How to Assess Risk

Risk Assessments are essential to stay safe. Risk Assessments must be dynamic - that is updated when conditions change. For example driving a car at 30 mph in good conditions may be safe, but in ice and snow we need to slow down and take extra care.

How to do a Risk Assessment

The way to do a Risk Assessment is to identify the Hazards, then evaluate how likely it is for each hazard to cause harm.

1. First identify the hazard. A hazard is something that could cause harm.

2. Assess the severity of the hazard, using a number scale:  5=death, 4=severe (A&E) 3=serious (first aid) 2=moderate 1=minor

3. Then evaluate the likelihood of that hazard actually harming someone: 5=daily 4 =weekly 3= several times per year 2=rarely 1=unlikely 

4. Multiply the hazard level by the likelihood to get the risk number

25-20 = very high risk. Stop activity immediately

15-19 = high risk, stop activity and take urgent action, measures to reduce risk

10-14 = unacceptable risk. Take action and measures to reduce risk

5 - 9   = tolerable risk, proceed with caution, consider measures to reduce risk further

1- 4    = low risk, proceed. Consider ways to reduce risk further.