What Is a Risk Assessment?
The risk assessment provides the basis for occupational safety. It is composed of the identification and evaluation of all relevant and potential hazards at work. The legal regulations of the Occupational Health and Safety Act and the Workplace Ordiance form the references of the company risk assessment. Accordingly, the implementation of such an assessment is regulated mandatory for all companies by the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
The risk assessment covers the following areas:
- Workplaces,
- Working – and manufacturing processes,
- Working procedures,
- and working hours.
What Is the Purpose of a Risk Assessment?
A risk assessment is an essential tool for workplace safety. It is used to ensure the health and safety of all employees as well as to recognize and minimize hazards before they turn into serious hazards. Protection on the job starts with this assessment. On this basis, a system for sustainable preventive measures can be introduced.
How the risk assessment is carried out is not prescribed and must be assessed individually for each company. In this regard, the legislations offer a wide scope for the determination of the risk assessment. These should always be based on the operational conditions and prerequisites.
A risk assessment can consist of the evaluation of different components. Accordingly, the hazard at work can be characterized in particular by:
- the assessment of the working conditions,
- the design of the workplace,
- the use of work equipment, working materials, machinery, equipment and facilities,
- the classic types of hazards such as physical, chemical and biological risks,
- Hazards that are composed of the design of working conditions,
- insufficient skills,
- or psychological stress
surrendered.
The employers are obligated to enable an appropriate health protection, in order to guarantee the optimal work safety. In this regard, all potential hazards related to health and occupational safety must be identified and assessed.
What Is the Purpose of a Risk Assessment in Validation?
According to the Occupational Health and Safety Act, there is basically a documentation obligation for all companies. Accordingly, the following information must be documented regularly:
- The result of the risk assessment.
- The measures to be initiated with regard to occupational health and safety.
- The results of regular risk assessments.
Specific requirements for record keeping do not exist. Possibly occupational health and safety regulations may contain specific requirements, such as the Ordinance on Hazardous Substances.
Who Checks the Risk Assessment?
The company itself can lead the risk assessment or hand over this responsibility to a trusted person. However, the legal responsibility remains with the employers. They are obliged to control the appropriate measures and the implementation. Ultimately, the company is responsible for the safety of the employees. In the event that there is no risk assessment and the company has not met their legal obligations, legal consequences must be expected.
