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| RISK ASSESSMENT AND MONITORING - STEP BY STEP | ||
| V. Ryan © 2014 | ||
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A risk assessment is a thorough inspection of the processes and type of work carried out in the workplace, that could give rise to injury / harm to employees. A successful risk assessment, should identify potential hazards in the workplace and specify safeguards, that minimise the risk of injury / harm to employees. |
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| CLEARLY IDENTIFY THE HAZARD | ||
| Study the machine / process and identify the hazard / hazards. Be methodical so that nothing is overlooked. Use a step by step process, studying the actions of the employee / machine operator. | ||
| WHO COULD POSSIBLY BE HARMED BY THE HAZARD? | ||
| Will the machine operator be injured or employees near the machine / process. There may a possibitility of injury to the employee and those working near him / her. | ||
| WHAT IS THE NATURE OF HARM / INJURY? | ||
| What types of injury or harm could occur? Understanding this will allow you to apply adequate control measures, ensuring the safety of the operator and others associated with the process. | ||
| EVALUATE THE RISK / LIKELIHOOD OF INJURY | ||
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How likely is the possibility of an accident occurring? What is the risk of an accident occurring? Low Level - Medium Level - High Level |
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| WORKOUT CONTROL MEASURES | ||
| What can be done to minimise the risk of an accident? This may involve ensuring that staff have regular certified training and safety guidance. It may involve simple measures, such as providing overalls or protective clothing. | ||
| RECORD YOUR JUDGEMENTS | ||
| Write clear and straightforward assessments, that are easy to follow and understand, especially by those employees carrying out the process or operating the machinery. The risk assessment must apply to that specific process or machinery / equipment. | ||
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INFORM EMPLOYEES OF CONTROL MEASURES AND INITIATE TRAINING |
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| Writing and publishing the risk assessment is important. Equally important, is ensuring that management and staff follow the risk assessments. Staff training and time to allow staff / employees to understand the risk assessments is necessary. | ||
| SET REVIEW DATE | ||
| Risk assessments must be reviewed. This usually takes place annually, or when there are changes to equipment, machinery or processes. Changes usually lead to new hazards being introduced or sometimes, old hazards no longer applying. | ||
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