CART Are Your Risk Assessments Tangible?
A risk assessment is a health and safety document that identifies potential risks in the workplace and outlines measures to control and minimise the likelihood of injuries.
There should be a risk assessment for every task carried out in a workplace, but this could diminish their value as people may view them as paper exercises and not a genuine reason for concern.
As an example:
If construction workers are required to wear safety boots and gloves before going on-site, a risk assessment should be conducted for each process. A risk assessment advising people to check their boots for mice, scorpions, and tarantulas could be created, but it would undermine the purpose of risk assessments.
Likewise, creating a risk assessment for gloves may seem pointless, yet it could be essential if the circumstances were different. Imagine these are no longer construction workers' gloves but health workers’ gloves, which deal with infected blood and bodily fluids. They need the exterior surface of the gloves to remain sterile when putting them on. Now, there’s a reason for the risk assessment, and once the risks have been identified, a method statement will be generated for the correct way to put on and take off gloves to mitigate risk.
One control measure would read put on and take off gloves as per the method statement. Other control measures may be about hygienic storage, safe disposal, duration of use, etc…
Yet what are control measures?
Control measures are actions that can be taken to reduce the potential exposure to a hazard. These measures can involve removing the hazard altogether or reducing the likelihood of being exposed to the hazard.
The best control measure is to remove the hazard completely where possible. Failing this, consideration must be given to how the risk can be controlled to an acceptable level.
A control measure's objective is to do everything that is 'reasonably practicable' to protect people from harm.
The HSEs definition of what reasonably practicable means is:
"Balancing the level of risk against the measures needed to control the real risk in terms of money, time or trouble."
What Does Tangiable Mean?
Question: “Is the risk tangible?”
And by "tangible," we mean: Is the risk real? Does it have real value and meaning? Would the risk be likely to cause harm if it wasn’t controlled?
If yes, it’s time to sharpen your pencil and write a risk assessment. If the answer is no, then move on to other workplace tasks.
Think of a risk assessment as a document and the evaluation of risks as a process. So, ASSESS the RISKS for TANGABILITY and only create a risk assessment if there is a genuine possibility of potential injury.
When assessing risks for a specific task, the following should be taken into account:
- Identification of any hazards or risks presented by the task.
- Assess and evaluate the effectiveness and suitability of current control measures.
- Implement new or additional control measures as needed, based on an evaluation of the existing control measures.
- If control measures are deemed inadequate or insufficient, stop or alter the task.
While risk assessments play an important safety role across various activities and workplaces, some tasks may be deemed low-risk enough that a formal, documented risk assessment is not strictly necessary, particularly in the context of smaller businesses. These tasks often encompass routines that have been thoroughly evaluated and understood, allowing for established protocols that mitigate risk to be passed on to new employees as they are taught their job role. Examples of such low-risk activities may include general office work, tasks with a minimal risk of injury, and engagements within environments where risks are already effectively managed.
Yet, even in circumstances where a formal risk assessment may not be required, it remains essential to identify potential hazards and pass this knowledge onto any staff who are carrying out a low-risk task. This is a reasonable precaution to maintain a safe working environment. Below are some specific low-risk activities that typically do not necessitate a formal, written risk assessment:
- General Office Work: Tasks such as typing on a computer, organising and filing documents, or handling telephone communications within a conventional office setup usually present minimal risk to personnel. Ergonomic adjustments and regular breaks can further enhance safety and comfort in these situations.
- Unoccupied Spaces: Entering an unoccupied space, such as a classroom, library, or study area, for a quick visual inspection or maintenance check generally does not require an extensive risk assessment, provided the area is known to be safe and free from hazards.
- Low-Risk Laboratory Activities: Engaging in routine laboratory activities where no experimentation is occurring and there is no risk of exposure to hazardous substances is typically considered low-risk. Ensuring that the environment is well-organised and that safety protocols are followed can help maintain this low-risk classification.
- Simple Manual Handling: Activities involving the transportation of light loads over short distances can often be managed without a formal assessment, especially when appropriate equipment (such as trolleys or carts) is readily available and workers are trained in safe handling techniques.
- Specific Repetitive Tasks: In instances where risks associated with repetitive tasks are already well understood and effectively controlled through established protocols—such as rotating job roles to minimise strain—comprehensive evaluations for each occurrence may not be warranted.
In summary, while certain low-risk activities may not require a formal risk assessment, it is still essential to promote a culture of safety and train staff in the prescribed manner to carry out tasks that have historically posed no harm.
Key elements to include in a risk assessment are: - Identification of potential hazards, including the likelihood of their occurrence and the severity of potential harm.
Identification of individuals or groups at risk and a detailed explanation of how the identified hazards could lead to injuries for those people.
Review existing measures to minimise risks and ensure all appropriate precautions are taken.
Identification of any further actions that may be required to address risks not covered by existing measures. This should include detailed instructions with assigned responsibilities and target completion dates.
In addition to these critical elements, setting target dates for completing the outlined actions is essential. This helps prioritise and prompt a timely response to address the identified risks.
Substance-related risks may require a separate assessment, such as a COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health) assessment. It is essential to identify any substances on your site that pose a risk and have a plan to address potential hazards.
If you need additional guidance on how to write a risk assessment, you can also check out our video tutorials and free templates that provide step-by-step instructions on the process.
Sample and examples can also be found on the HSE website:
