Risk assessment

The second step of the hazard management process, risk assessment, is generally carried out at the same time as hazards are identified. Risk assessment is the process of evaluating the probability or likelihood of an injury occurring and the severity or consequences of the injury. The underlying principle of this is to determine which hazard should be controlled first (or to prioritise hazards) and to determine the amount of control required.

The process involves gathering information about the risks associated with the identified hazards. Generally this information relates to:

• frequency and duration of exposure to the hazard - is the hazard in the workplace continuously or does it appear during certain work processes? This will indicate the likelihood of the hazard causing injury, illness or disease.
• severity or consequences of the injury, including whether or not a fatality could occur.

An effective risk assessment tool should be used to record this and will help you to make a calculated decision, instead of guessing which hazard should be controlled first. This tool is usually called a risk rating matrix and rates the risks according to likelihood and severity or consequences. Priority and timeframes are then determined for controls to be assigned. Different workplaces use different risk assessment tools.

Finally, you need to add the risk rating, priority and timeframe to your hazard control log.