What is a Health & Safety Risk Assessment?
What is a Health & Safety Risk Assessment?
A Health & Safety Risk Assessment is a systematic process used to identify potential hazards in the workplace, evaluate the risks associated with these hazards, and determine appropriate measures to mitigate or eliminate the risks. This process is a fundamental aspect of workplace safety management and is a legal requirement under Irish law, specifically the Safety, Health, and Welfare at Work Act 2005.
Some typical examples of hazards may include:
- Manual Handling
- Office/Administration Work
- Driving for Work
- Material Storage
- General Buildings/Offices
- Mobile Plant/Machinery
- Lone Working
- Pregnant Employees
- Young Employees
- Stress
- Fatigue
- Manufacturing Plant
- Interacting with the Public
What is the process of a Health & Safety Risk Assessment?
How is this completed?
01. Hazard Identification:
- A hazard is any task/item with the potential to cause harm. Examples include machinery, chemicals, working at heights, or repetitive tasks.
- The first step involves identifying all potential hazards in the workplace.
02. Risk Evaluation:
- After identifying hazards, the next step is to assess the level of risk, which is the likelihood of harm occurring and the potential severity of that harm.
- This involves considering who might be harmed (employees, contractors, visitors, etc.) and how they might be harmed.
03. Control Measures:
- Based on the risk evaluation, control measures are put in place to reduce the risk to an acceptable level. These can include eliminating the hazard, substituting less dangerous materials or processes, implementing engineering controls, providing protective equipment, or introducing work procedures and training.
04. Documentation:
- The findings of the risk assessment must be documented.
- The documentation typically includes the hazards identified, the level of risk assessed, the control measures required, and the responsible persons for maintaining these measures.
05. Review and Update:
- Risk assessments are not static; they should be regularly reviewed and updated, when there are changes in the workplace (new equipment, processes, etc.), after an incident, or if new hazards are identified.
Any final key piece of information I as an employer must know?
The Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 outlines the requirements to safeguarding the wellbeing of employees in Ireland.
Part 2, Section 8 focuses on the responsibilities of employers to ensure a safe workplace environment, emphasising risk assessment, hazard prevention, and the provision of necessary information and training to employees. Part 3, Section 20 further strengthens this by mandating the preparation, implementation, and regular review of this safety statement, ensuring that safety protocols evolve in response to changing workplace conditions and risks. Together, these sections establish a comprehensive framework for promoting occupational health and safety standards across various industries, underscoring the Act’s commitment to protecting the welfare of workers throughout Ireland.
General duties of the employer (Part 2, section 8)
To implement the safety, health and welfare measures necessary for protection of employees, as identified through risk assessments and ensuring that these measures take account of changing circumstances and the general principles of prevention specified in Schedule 3, Safety, Health, and Welfare at Work Act 2005.
Safety Statement: (Part 3, Section 20)
Employers must have a written Safety Statement, based on the hazard identification and Risk Assessment carried out, which specifies how they are going to manage and secure the safety, health and welfare of all employees at work.
The Safety Statement should specify:
- The hazards identified and risks assessed,
- The protective and preventive measures taken and the resources provided,
- The emergency plans and procedures,
- The duties of the employees,
- The names, job titles and positions of anyone assigned with safety responsibilities.
The Safety Statement should be brought to the attention of:
- Employees at least annually or when there are any changes,
- Newly recruited employees upon the commencement of employment,
- Other persons at the place of work who may be exposed to any specific risk.
The Employer must review the Safety Statement if:
- There is a significant change to the matters it relates to,
- There is any other reason to believe that it is no longer valid,
- An inspector (from the HSA) directs the Statement to be amended.
If you think you need a Health & Safety Risk Assessment of your task/equipment/workplace completed or amendments made to your company Safety Statement, please reach out to our Health & Safety Team Lead, Seán to discuss at s.fay@ors.ie.