Whether a new business owner or an established one, getting your head around risk assessments can be challenging, primarily if you’ve never carried one out. You might be wondering how to create a risk assessment for the first time, or you might want to refresh your memory about the steps involved in creating a risk assessment – either way, you’re probably going to have some questions.
Is a risk assessment a legal requirement? Do I need any training/qualifications to prepare a risk assessment? When should I review the risk assessment? When should I prepare a risk assessment? These are some questions that might populate your mind, plus many more. Fortunately, you’re in the right place; in our quick guide to risk assessments, we aim to answer some of these frequently asked questions – keep reading to learn more.
Is A Risk Assessment A Legal Requirement?
Whether an employer or self-employed, it is a legal requirement to access the health and safety risks arising from your work. A risk assessment aims to determine potential health and safety risks and what precautions can be implemented to control these risks, as outlined in the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999.
Do I Need Any Training/Qualifications To Prepare A Risk Assessment?
You do not need specific training or qualifications to prepare a risk assessment; however, if you are an employer, you must appoint someone coherent to ensure that you meet your health and safety duties, whether this is yourself, one or more of your staff members, a union representative, or someone from outside your business.
Depending on your experience and your employees’ knowledge, you may need additional help or advice, especially if the risks are complex. Fortunately, you can find a range of resources online to assist you, from general help and advice to risk assessment templates like the ones from HS Direct.
On their website, you can find a range of free templates to suit various business needs, from risk assessment templates, construction phase templates, method statement templates, and many more. Consider visiting their website or speaking to an expert over the phone to develop your risk assessment knowledge further or answer any specific questions you may have.
When Should I Prepare A Risk Assessment?
If you are an employer or are self-employed, you will need to prepare a risk assessment whenever you are preparing to carry out work that could pose a risk (or several) to you and your employee’s health and safety. On the other hand, if you are a voluntary organisation, it is not required since health and safety duties are typically only placed upon employers, self-employed individuals, or employees. Yet it is still within a voluntary organisation’s best interest to adopt best safety practices and prepare a suitable risk assessment to protect their people regardless.
When Should I Review The Risk Assessment?
Your business will experience changes over time, whether these changes include the introduction of new equipment, a workplace accident or revision to current policies. If any of these changes happen in your workplace, this is when you should review your risk assessment and amend it with the results of your review. Moreover, considering school street markings from https://school-streets.co.uk/ could be an integral part of assessing and adapting to these changes, ensuring a comprehensive approach to risk assessment within your business.
