Page 33 - BOSS Today Issue 20

HAZARD

COUNTING

What does a ‘risk assessment’ look like and what should

you (politely) do with it?

Look Inside The ‘Six Pack’ Of course, you cannot ‘risk’. These often get mixed up, and the standard of practice
The early 1990s saw the eliminate all hazards and risks and until you understand the required. This can be an area
introduction of six key pieces within your business, but the definitions your risk assessments where employers can forget
of legislation, collectively law requires you to protect as can become blurred. Remember the key procedures that
and commonly known as far as is ‘reasonably practicable’. that a hazard is anything that they already have in place!
the ‘six pack’, which was the This means that you need may cause harm: for example, Remember, too, that it is a legal
implementation of a number to take precautions up to unguarded machinery, fork requirement to communicate
of European Directives aimed the point where doing more lift trucks or blade changing the findings of your risk
at improving the general would be judged as grossly etc. A risk is the chance or assessment to those individuals
standard of health and safety for disproportionate to the residual likelihood that somebody that have been identified as
workplaces. risk. could be harmed. The hazard being at risk.
A major one of these was the never changes but the risk can, It is advisable to review your
‘Management of Health & Safety Take The Five Steps depending on how you control assessments annually, but
at Work Regulations’, which There are a number of ways to the hazard. you may need to review them
required employers and self- undertake a risk assessment, and When you undertake a risk sooner if there has been an
employed persons to undertake which one you employ depends assessment you should always accident, if people, processes
a risk assessment of their tasks. on the complexity of the task be asking yourself if you can or equipment in the area have
The Directive requires that every and associated hazards and risks. eliminate the hazard altogether changed, or if there have been
employer shall make a suitable The Health & Safety Executive - or at least substitute it for reports of ill health or a ‘near
and sufficient assessment of the (HSE) believes that the most something less hazardous. If miss’ incident.
health and safety risks to which straightforward assessment for this is not possible, can you If you think your assessments
employees are exposed whilst most companies is the ‘Five Step’ isolate the hazard or isolate the fall below the legal standard
they are at work. approach: individual from the hazard? If required, please contact your
So what do you need to do not, what control measures local BOSS/BPIF Health, Safety
to comply? The methodical 1. Identify the hazard can you put in place? If you and Environmental Adviser for
approach to the risk assessment 2. Decide whom might be harmed cannot do any of the above, further advice and guidance.
process is basically a careful and 3. Evaluate the risks and decide your last resort is to use Personal
critical examination of activities on safety measures Protective Equipment (PPE) n IF YOU REQUIRE
within the workplace, deciding 4. Record your findings and and a safe system of work. But ASSISTANCE ON MACHINERY
if hazards and risks are managed implement them remember, PPE only protects the AND ACTIVITY BASED RISK
adequately in order to prevent 5. Review your assessment and individual who is wearing it! ASSESSMENTS OR OTHER
harm or illness to employees, update as necessary SUPPORT SERVICES, PLEASE
visitors, and contractors, as well Talk About Your Findings CONTACT PHIL THOMPSON
as to members of the general The main point you need to Ensure that you record all AT BPIF BUSINESS ON
public who could be affected by remember is the fundamental of your control measures, 020 7915 8377 OR EMAIL
your activities. difference between ‘hazard’ and explaining in detail the measure philip.thompson@bpif.org.uk.

December 2013/January 2014 | BOSS TODAY 33

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