Risk assessments are vital processes that employers should conduct to protect their staff. Plenty of assessments fall under this process ranging from a DSE risk assessment to a fire safety assessment. They aim to identify and analyse hazards in the workplace - while also identifying potential risks that may arise.
Once the hazard is identified, employers must remove it entirely - or reduce the risk by putting controlled measures in place. This guide will discuss some important risk assessments that your employer should make to create a safer workplace for all.
Health And Safety Workplace Risk Assessment
Arguably one of the most important risk assessments is health and safety. The aim of this is to identify all potential hazards that exist in the workplace. These hazards will differ depending on the nature of your workplace. For example, the dangers you find in construction will vary from those in an office environment. You can find plenty of workplace risk examples by conducting an online search. Your employer should hire a health and safety assistant with the experience and knowledge to identify these hazards to ensure employees are safe. This is a requirement of the law. A health and safety assessment should also be reviewed regularly.
Vulnerable Workers Assessment
If an employee is deemed clinically vulnerable, reasonable adjustments must be put in place to ensure that they are not discriminated against in the workplace. A vulnerable workers risk assessment will help with this. During the assessment, an employer must consider the person's needs, job role, and environment. Any risks to their safety should be highlighted. The results of the assessment will allow employers to put additional measures in place to protect the safety of their vulnerable employees.
Display Screen Equipment (DSE) Assessment
We live in an era where digital technology has taken over. It is unlikely that you will enter a workplace without seeing computers and other electronic devices lying around. Although devices like computers are helpful aids, they can cause users issues such as headaches and neck pain, leading to staff absences. Therefore, employers must take DSE management seriously. A DSE risk assessment can help businesses tackle absences related to DSE by assisting them in highlighting necessary adjustments that need to be made. You can gain DSE self-assessment guidance from The Health & Safety Dept. They can help employers complete the assessment and give you all the vital information you need to reduce risks associated with DSE.
Maternity Risk Assessment
If you - or anyone in your workplace falls pregnant, your employer must conduct a maternity risk assessment. This is a legal requirement. Once someone has written to their employer to inform them they are pregnant, an individual risk assessment should be taken to discuss any concerns they may have regarding their work and pregnancy. The employer must consider their workers’ needs and make necessary adjustments to protect their safety. Employers can find a maternity risk assessment template online. Not only should these assessments be carried out on pregnant women, but they also must be carried out with new mothers too.
Fire Safety Assessment
Fire safety should hold huge importance for any company. In the UK alone, around 22,000 fires happen in workplaces every year. A fire safety assessment reviews your company's premises to ensure no fire risks are present. The results of the assessment allow your employer to take the necessary actions to make the building as safe as possible. If there are more than five employees in the building at one time, the fire risk assessment must be written down and reviewed after the first 12 months. However, once the second assessment is complete, the legal guidelines change to every five years. All employers are responsible for making sure this is completed. They can hire professionals to help them with this.
Workplace Equipment Risk Assessment
It is important to be aware of the hazards surrounding workplace equipment, as there are many. For example, if you work in construction, the heavy machinery used can cause a long list of issues, such as trapped limbs or burns to the skin. Although this equipment is needed to allow workers to complete their jobs successfully, employers must take time to assess the risks. Not only should they be looking at the hazards associated with how the equipment operates, but they should also consider other important factors, like installation and maintenance. All employers have a responsibility for the equipment they own. Therefore, these assessments are vital to ensure the safety of those using them.
Summary
If, to your knowledge, your employer has not completed assessments such as a DSE risk assessment or a fire safety assessment, do not hesitate to bring it to their attention. They are legal requirements for a reason and are put in place to protect the safety of an organisation's employees. Speak to your management if you have concerns. You can ask to see the outcome of a risk assessment, and your employer should show this to you.
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