Introduction to Health and Safety at Work

5.9 
The risk assessment process
The HSE approach to risk assessment (5 steps) will be 
used to discuss the process of risk assessment. It is, 
however, easier to divide the process into six elements:
➤
hazard 
identifi cation
➤
persons at risk
➤
evaluation of risk level
➤
risk controls (existing and additional)
➤
record of risk assessment fi ndings
➤
monitoring and review.
Each element will be discussed in turn.
5.9.1 Hazard 
identifi cation
Hazard identifi cation is the crucial fi rst step of risk 
assessment. Only signifi cant hazards, which could result 
in serious harm to people, should be identifi ed. Trivial 
hazards should be ignored.
A tour of the area under consideration by the risk 
assessment team is an essential part of hazard identifi -
cation as is consultation with the relevant section of the 
workforce.
A review of accident, incident and ill-health records 
will also help with the identifi cation. Other sources 
of information include safety inspection, survey and 
audit reports, job or task analysis reports, manufactur-
ers’ handbooks or data sheets and approved codes of 
practice and other forms of guidance.
Hazards will vary from workplace to workplace but 
the checklist in Appendix 5.1 shows the common hazards 
that are signifi cant in many workplaces. Many questions 
in the NEBOSH examinations involve several common 
hazards found in most workplaces.
It is important that unsafe conditions are not 
confused with hazards, during hazard identifi cation. 
Unsafe conditions should be rectifi ed as soon as possible 
after observation. Examples of unsafe conditions include 
missing machine guards, faulty warning systems and oil 
spillage on the workplace fl oor.