Absolute Health and Safety Solutions Ltd

Risk Assessment - Its not rocket science, if you can remember far back, when you were a child, the short list below were all identified Hazards (anything with the potential to cause harm); our parents understood the Risks (the likelihood that a hazard will cause a specified harm to someone or something) and therefore were indeed Risk Assessors they tried to teach us accordingly how to accept the risks and know when to identify the hazards.

How to cross the road in a safe manner

How to safely ride a bike

Why Not to talk to strangers

The dangers of playing near water

Don’t touch the dog because it may bite

Don’t play with matches

The dangers of playing near the cooker

Everyday you try to do the same with your own children (tough isn’t it…no one said would be easy) and outside work you as an adult undertake risks and evaluate the outcome (whether injury, loss or a fine) as part and part of your normal day, examples of some hazards being:

Overtaking to gain a few feet, because the person in front is to slow.

Speeding on minor roads and motorways

Using mobile telephone while driving (without hands free)

Crossing the road six feet from the pelican crossing

Parking is disabled parking spaces and on double yellow lines while you nip to the cash point

Trying local delicacies in foreign countries

Bringing over your limit through customs (did you look that innocent?)

Saying yes to your teenagers when they want to stop over at a friend, when you don’t really know what they will be up to.

Working up a ladder at home without someone footing the bottom

Drilling a hole for a shelf without eye protection or checking for electrical cables

Forgetting a birthday or anniversary and thinking the gift from the garage will work

Undertaking an assessment of the Hazard’s in the workplace and addressing the Risks correctly will improve productivity and protect your assets – whether they are your workforce or products. Where the workplace is concerned there are five simple steps when undertaking a Risk Assessment as dictated by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

• Step 1: Identify the hazards
• Step 2: Decide who might be harmed and how
• Step 3: Evaluate the risks and decide on precaution
• Step 4: Record your findings and implement them
• Step 5: Review your assessment and update if necessary

To also assist Businesses in Berkshire in identifying what Health and Safety Guidance is available for them the HSE has information available free on line in many Business Sectors

If the guidance in your Business Sector is still daunting or you just don’t have the time, Absolute Health and Safety Solutions Ltd can undertake all your Risk Assessments and prepare them for you to manage and review in the future. Namely we will do the graft work and you can be the caretaker and mange the results and if need be we can review them with you either annually, bi annually or when you company dictates. Just call Michele or Lorna on 01252 861122 or email on info@absolutehss.co.uk and they will arrange a suitable time to discuss how we can help.

Dates to remember:

01st July 2006 - Restriction of the Use of Certain Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations 2006 (RoHS) became law

01st October 2006 – The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 becomes law

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