Page 71 - IGC BOOK

In order to be suitable and sufficient the risk assessment must

• State the names and competence of the assessor including HSE advisor assisted in carrying
out the assessment.
• Identify the hazards and risks from the work activities
• Identify the category of person at risk, including employees, visitors, trespassers and
vulnerable group.
• evaluate the risk and the effectiveness of existing controls
• identify suitable protective measures to reduce the risk level.
• prioritise the protective measures that be must be applied to prevent people.
• Comply with legislative requirement.
• also state that risk assessment remains valid for a reasonable time.

Risk assessment is a step by step approach to ensure that a suitable and sufficient is undertaken.

Carrying Out a Risk Assessment

Five Steps to Risk Assessment

Step 1 - Identify the Hazards

The first step in risk assessment is to identify the hazards that exist in the workplace. You need
to be aware of all the possible hazards, but it is the significant ones are important.

One approach is to take each task and break it down into steps, assessing the hazards
associated with each step. Each step will have its own hazards. The staff, actually performing the
tasks are likely to be the best people to assess them, although their familiarity with the job may
make them less objective about potential hazards:

• Physical, for example:
− Slipping or tripping hazards.
− Moving parts of machinery.
− Work at heights.

• Chemical, for example:
− Fumes, Vapours
− Chemicals (e.g. battery acids).

• Biological, for example:
− Viruses, Fungi
− Bacteria

• Ergonomic, for example:
− Manual handling.
− Poor lighting.

ENSIGN| Unit IG1 – Element 3 – Managing Risks – Understanding People and Processes 26