A risk assessment is identifying workplace hazards and come up with suitable control measures.
Hazards pose threats to people, properties and the environment. Hazards could lead to injury, disease, property damage, pollution or death.
Risk Assessment Steps
The aim of the risk assessment is to reduce work related injury, ill-health, damage to properties and death. The steps involved in risk assessment are:
- Conduct a site inspection.
- Risk level assessment.
- Review of adopted control measures.
- Develop health and safety policy.
Site Inspection
Inspection of sites is to be done so as to identify hazards that are present. During site inspection, the following are to be noted down and answers should be provided.
- What are the hazards you identified?
- Who might be harmed and how?
- What should you do immediately to correct the harm?
- What further action is necessary in the future?
- Who should be responsible for this action?
- When should the action start?
- When should the action end?
Risk Level Assessment
The severity of risks is to be determined using the risk assessment matrix. The risk level assessment steps involve identifying:
- Categories of hazards (Ergonomics, Chemical, Electrical, Confine space, Working at heights, Manual handling, etc.);
- Hazard risks level (Extreme, High, Medium or Low); and
- Control measures.
Review of adopted control measures
The step involves reviewing of the control measures. As a guide, the following question should be answered.
- Are the control measures sufficient and effective in minimizing the level of risk?
- Will there be changes to the control measures? (if yes, state period)
- Will there be need for further control measures in future?
- Will there be need for training of workers? (if yes, state training type, for who and when)
- Will there be need to review this assessment in the future? (if yes, state when)
Develop health and safety policy
The employer shall put in place control measures that protect the health and safety of its employees and others that may be affected by the activities of the company. All employees must be given their copies each.
The health and safety policy will contain the following
- Statement of intent: this contains identified hazards in the workplace and what needs to be done for employees to be protected from the health and safety risks.
- Responsibilities of employer and employees.
- Arrangement: actions to be carried out to prevent employees from accidents and workplace related ill health.
When there are changes to the job processes such as new work activities or equipment, the risk assessment should also be reviewed to accommodate the new processes.
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Kazeem Olugbade, ProFM, is a facility management professional who has extensive knowledge and skills in the subject areas.
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