happen, and more often than not they happen when it is the least expected. The possible reduction of risk by continuously assessing and evaluating its value should always be 'first'. If it is not possible to completely reduce the risk being able to keep it under control will be a good 'second'. With new technologies and products coming out every day, a replacement for hazardous products (be it completely safe or less hazardous) should be sought continuously.
Evaluating risk allows the company to ensure chances will remain slim that things go wrong. And by implementing measures decided upon during the evaluation, employees can still rest assured that should it go wrong, it doesn't have to go wrong horribly.
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