5 Compelling Reasons To Carry Out Risk Assessments In The Workplace
1. Pleading ignorance will not cut it! If you don’t know it as an Owner, Director or Manager of any organisation that it’s a legal requirement to carry out suitable and sufficient Risk Assessments, then you should! Apart from a threat to life and limb, you could incur hefty fines and costs, destroy your business reputation and even a find yourself in prison. Those reasons alone might just motivate you listen up and fulfil your Moral, Legal and Financial obligations when it comes to Health and Safety in the workplace.
2. Stupid is as stupid does! You may be under the impression that incidents in the workplace occur due to negligence or mistakes that employees make. Don’t be a advocate of the blame game. The fact is that the majority of incidents occur as a direct result of ineffective management systems and improper risk controls. Management must lead by example. Effective management control will raise the standard of your health and safety measures.
3. The key to safety is in your hands! By Identifying hazards and assessing the associated risks in your workplace at the get go will give you the ability to:
- Be proactive rather than reactive
- Develop a positive Health and Safety culture
- Recognise and control hazards suitably
- Create awareness among your employees and give them the tools to work safely
- Set risk management standards, targets and goals based on acceptable safe practices alongside legal requirements
- Reduce or negate incidents in the workplace
4. Forewarned is forearmed! Be proactive by implementing robust risk management systems which can prevent the majority of incidents. This will reduce the likelihood of a Health and Safety incidents occurring. Identify hazards and carry out connected risk assessments regularly or when changes occur within your organisation. Continually encourage a positive Health and Safety culture within your organisation. Train your staff and give them the resources and encouragement they need to work safely. Communicate and consult your Health and Safety message with those throughout the organisation. Carry out regular inspections and safety tours to ensure process and procedures are being followed and that your facilities are up to standard. Maintain equipment and structures appropriately. Be aware of vulnerable people who work in or visit your organisation. Provide competent supervision in all areas. Take near misses seriously. Investigate near misses and incidents in detail.
5. Don’t close the gate after the horse has bolted! There is no denying that it is more cost-effective to treat robust Health and Safety procedures as second nature and equal to any other business objective. Implement appropriate risk management systems rather than experiencing an incident and and be forced into implementing risk management systems retrospectively.