SSERC suggests following the HSE’s recommended approach – they are, after all, pretty much the be all and end all of Health and Safety in the UK.
The HSE used to refer to ‘Five Steps to Risk Assessment’ but, as you can see below, they no longer mention 5 steps. Even though there are still 5 steps and they are the same 5 steps as they were before.
We will discuss each of these in more detail but in brief they are . . .
1. Identify the significant hazards
2. Decide who might be harmed and how that harm might come about.
3. Evaluate the risks and decide on precautions to minimise it.
4. Record the significant findings and implement any actions needed.
5. Review your assessment periodically and update if necessary.
Can I use someone else’s risk assessment?
Absolutely BUT. . .
Remember that you need to make sure it is suitable and make any adjustments to it that may be required.
For instance, the risk assessments on the SSERC website cannot take into account the nature of a particular class or laboratory/workshop or the precise equipment that will be used.
