Risk assessment is a primary management tool in ensuring the health and safety of workers (and others). What many people perhaps are not aware of, however, is that they are actually a legal requirement for employers and certain self-employed people. Whether you’re wondering how to complete a risk assessment or are unsure of their relevance within your industry, read on to discover everything you need to know.

Why are risk assessments important?

As previously stated, carrying out suitable and sufficient risk assessments is the primary management tool in effective risk management. It is a legal requirement for any employer and must be documented wherever five or more people are employed.

Risk assessment is a straightforward and structured method of ensuring the risks to the health, safety and wellbeing of employees (and others) are suitably eliminated, reduced or controlled

The main purpose of risk assessments are:

  • To identify health and safety hazards and evaluate the risks presented within the workplace
  • To evaluate the effectiveness and suitability of existing control measures
  • To ensure additional controls (including procedural) are implemented wherever the remaining risk is considered to be anything other than low.
  • To prioritise further resources if needed to ensure the above.

Risk Assessment Courses

The Level 2 Award in Risk Assessment aims to provide supervisors and employees with an opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of the risk assessment process and the skills required to undertake a suitable and sufficient risk assessment.

How long will it take?
Delivery would typically be through a 1-day training course or 2 half-day training sessions (8 hours).

The purpose of the Level 3 Award in Risk Assessment – Principles and Practice is to provide the learner with the skills, knowledge and understanding of risk assessment and the importance of Health and Safety including risk assessment processes in the workplace. Learners will understand the relationships between hazard and risk as part of an accident and ill health strategy and apply the hierarchy of controls to control risk to an acceptable level.

How long will it take?
To complete this qualification, learners should expect to undertake 20 hours of learning.