What is a Risk Assessment?

Hazards and risks are present in everything we do and can never be completely eliminated. A risk assessment is nothing more than a careful examination of what, in the course of your work or leisure activities, could cause harm to people (or damage to property, machinery or vehicles) so that you can weigh up whether you have taken enough precautions or should do more to prevent harm, loss or damage.

The aim is to make sure that no one gets hurt or becomes ill and to prevent serious, even catastrophic, damage being done to property, machinery or vehicles. Accidents and ill health can ruin lives and affect your business if output is lost, machinery damaged, insurance costs increased or if, as a result of poor risk management, your are taken to court. Always remember, in the UK you are legally required to assess the risks in your workplace.

The important points to consider are whether a risk or hazard is relevant and significant and whether you have taken satisfactory measures to minimise the risk. These points are examined during a risk assessment.

For instance, consider travelling across a desert in a vehicle and the potential significant hazards associated with this activity:

• Lack of water for the occupants of the vehicle
• Getting lost
• Insufficient fuel
• Getting the vehicle stuck
• Medical emergencies
• Vehicle breakdown
• Hijacking and kidnapping
• Vehicle accidents - hitting other vehicles, camels etc either through carelessness, tiredness etc

The list could go on and on.

There are also hazards that are significant but not relevant, for instance:

• Polar bear attack
• Meteorite impact

The list could continue into madness...!

There are also hazards that are relevant but not significant, for instance:

• Worn upholstery on the drivers seat
• Lack of haute cuisine during the desert crossing

There are also hazards that are neither significant or relevant and there is no reason to list these now as the point has been illustrated.

Control Measures

A risk assessment requires the assessor to look at the hazards and consider the control measures required to reduce the hazard to a manageable or safe level. There are some hazards that will be easy to control.

Polar bear attacks are unlikely outside the Arctic! Therefore, in the context of the expedition, this hazard does not require control measures to reduce the risks on this occasion. However, running out of fuel is a possibility and this hazard can be controlled by:

1. Estimating how much fuel you will need for a particular journey;
2. Ensuring your fuel tanks are full at the beginning of the journey and that you are carrying sufficient spare fuel.

With these control measures in place, you have reduced the risk to a safe or manageable level.

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Last Updated: Wednesday, July 9, 2003 at 3:44:06 pm