Assessing the risk

Once the hazard has been identified the next step in hazard management is to assess the risk created by the hazard.

The following should be considered:

• The nature of the hazard and how it may affect the health and safety of workers.
• How many people are exposed to the hazard and how they are exposed.
• To what extent, how often and over what period of time a person is exposed.

Risk assessments should also look at how the job is done, where it is done, what training and skills are needed to do the job and what control measures are available.

A risk assessment includes:

• Inspecting the workplace.
• Testing (ie. noise levels).
• Looking at statistics and data.
• Talking with people.