07/04/11
The
Importance Of HSE Risk Assessments
There is no way to completely eliminate risk in the workplace, but the
legislation makers are fully aware of that. There is a need to do everything
possible to minimise risk and as long as this objective is achieved,
a great number of accidents will be prevented. Preventing accidents
from occurring is hugely important for businesses and a failure to do
so can impact on the morale, output and financial status of the company.
A HSE risk assessment is not a full-proof
way of assessing and eliminating risk but the findings of an assessment
should be welcomed by any firm that wants to prosper.
When it comes to the HSE risk assessment,
the first step is to identify the hazards that could be present in the
workplace. This task is sometimes completed with no more than a simple
walk around the premises, noting areas where things could go wrong.
Depending on your workplace, this test could be complex, but staff input
and long-term considerations should be part of the process. Seeking
professional input into the risk assessment is a sensible idea for many
businesses but it never hurts to understand the process and what it
entails.
The type of HSE risk assessment
that is right for your organisation will very much depend on the type
of workplace you have. The risks involved with predominantly office
work will vary greatly from a firm that is predominantly factory or
externally based. There are common sense elements that will apply to
each location but each work or business place will need to be assessed
on its own merits. There are many general hints and tips that should
be considered when risk assessing but every risk assessment is an individual
process. No two locations or workforces are the same so make sure that
your risk prevention methods are suitable to your needs.
Like anything that is assessed, one of the major benefits from following
the HSE risk assessment plan comes
from the recorded findings. In order to judge progress or failure, it
is important to have base findings to examine. Over time, the nature
of the work has potential to change and this means the safety measures
involved will also change. Recording findings and any action taken relating
to these findings can help an organisation build up a long-term record
of their safety procedures. Being able to say that the safety record
is being maintained is very important for a business. Also, if there
are more than five employees at the premises, it is necessary to maintain
a record of findings from any safety assessment.
A HSE risk assessment may be a process
that some people find uninteresting, but it is crucial to the long-running
success of a business. Any process that can improve efficiency, help
progress staff safety statistics and help to reduce losses and damages
would be considered of benefit for most companies. Undertaking this
process is able to provide these benefits, and ensure the firm is meeting
all safety legislation and requirements.
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Further
information
Pendulum
testing - Surface roughness
- Slips Potential Model - Slip
testing methods - HSE
slips site - Grip Potential Ltd
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