Checklists

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Checklists

How to carry out health and safety risk assessments

Checklist

  1. Ask the Health & Safety Executive, your local council, or Business Link for their guidance on how to carry out a risk assessment.
  2. Check particular legal requirements for your industry, and business generally, and supplier instructions for the materials and equipment you use.
  3. Decide whether you have the experience and training to carry out the assessment or need specialist help.
  4. Consider all the people who could be at risk - employees, sub-contractors, visitors - and whether they might be particularly vulnerable (eg disabled).
  5. Inspect your premises and processes to identify health and safety risks.
  6. Be aware of all potential liabilities - not least in dealing with members of the public.
  7. Check insurance arrangements against potential liabilities.
  8. Look for potential accidents - where people might trip, collide or fall, or where unstable objects could fall on them.
  9. Check all the common hazards - electrical installations, machinery and vehicles, hazardous substances and hazards particular to your business.
  10. Check for long-term health risks such as poor lighting and ventilation, noise and dust, and badly designed workstations.
  11. Ask employees what problems and risks they are aware of; check your accident and illness records.
  12. Evaluate the scale of each risk - how likely it is to cause a problem, how many people it could affect, and how seriously.
  13. Check whether existing precautions reduce risks as far as reasonably practicable and meet industry standards.
  14. Take action to eliminate risks altogether where practicable; failing that, control them with suitable systems, procedures and training.
  15. Minimise exposure to hazards and provide protective equipment when other controls are impracticable or insufficient on their own.
  16. Keep a written record of your risk assessment and safety precautions.
  17. Regularly monitor safety and review incident records; review your risk assessment periodically and whenever circumstances change.

Cardinal rules

Do:

  • focus on serious risks
  • eliminate risks where practicable
  • ensure that all risks have been acceptably controlled
  • keep a written record
  • continue to monitor safety

Don't:

  • assume warnings or signposting will be sufficient
  • rely on protective equipment when risks could be controlled or removed

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