Performing a risk assessment in your business

Performing a risk assessment in your business helps prevent the chances of workplace accidents and health hazards from happening. Performing a risk assessment will also help guard your business from litigation issues and keep you compliant. 

A legal requirement, performing a risk assessment in your business should happen at least once a year. 

Performing a risk assessment in your business – key points

In businesses with five or more employees, a risk assessment must be recorded. 

When performing a risk assessment in your business, list potential risks, who might be affected, and suggestions for minimising risks. 

As a risk assessment includes those at risk as a result of a company’s operations, it also includes employees working from home. You do not need to visit them, but suggestions for minimising health risks should be listed, like offering ergonomic keyboards and office chairs.

When should you be performing one?

You should be performing risk assessments in your business when starting new procedures that haven’t been risk assessed, and when there are changes to procedures. 

Examples of when to perform a risk assessment include after a workplace accident, moving to a new workplace, introducing new equipment, and onboarding staff.

Who manages the risk assessment?

Appoint someone with enough health and safety knowledge to be good at performing a risk assessment in your business, which could be you as the employer. 

Next, employees should be asked about the potential risks they face at work, and the risk assessor should inspect how the workplace operates daily. It should also be made clear which individuals in the business are responsible for minimising what risks at work.

Step 1 – list the risks

Think about what could cause harm in your business, whether that’s operating machinery or the injury risk to an employee working alone. List the most risky first.

Step 2 – rate the risks

Rate risks in terms of high, medium and low. Figure this out by considering two things: the likelihood of the risk happening and the impact it could have on the business. 

Step 3 – determine who’s at risk

When determining who’s at risk, think about groups of people, such as wheelchair users or pregnant employees. Consider the risks involved and what you can do to minimise them. For example, you could offer them a more flexible work structure, like remote working options.

Another at-risk group are visitors to your workplace, like contractors. As they are less familiar with your workplace, the risk of accidents like falls and trips is higher.

Step 4 – take action against risks

Minimising risk is the most important part of performing a risk assessment. Tackle the risks one at a time and see how you can reduce their chances of happening.

Actions to minimise risks include limiting access to physically riskier areas in a workplace to senior staff who’ve had adequate health and safety training, or offering cybersecurity training to staff after a digital breach. 

While you can’t eradicate risks entirely, by performing a risk assessment in your business, you can minimise them. Just remember to keep a paper trail and list all the risks possible, including their likelihood of happening and potential interventions. 

Also, remember to nominate a risk assessor in the business, and don’t forget particular groups, like those with disabilities, who might need more health and safety support in the workplace.

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