Risk Assessment | Main objectives / Risk Matrix / 5 Steps of RA / How to prepare Risk Assessment

HSE Academy2 minutes read

Risk assessment is a crucial process to evaluate risks associated with activities to prevent harm and loss. Steps include identifying risks, evaluating control measures, recording findings, and updating the assessment based on incidents or changes.

Insights

  • Risk assessment aims to prevent harm and loss by evaluating associated risks in activities, focusing on preventing death, injury, property damage, legal issues, and costs through a structured process of identifying, evaluating, recording, implementing controls, and reviewing and updating risks.
  • The risk assessment process involves detailed steps like identifying hazards, evaluating risks, recording findings, implementing controls, and reviewing incidents to update assessments. Utilizing a risk matrix to categorize risks based on probability and severity, along with a structured format detailing activities, hazards, control measures, and assigning responsibility, helps in assessing and mitigating risks effectively in workplace settings, emphasizing the importance of proactive safety measures like maintaining safe distances, speed limits, warning signs, designated personnel for tasks, and access restrictions to enhance overall safety and reduce risks.

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Recent questions

  • What is risk assessment?

    Evaluation process to prevent harm and loss.

  • What are the steps of risk assessment?

    Identify, evaluate, record, implement controls, review.

  • How is risk level determined?

    By evaluating probability and severity of risks.

  • What is the importance of recording findings in risk assessment?

    To ensure controls are implemented and available to all.

  • How can control measures mitigate risks in a workplace?

    By implementing safety protocols and measures.

Related videos

Summary

00:00

"Effective Risk Assessment for Preventing Harm"

  • Risk assessment is a process that evaluates risks associated with activities to prevent loss and harm.
  • Objectives of risk assessment include preventing death, personal injury, property damage, legal issues, and associated costs.
  • The five steps of risk assessment involve identifying risks, taking precautions, recording findings, implementing controls, and reviewing and updating.
  • The first step includes identifying people involved, inspecting the workplace, analyzing tasks, using non-inspection techniques, and considering various individuals present.
  • The second step involves evaluating risks, determining control measures, and assessing the remaining risk level.
  • The third step includes recording significant findings, implementing controls, and ensuring the risk assessment is available to all involved.
  • The fourth step entails reviewing and updating the risk assessment based on incidents, changes in materials or legislation, premises alterations, or policy updates.
  • The risk matrix combines probability and severity to categorize risks into low (green), medium (yellow), and high (red) levels.
  • The risk assessment format includes detailing the activity, identifying hazards, listing control measures, rating probability and severity, determining impact levels, noting additional control measures, assessing residual risk, and assigning responsibility.
  • An example activity of unloading reinforcement steel bars involves identifying hazards like vehicle movement, sharp edges, and improper stacking, implementing control measures, rating probability and severity, and determining the risk level for each hazard.

16:21

"Workplace Risk Assessment and Mitigation Strategies"

  • The risk assessment process involves evaluating potential hazards and assigning ratings based on the severity of possible outcomes. Ratings are determined by factors such as the likelihood of injuries or accidents, with higher ratings indicating greater risks.
  • To mitigate risks in a workplace setting, control measures such as maintaining a safe distance for vehicle movement, implementing speed limits, using warning signs, assigning a banksman for vehicle reversing, and restricting unauthorized access to certain areas can significantly reduce the risk level and enhance overall safety.
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