As part of a health and safety policy, an organisation must carry out risk assessments. A risk assessment reviews work activities to identify hazards and risk factors that have the potential to cause harm and then proposes suitable control measures to prevent harm.
- A hazard is anything that may cause harm, such as chemicals, electricity, working from ladders, an open drawer etc
- The risk is the chance, high or low, that somebody could be harmed by these and other hazards, together with an indication of how serious the harm could be
The HSE recommends five simple steps to a risk assessment:
- Step 1: Identify the hazards
- Step 2: Decide who might be harmed and how
- Step 3: Evaluate the risks and decide on precautions
- Step 4: Record your findings and implement them
- Step 5: Review your assessment and update if necessary
First Aid
The Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981 set out first aid requirements for the workplace.
As a minimum, a low-risk workplace such as a small office should have a first-aid box and a person appointed to take charge of first-aid arrangements, such as calling the emergency services if necessary. Employers must provide information about first-aid arrangements to their employees.
Workplaces where there are more significant health and safety risks are more likely to need a trained first-aider. A first-aid needs assessment will help employers decide what first aid arrangements are appropriate for their workplace.
Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR)
RIDDOR puts duties on employers, the self-employed and people in control of work premises (the Responsible Person) to report certain serious workplace accidents, occupational diseases and specified dangerous occurrences (near misses).
The video below outlines the key responsibilities of RIDDOR: