Health and Safety

Risk Assessments

It is important that you are aware of these documents.

The completion of written risk assessments is a legal requirement for all employers with 5 or more members of staff. It is important that the employer takes a look at all the tasks under their control and assesses whether the risks involved could affect the health and safety of employees, or anyone else and are controlled to a level that is acceptable.

The employer must ensure that the completed risk assessments are suitable and sufficient, this takes in a number of factors including only identifying the significant risks, ensuring that the level of risk arising from the employers work activity determines the content of the  assessment.

Additionally, the risk assessment must be appropriate to the nature of the work and the period of time for which it is likely to remain valid. Small businesses with simple hazards only need to undertake the most straightforward risk assessments. For work involving more complex processes or work activities, specialist risk assessment techniques may be necessary.