Risk assessment

The 2005 Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act applies to all activities, which take place at work, including such work-related hazards as stress and violence. The Act places a duty on the employer to manage safety and health in a positive and proactive way. This duty is spelt out in Sections 20, 21, 22 and 23 of the Act, and also in the 1993 Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Regulations (5-14) which require the employer to Identify hazards, assess their risks and put in place the necessary measures to control them.


Steps

Risk assessment involves the following:

1. Identification of hazards
Hazards should be identified and recorded in writing. As well as consultation with workers and physical inspection, hazards can be identified through relevant regulations, codes of practice, standards, material safety data sheets, technical guidelines, etc.

2. Identification of workers (or others) at risk from the hazards
Which workers interact with the hazards, whether directly or indirectly?

3. Assessment
The assessor must: Examine the actual way the work is carried out and not just the job specification.
Talk to workers and supervisors.
Agree the method of ranking of risks.

4. Control measures
What measures can be introduced to (i) avoid risk (ii) transfer risk or (iii) reduce risk? Implementation of measures is likely to involve:
Attention to design of safe work systems, especially maintenance and faultfinding.
Training for managers and workers.
Better consultation.

Reference material
Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, 2005
Safety, Health and Welfare at Work General Application Regulations, 1993
Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Construction Regulations 1995, 2001 and 2003
Workplace Safety and Health Management (2006) Health and Safety Authority.