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      Risk Assesment Service

      What is a Risk Assement?

      A risk assessment is a method which is used to ascertain whether your procedures and systems for protecting your staff and others who are connected wtih your organisation are sufficient. It helps you identify if your existing health and safety arrangements are suitable or if you need to do more to protect your people, products and workplace. Note the holistic approach to the way we complete risk assessment. We don’t only think of people safety – we integrate risk assessment with your wider business operations. It is a way to ensure you are compliant with minimum health and safety requirements. It also helps you be proactive with your health & safety management and compliance.

      Risk assessments require you to look at what could potentially go wrong. You can then look at your safety measures and decide if the measures you are taking are adequate to prevent injury or damage. It is an opportunity to consider if you could or should reasonably do anything more to make the task, process or area you are assessing safer. Whether you are assessing a task, a working area, or conducting a home worker risk assessment the principle is the same.

      How can PHSC help with Risk Assesments?

      Risk assessments are a legal requirement. When this compliance activity is used effectively and integrated into your business it becomes a cost-effective tool that makes your processes and environment safer as well as more productive. This is where PHSC can help. We offer  Professional Help, at a Sensible Cost. Whether your company is small or global, we know how risk assessments can fit seamlessly into your wider business practices.

      With over 30 years of experience providing risk assessment assistance in all sectors, we have a wealth of expertise to offer.

      We can help with updating your Covid-19 Risk Strategy as well as a range of specialist assessments (DSEAR, Work at Height, Occupational Stress, Violence and Aggression, and Machine Safety to meet UKCA marking). 

      Is a Risk Assessment a Legal Requirement?

      In a word, yes! The general duties under the Health and Safety at Work Act require you to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare of your employees at work. To demonstrate that you are achieving this objective, a suitable and sufficient assessment is needed to determine hazards and risks.

      Risk assessment is also a requirement in the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, as well as several other regulations… Examples include COSHH assessments required in the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 and manual handling assessments required in the Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992. 

      View some examples:

      Manual Handling Activities 

      Manual handling occurs in every business, even low-risk environments such as an office. While some working clearly have more significant handling activities than others, the legal requirements to assess what you are doing and ensure there are suitable arrangements to either eliminate or reduce the risks remain the same. 

      Machinery Risk Assessment 

      CE marking requirements change to UKCA in January 2023 following Brexit. The first step in this process is machinery risk assessment. The first step is to complete your machinery risk assessment to the required standard to identify and manage risks identified. The standard to consider is ISO 12100:2010. It is titled “Safety of Machinery – General Principles for Design – Risk Assessment and Risk Reduction.” We have specialists and an assessment format to do this for you or support you in doing this for yourself. 

      First Aid Assessment 

      Whilst organisations are familiar with the need to provide first aid support and equipment in their workplaces, we are often asked what level of support is needed and what type of equipment. in particular, organisations are now wondering if the provision of AED (defibrillator) equipment is a legal requirement. 

      Lone working (H&S at Work Act)

      Anyone who is travelling as part of their work or working in an isolated part of the building without direct access or supervision is a lone worker. There are many examples of who is considered a lone worker. Please call us if you wish to clarify whether you have lone workers in your organisation. You need to consider their health status and suitability to work alone, the risks associated with the work/environment and the measures to monitor their ongoing safety. 

      Home Working (work at home or remotely)

      People have been working increasingly more frequently from home, or away from the office. You are still required to complete an assessment, even though they are not operating from your premises. The extent of detail and the way this is done can vary significantly. There are simple approaches, and they need not be as daunting as they sound.

      Fire Risk 

      Fire is probably one of the biggest single risks that any business faces. This is because if there were to be a fire everyone in the building would potentially be affected (rather than one or two individuals), and then there are business continuity issues to consider if the building was badly damaged. This is why it is particularly important that anyone considering or reviewing their fire assessment requires checks that the assessor is sufficiently experienced and competent. 

      Use of DSE/Computer equipment (DSE Regulations)

      Working in an office, laboratory or anywhere where computer equipment is used is often seen as a safe and easy way to work. However, anyone who has spent time using a computer and has experienced neck, back and shoulder pains or aches in the hands and arms will know this is not as cosy as many people think.

      Use of work equipment (PUWER) 

      Equipment is used by every employer in the UK and ranges from small items such as staplers to particularly hazardous grinding, cutting, heating equipment and machinery that can cause serious injury or death. This is why an assessment is needed, as employers need to understand how the equipment can prevent injury, damage or harm to the people and environment.

      Work at Height

      Work at height assessments are required to meet the Work at Height Regulations 2005. There is no minimum height that a person can work before an assessment is required. You also need to consider whether someone can fall through the floor as this will come under the definition in the regulations. Our safety practitioners have worked in just about every environment there is and can help your assessment process.  

      Hazardous substances (COSHH/and dangerous substances (DSEAR)

      The purpose of the COSHH and DSEAR regulations is to minimise the risks associated with the substances that rare hazardous to the heath, therefore reducing the number of people made ill through exposure to harmful substances, or causing danger by fire, explosion corrosion of metals etc.

      Occupational stress (H&S at Work Act)

      The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) estimates that 11 million working days are lost each year due to stress-related health problems, and this is why it is one of the key areas of occupational health that are included in the HSE’s five-year strategy (Helping Great Brittian Work Well).

      Why are Risk Assessments Important?

      The purpose of a risk assessment is to enable you to consider work hazards/environment and what can go wrong. This can include injury to people, damage to property, or product damage.  PHSC helps you integrate these business disciplines to gain maximum return. A risk assessment helps to identify measures to prevent or reduce the impact of any issues identified.  Failing to complete a risk assessment leaves you open to criminal liability as they are a legal requirement for employers. However, when completed effectively they help you manage your operations more effectively, and safely.

      They also demonstrate to your team that you value their health, well-being, and safety. You are showing them that you are taking proactive measures to reduce injury. For those of you who want to improve your health and safety culture, risk assessment is a valuable tool. When you involve your teams in the assessment process you will achieve a better level of understanding. They will buy-in to the safety measures and have ownership over how work is performed. 

      How can PHSC help?

      • Carrying out risk assessments and explaining how to keep them updated

      • Training your staff / teams in how to complete their own risk assessments

      • Coaching and mentoring key individuals to develop their own risk assessment skills and strategy

      • Providing ongoing advice and support on risk assessment via our Appointed Advisor Service

      Need support with your Risk Assessment?

      Speak to a PHSC specialist now! 

      Call us on 01622 717700

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