Risk assessment - five steps

The HSE suggest there are five steps to risk assessment.

* Step 1: Identify the hazards
* Step 2: Decide who might be harmed and how
* Step 3: Evaluate the risks and decide on precaution
* Step 4: Record your findings and implement them
* Step 5: Review your assessment and update if necessary

Reference

In practical terms a risk assessment is usually carried out as follows.

* Task or process is defined
* Hazards are identified
* People who may be harmed are identified
* Risks are evaluated by considering likelihood and severity of potential harm
* Existing measures and controls are identified
* Additional measures or controls required to comply with law, guidance and good practice are identified
* An action list is developed to implement the additional measures
* Individuals are assigned responsibility for each action
* Target completion dates are set for each action
* Confirmation is made and recorded that action are complete
* A date to review the risk assessment is set