If you need to conduct a risk assessment in the workplace, Health and Safety Executive provides guidance on the important steps to implement.

Identifying hazards

Every employer has a duty of care to adequately assess the risks to health and safety that their employees may face.

Hazards can be classified in the following categories as:

Mental – this can include tension of excess workload, delivering high-need prolonged treatment, intimidation or long shifts.

Physical – This may include the need to maintain awkward postures, trips, falls, excessive noise, dangerous machinery or lifting.

Biological – this includes exposure to infectious diseases such as tuberculosis and hepatitis which are a risk for certain workers in the health and care sectors, for example.

Chemistry – Exposure to aerosols, asbestos and cleaning chemicals. For Asbestos Removal Essex, visit a site like Sperion, a provider of Asbestos Removal Essex.

Checking those most at risk

An employer must also consider the role of their employees, the risks faced by contract and agency staff should also be addressed. The same thing can be said for assessing risks to visitors, customers, clients and members of the public who may enter your place of business. This assessment should include the location and the site where the staff work.

Some examples of potential hazards including home care workers and lifting arrangements in the home setting or home care clients. Supermarkets can have slip or trip hazards from spills or stock left lying around. Staff can also experience the aggressive behaviour of customers, especially on the night shift. In an office environment, workstation equipment can cause repetitive injury or vision problems.