As part of June’s Hazard of the Month, Welfare, we’re highlighting two key areas: Risk Assessment and Prevent Duty.
Risk Assessment
Under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, employers have a legal duty to:
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Identify potential causes of injury or illness (hazards)
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Evaluate the likelihood and severity of harm (risk assessment)
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Take appropriate steps to eliminate or manage those risks
Managing risk means systematically identifying and controlling health and safety hazards in the workplace. Employers can carry out this process themselves or appoint a competent person to help.
Identifying Hazards:
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Review past incidents and health records
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Consider non-routine tasks
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Account for both physical and mental health hazards
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Assess how each hazard could cause harm
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Factor in the needs of vulnerable workers
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Involve employees and gather their input
Assessing Risks:
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Identify who might be harmed and how
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Review current control measures
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Determine what further action is needed
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Assign responsibility for carrying out actions
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Set deadlines for implementing measures
Controlling Risks:
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Remove the hazard if possible
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If elimination isn’t feasible, implement control measures such as:
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Redesigning tasks
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Changing materials, equipment, or processes
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Reducing exposure by adjusting work organisation
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Introducing practical safeguards
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Providing PPE and training employees in its use
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Recording Findings:
If you employ five or more people, you must document:
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Significant hazards
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Who might be affected and how
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The control measures in place
Reviewing Controls:
Control measures should be regularly reviewed, especially when:
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There are workplace changes
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Controls may no longer be effective
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Employees raise concerns
Learn more about how to develop and enforce risk assessments with our Risk Assessment Online Course. Get 10% off this course with the code ‘welfare10’!
Prevent Duty
Prevent is a Government strategy that aims to protect vulnerable people at risk of being recruited by terrorist or extremist groups.
It is one part of the Government’s Counter-Terrorism Strategy, Contest – alongside Prepare, Protect, and Pursue.
The strategy challenges extremist ideologies in order to prevent radicalisation and involvement in terrorism and/or supporting terrorist activities.
The Prevent strategy aims to:
- Provide support to individuals who may be vulnerable to radicalisation or at risk of involvement in extremist or terrorist activities
- Collaborate with community organisations and social enterprises that assist vulnerable individuals
- Partner with faith groups and institutions to help them offer guidance and support to those who may be at risk
- Engage with local schools, businesses, and partner agencies by offering advice, training, and ongoing support
Learn more about how to follow the key Prevent responsibilities with out Prevent Duty Online Training. Get 10% off this course with the code ‘welfare10’!
Risk Assessment and Prevent Duty courses are essential tools in protecting the welfare of your workers. Make sure you don’t miss out on our 10% off deal on these courses, available until the end of July. Simply enter the code ‘welfare10’ at checkout to save!
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