Risk assessment

The most significant of these actions is the obligation to make a suitable and sufficient risk assessment of the risks to the health and safety of employees while at work by identifying where risks exist and putting in place preventive or protective control measures necessary to manage the risks.
A suitable and sufficient risk assessment does the following.

• Correctly identifies any significant and foreseeable risk.
• Helps assessors decide what action needs to be taken and what priorities should be.
• Is appropriate for the type of work activity.
• Remains valid for a reasonable time.
• Reflects what employers might be expected to know about the risks associated with their business.

For businesses with five or more employees, the key findings of the assessment must be recorded in writing – this can be held electronically – and should include details of any group of employees found to be particularly at risk, such as young  or pregnant people.

Preventive and protective measures must follow a prescribed hierarchy: