What is a risk assessment?
A risk assessment is used to identify any hazards or potential dangers. On a construction site, risk assessments must be both thorough and accurate. Risks are defined as anything that would cause a person illness or injury. A typical risk assessment involves a process of three parts. The first step is to identify the hazards, the next is to evaluate the risk, performing an analysis. Step three means putting a plan in place to control the risk.
Why do you need to perform risk assessments?
Besides keeping everyone safe, risk assessments are used to adhere to legal requirements and create hazard control systems. These assessments are useful to build awareness of different risks, and identify which people are at risk, and how.
How to perform a risk assessment?
Once you’ve determined a potential risk you’ll need to establish the circumstances that would lead to such a hazard. You’ll need to identify what could happen if this hazard is not prevented. Next, consider how likely it is that this situation will occur. Identify a solution, think about how you’re going to control this particular risk.
It’s worth noting that there are a few different types of risk assessment, for example, a baseline assessment. This type of risk assessment is used to create a benchmark for the hazards that could occur throughout your construction project.
Another type of risk assessment is an issues assessment, this works to figure out the risks for one task, (as opposed to the entire project).
Risk assessment tips
When you’re performing risk assessments you’ll need to pay attention to detail and take your time. Once you’ve identified the risks you’ll need to put risk control solutions in place promptly. The following pointers are also important on a construction site:
1 . Adequate communication
All staff members must communicate with one another effectively. Teamwork and raising concerns is an important part of health and safety and risk avoidance. Collecting staff feedback ongoing can be helpful to improve your processes. There may be some risk that your employees have noticed which have previously escaped your attention.
2. Effective controls
Effective controls must be put in place for every risk, once these controls are in place they’ll need to be evaluated ongoing. If it’s judged that the risk controls are not as effective as they could be, the solutions should be adjusted accordingly.
3. General health & safety
Not all health & safety concerns pose a risk, others are more a matter of general health. For example, construction sites require certain facilities depending on the project. Your construction site will need toilet facilities, and may also need showers. To provide an effective onsite water source, ibc totes are a great option.
When you work in the construction industry it’s vitally important that you’re aware of the health and safety and risk assessment procedures. This knowledge is needed to keep everyone safe and to adhere to the correct legal practices.