Risk assessment

Contents

  1. Overview
  2. Example risk assessment

Overview

Employers are required by law to make a suitable and sufficient risk assessment. 

A risk assessment is:

  • a careful examination of hazards
  • identify any activity, machinery or substance that could potentially cause injury or death
  • identify who could be harmed
  • implement control measures to eliminate/reduce the risk

It is important to distinguish between hazard and risk:

  • a hazard is something with the potential to cause harm
  • a risk is the extent to which something harmful may happen - i.e. the combination of the likelihood and consequences of a specified hazardous event

For the 5 Steps to Risk Assessment, see HSE Risk Management.

Example risk assessment

The Example Risk Assessment for Education Departments will help you understand the process.

Other assessments are available on request.