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Understanding Risk Assessment

All employers are legally required to protect their employees and others from harm.

Under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, employers must, as a minimum:
• Identify hazards—anything that could cause injury or illness in the workplace.
• Assess the risks—consider how likely it is that someone could be harmed and the potential severity.
• Take appropriate action to eliminate the hazard, or, if elimination is not possible, implement control measures to minimise the risk.

This process is known as risk assessment and forms the foundation of effective risk management within the workplace. For most small, low-risk businesses, completing a risk assessment is a straightforward process that can be carried out by following five simple steps.

By the end of this course, learners will be able to:

• Explain the legal duties of employers under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999.
• Define the concepts of hazards and risks within the workplace.
• Identify common workplace hazards and assess the likelihood and severity of potential harm.
• Outline the steps involved in conducting a basic risk assessment.
• Apply appropriate measures to eliminate or control identified risks, particularly in low-risk business environments.

Approximate Completion Time: 40 minutes