Risk assessment and control measures

Risk assessment and control measures

Risk Assessment in Construction

• Risk assessment is a systematic process of identifying and evaluating potential hazards present in a particular work environment.
• It involves determining the likelihood that a worker could be harmed, the severity of the potential harm, and the amount of exposure to the hazard.
• Risk assessments should be conducted at the beginning of a project and regularly updated throughout.
• These assessments should be documented, communicated to workers, and used to develop safety procedures.
• The risk assessment process involves five steps: Identify hazards, Decide who might be harmed and how, Evaluate the risks and decide on precautions, Record your findings and implement them, and Review your assessment and update if necessary.

Control Measures in Construction

• Control measures are the actions and procedures put in place in response to the risks identified in the risk assessment.
• They aim to reduce the level of risk to a level that is as low as reasonably practicable.
• Control measures can be ranked in a hierarchy commonly known as the hierarchy of control. This includes, in order of most to least effective: Elimination, Substitution, Engineering Controls, Administrative Controls, and Personal Protective Equipment.
  • Elimination: Remove the hazard completely from the workplace.
  • Substitution: Replace a material or process with a less hazardous one.
  • Engineering Controls: Isolate people from the hazard (e.g., use of barriers, ventilation).
  • Administrative Controls: Change the way people work (e.g., implementing rotations, breaks).
  • Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Use of safety equipment like gloves, safety boots, and helmets.
• It’s important that control measures are monitored and reviewed regularly to ensure they are effective and continue to maintain a safe work environment.

Monitoring Risk Assessments and Control Measures

• It’s necessary to appoint a competent person to oversee the risk assessment process and the implementation of control measures.
• Monitoring involves regular inspections and safety checks to ensure control measures are in place and being followed correctly.
• If an incident does occur, it should be investigated and the risk assessment should be reviewed. Control measures should be amended as necessary.
• Employers should aim to continuously improve their health and safety arrangements, and this stems from regularly reviewing and updating risk assessments and control measures.
• Workers should be regularly trained and informed about changes to risk assessments and control measures.