04. Assessing Risk

Sensible health and safety risk management is about saving lives, and preventing
injuries and illness, not about stopping business from working. In particular sensible
risk management should: 5

To be competent for straightforward risk assessments, risk assessors require: 9

Can the risk be Reduced (e.g.

Can the hazard be Isolated (e.g.

Can additional engineering or management Controls be introduced to reduce
exposure to the hazard? eg...

Safe Systems of Work, eg...

If there are fewer than five employees legally the risk assessment does not need to be
documented. The record is useful however in:

Legally the risk assessment must be ‘suitable and sufficient’. This means that it should
show that:- 5

The RA review should consider: 3

Legislation requires special consideration be given to risk assessments of work
involving the following groups: 3

A specific assessment is required for the risks to new and expectant mothers, i.e.

The risk assessment is prompted as soon as the expectant mother...

If pregnancy related medical conditions such as high blood pressure are a concern the
following option should be considered: 3

The Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) defines a person as disabled if...

Discrimination may occur when a disabled person is...