New Guidance Notes - “How to do a Risk Assessment” - are now available, with an updated Standard Risk Assessment Form and updated Risk Assessment Action Plan. These are designed to facilitate the risk assessment process from identification, evaluation and keeping records to review.
The Guidance Notes contain worked examples of the updated documents, and explanations of how the Risk Assessment Form and Action Plan should be used. The penalties for failing to carry out risk assessments can be strict, and recent cases indicate that the Health & Safety Executive is getting stricter. Businesses cannot afford to ignore their responsibilities in respect of Health and Safety, and risk assessment, and depending on the workplace environment must conduct risk assessment themselves or seek specialist advice.
Employers must examine all work activities and locations that could cause harm to decide whether they are doing enough to fulfil their legal obligations. Their aim should also be to reduce risks as much as is “reasonably practical”, balancing the cost of the measures they could take to reduce risk against the degree of risk identified or presented.
These updated and new documents will help reduce the time and resources required to carrying out risk assessment, enabling employers to improve their performance in meeting their Health and Safety obligations. They are simple and flexible to use, and formatted to protect user’s amendments.
The contents of this Newsletter are for reference purposes only and do not constitute legal advice. Independent legal advice should be sought in relation to any specific legal matter.