Create A Safety Plan With A Risk Assessment Checklist

What Is a Risk Assessment Checklist?

Systematic occupational health and safety in a company begins with the risk assessment. It is created to prevent accidents and occupational diseases. When designing a workplace, employers should always ask: “Is there anything in the environment, whether that be an object, situation, or task, that could pose a danger to the health and wellbeing of the worker?” If so: “In what form does it manifest itself, and how high is the risk?” Those in charge will then decide how to minimize the risk to their employees.

In addition to financial and moral-ethical interests, legal obligation plays an important role in a risk assessment. The obligation to conduct a risk assessment is enshrined in various laws, ordinances, and regulations, including the Occupational Safety and Health Act, the Ordinance on Industrial Safety and Health, and the Ordinance on Hazardous Substances. Due to the conflicting circumstances in which companies operate, the legislation does not define precisely what procedures and documentation must look like. However, a risk assessment must always be complete and factually accurate.

A risk assessment checklist is a tool to help companies determine how they can meet these legal requirements. It involves a systematic examination of the workplace to identify hazards, assess the severity and likelihood of an injury, and implement control measures to reduce these risks. In accordance, a risk matrix is then used to evaluate the consequences and probability so that a risk rating can be assigned to the hazard.

This article provides information on:

1. 7 steps of risk assessment

2. 5 tips for successful implementation

3. 3 typical implementation mistakes

4. A digital solution for a risk assessment checklist

What Are the 7 Steps of in a Risk Assessment?

The risk assessment must be designed in such a way that it can trace risks back to their source so that mitigation strategies can be implemented as opposed to band-aid solutions. In this way, companies increase their legal certainty in the event of damage. It's important to note that it is different from a Job Safety Analysis (JSA) and that conducting a proper job safety analysis may also be required.

According to the recommendation of the Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (BAuA), a risk assessment includes the following seven steps:

1. Define work areas and activities
2. Identify hazards
3. Assess hazards
4. Determine measures
5. Execute measures
6. Verify effectiveness
7. Update hazard assessments

What Are 5 Tips for Conducting a Hazard Assessment?

A hazard assessment reduces the likelihood of workplace accidents, thereby increasing the overall safety of the site. The following 5 tips will help companies successfully implement a risk mitigation plan:

1. Notify employees before conducting an inspection of the workplace.
2. Inspect the workplace and identify potential hazards.
3. Determine whether accidents have already occurred.
4. Develop a plan that enables a safe work environment and from which corrective actions, if necessary, can be derived.
5. Implement corrective measures based on the collected data.

What Are 3 Typical Mistakes That Are Made During a Risk Assessment?

A risk assessment helps companies and employees solve occupational health and safety issues as long as it is done and implemented correctly. The following are the three most common mistakes that should be avoided at all costs:

1. No isolated incidents
   A hazard assessment should be an ongoing process. One-off inspections and corrective measures will not ensure sustainable health and safety.
2. Involve outside contractors
   When placing orders with outside companies, the third party is also responsible for the safety of their employees. Therefore, a risk assessment should be carried out in tandem with your own.
3. Create Safety in Numbers
   The inspection should not be carried out by a single entity, but by several safety officers to ensure a thorough inspection.

A Digital Solution for a Risk Assessment Checklist

A good record-keeping system is needed to help organizations keep track of hazards, risks, control measures, and corrective actions. In addition to complying with government regulations, a reliable hazard analysis system helps identify trends early to proactively improve workplace safety.

A digital risk assessment checklist replaces existing paper forms and spreadsheets as well as additional work, such as scanning and faxing. Switching to digital work processes offers companies the following benefits while conducting their risk assessments:

• The flexible form builder transforms any individual paper list into a digital checklist within minutes.
• Always keep track of everything that happens on site.
• The simple and self. Intuitive user interface allows no margin for error for on-site auditors. The app offers an easier alternative to paper-based checklists and messy excel sheets.
• Risk assessments are completed about 30%-50% faster overall, depending on their use case.
• Reports are generated automatically after each completed risk assessment, saving all manual follow-up.