Preventing injury in the workplace is a top priority for all business owners, but how can a workplace risk assessment help?
Creating a safe and hazard-free environment shows that the company cares about its employees, which builds trust and improves employee productivity. From wet floors to exposure to dangerous substances, every workplace environment has hazards that can cause health risks or injuries.
While quick and decisive action in times of emergency helps minimize health risks and injury, identifying risks in advance and planning ahead can prevent them from happening at all.
This is where risk assessment comes into play.
What Is Risk Assessment?
Workplace risk assessment is a primary management tool for ensuring the health and safety of employees, employers, and guests.
The critical process involves identifying and analyzing potential risks and hazards in a certain workplace. Key questions asked during this evaluation are:
- What hazards exist that may cause harm?
- How severe would the harm be?
- How likely is the harm to occur?
This assessment is typically conducted by a specialist who determines which safety measures should be in place to eliminate or control the risk in the workplace.
Why Are Risk Assessments So Important?
Beyond the fact that they’re a legal requirement, risk assessments can help save lives and reduce your company’s legal liability.
When carried out properly, this assessment can protect employees and customers from harm. Any hazards that may have caused accidents will be analyzed and effective control measures implemented.
Poor risk management can place a huge financial strain on businesses. If employees are affected by work-related injuries, they will need to take time off. Not only will you be required to cover sick pay, but there may also be legal fees if your company is in breach of health and safety requirements.
If the business has been found at fault for the incident, its credibility and reputation will take a hit.
The Risk Assessment Process
The first step in carrying out a workplace risk assessment is identifying what hazards employees and the business itself are facing, which may include natural disasters, biological hazards, and chemical hazards.
All aspects of the workplace are evaluated. Next, it is determined who might be harmed and how.
Using the list of potential hazards, how often an accident may occur and how severe the consequences will be is calculated. This will help decide where you should reduce the level of risk and what areas need to be prioritized first.
Finally, the risk assessment process must be written down, detailing what hazards were found, the people they affect, and the plan to mitigate them.
Workplace Safety Training and Risk Assessment
When it comes to workplace safety, you can never be too thorough.
Our team of experts at Advanced Consulting & Training provides workplace risk assessment services to help identify hazards and risk factors that could potentially harm the health and safety of your employees. Our decades of experience help us manage and eliminate any potential hazards. We’ll make sure your business meets health and safety regulations.
Reach out to us to learn more about our risk assessment services and ensure the safety of your employees today.
