Part two: Hazard spotting and taking action

The first step when carrying out a health and safety risk assessment is to look for the hazards.

It is important that the risk assessment is systematic. So as well as looking at what is in the workplace, you also need to consider the hazards arising from your activities. You must think about hazards associated with non-routine activities as well as day to day tasks such as maintenance, cleaning, repair work, deliveries and when contractors are on-site.

The assessors should ignore the trivial and concentrate on hazards that could have significant consequences. They should consult with employees and/or their representatives on what they consider to be significant. Accident and ill-health records as well as manufacturers' instructions or data sheets can also help with hazard spotting.

It is important to decide who might be harmed and how. Visitors, contractors, maintenance workers, etc must also be taken into account, as well as employees, and it is important to think about who might be particularly vulnerable - for example new or expectant mothers, trainees or young workers.

The risks must then be evaluated and decisions made on whether existing precautions are adequate or if more needs to be done. It is worth looking at each hazard and rating them as "high risk", "medium risk", "low risk" or "not significant", taking into account what could go wrong and how likely it is to happen.

Also consider whether all relevant regulations are being complied with, that accepted industry standards are followed and that everything which is reasonably practical to keep the workplace safe is in place.

The next advisable step is to draw up an "action list", giving priority to risks rated as high or those that could affect most people. Ask whether or not the hazard can be eliminated altogether. If it can't, consider how the risk could be controlled and made less likely to cause harm.

In their free leafelet on risk assessment (INDG163), the Health and Safety Executive recommends applying these principles in the following order:

1. Try a less risky option

2. Prevent access to the hazard (e.g. by guarding)

3. Organise work to reduce exposure to the hazard

4. Issue personal protective equipment

5. Provide welfare facilities (e.g. washing facilities for removal of contamination and first aid).