Risk Assessment

“A health and safety tool used to quantify the level of risk associated with a task, process, procedure or substance in the planning stage of implementing a safe system”

Risk - is the likelihood of a substance, activity or process to cause harm

Assessment – an evaluation in order to decide which measures are, or should be, in place to eliminate or control any potential situation.

The Law - The Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004:

A duty of reasonable care is owed to others, and the threat of prosecution or other enforcement action is a consequence of failure to comply.

Section 6 (1) states:

“It shall be the duty of every employer to ensure “so far as reasonably practicable” the safety, health and welfare at work of all its employees”

The duty to provide “a suitable and efficient” assessment” of the exposure to risk of safety and health”, and further states that: “The duty to carry out Health and Safety Risk Assessment.” where activities (although done in different locations) where the hazard and associated risk are the same, a general risk assessment can be made. This is known as a “generic” assessment and may be shown in the safety policy document. A special assessment can also be made where the hazard associated with a particular situation is unique.

An annual risk assessment according to the OSH Act 2004:

Section 13 A states:

(1) Every employer shall make a suitable and sufficient annual assessment of;

The risk to safety and health of his employees to which they are exposed to while at work; and
The risk to health and safety of persons not in his employment arising out of or in connection with the environmental impact of his undertaking for the purpose of identifying what measures are necessary for compliance with this Act or any other statutory provision.

Learning Outcomes

At the end of this training, persons should be able to;

To determine the measures to reduce the level of occupational injuries and illnesses.

Assist in the evaluate the hazards in the workplace or environment.

Examine the existing measures in place for its effectiveness and appropriateness.