Workplace Risk Assessments - What Do They Involve?

Workplaces such as construction sites and factories can be dangerous environments. Even workplaces such as offices and schools which are considered to be generally safe can be home to a number of potential hazards such as unsupportive chairs, trailing computer wires, etc. According to the HSE, which is also known as the Health and Safety Executive, an estimated thirty five million working days are lost as a result of injuries caused in workplace accidents each year.

Workplace risk assessments are quite important when it comes to ensuring the health and safety of employees at the workplace. It is the duty of every employer to carry out regular risk assessments so that they are able to provide a safe working environment to the workers. Risk assessments are quite easy to carry out and when they are carried out, they reduce the likelihood of workplace accidents and injuries. They also reduce the likelihood of work injury claims and the pain and suffering that work injuries and accidents cause to the workers.

Employers have a strong legal duty to carry out risk assessments, but some companies, especially the smaller ones are not fully compliant with the legal requirements. Workplace risk assessments are important because they can help protect workers from harm and they can also reduce the likelihood of work injury claims being made against the employer.

When employers fail to undertake risk assessments and adopt preventative measures, they put the health and safety of their employees at risk. If a workplace accident has occurred because the employer failed to conduct risk assessments and identify the potential hazards, then the employer could face penalties for not taking reasonable safety measures.

Workplace risk assessments include performing a thorough assessment of all the areas where workers have access to. In addition, it should include assessment of all the procedures which workers are required to undertake and which could prove hazardous such as manual handling.

If workers are required to lift heavy objects, the employers must provide them training as well as mechanical assistance. Employers must take reasonable measures to reduce the risk of workers getting involved in manual handling accidents. Noise regulations must also be followed at the workplace if workers are exposed to excessive noise such as in the case of nightclubs, airports and construction sites.

Failure of the employer to carry out workplace risk assessments could result in injuries to the workers. Anyone who has been hurt at work because of the negligence of their employer may be entitled to make work injury claims.