The risk assessment is the foundation of a company's entire occupational safety system. Employee training, PPE, medical examinations and testing all derive from it. That is why it is the first document a labour inspector asks for.
What does a risk assessment contain?
For each workplace the document describes:
- the tasks performed and equipment used,
- hazards the employee is exposed to,
- the assessed level of risk,
- measures to eliminate or reduce the risk,
- high-risk workplaces and special conditions for them.
Does it expire?
There is no fixed expiry date. However, the document must reflect the actual situation in the company. If conditions change and the document stays the same, it is no longer valid.
When must you update it?
- A new workplace or removal of an existing one.
- New equipment or machinery that changes how work is done.
- A change in the work process or organisation.
- A new location or separate business unit.
- A serious workplace injury, showing the assessment was inadequate.
- Regulatory changes introducing new requirements.
The most common mistake
A company prepares the assessment when it is founded and then forgets about it. A few years later there are new workplaces, new equipment and more staff, while the document still describes the company as it once was. Inspectors notice immediately.
How we can help
Safe Solution prepares risk assessments and, through ongoing cooperation, monitors changes in your company and proposes updates in time, so your documentation always matches reality.
This article is for information only. Exact obligations depend on the regulations for your activity and territory, so contact us for an assessment of your situation.