Risk assessments are very important as they form an integral part of an occupational health and safety management plan. They help to:

• Create awareness of hazards and risk.
• Identify who may be at risk (e.g., employees, cleaners, visitors, contractors, the public, etc.).
• Determine whether a control program is required for a particular hazard.
• Determine if existing control measures are adequate or if more should be done.
• Prevent injuries or illnesses, especially when done at the design or planning stage.
• Prioritize hazards and control measures.
• Meet legal requirements where applicable.
• Create awareness of hazards and risk.
• Determine if existing control measures are adequate or if more should be done.
• What can happen and under what circumstances.
• What are the possible consequences.
• Is the risk controlled effectively, or is further action required.

There may be many reasons a risk assessment is needed, including:

• Before new processes or activities are introduced,
• Before changes are introduced to existing processes or activities, including when products, machinery, tools, equipment change or new information concerning harm becomes available, or
• When hazards are identified.

1. Basic layout plans showing equipment and materials used
2. Process flow
3. Information on chemicals
4. Storage areas
5. Work force size, shifts and supervision
6. Workplace rules and regulations
7. Job procedures and safe work practices
8. Manufacturer’s specifications
9. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
10. Engineering controls
11. Emergency procedures – fire, first aid and rescue
12. Incident and investigation reports
13. Worker complaint reports regarding particular hazards in the workplace, including psychosocial hazards
14. Recommendations of the health and safety committee
15. Previous inspections
16. Maintenance reports, procedures and schedules
17. Regulator inspection reports or other external audits (insurance, corporate specialist)
18. Monitoring reports (levels of chemicals, physical or biological hazards)
19. Reports of unusual operating conditions
20. Names of inspection team members and any technical experts assisting

Yes, it is strongly recommended that all companies, regardless of size, thoroughly document any risk assessments that they conduct. If a safety-related incident should happen to occur, this documentation can be used to demonstrate that a risk assessment was done properly and that all necessary risk mitigation strategies were put into place.

Types of workplace hazards include:

1. Safety hazards such as those caused by inadequate machine guards, unsafe workplace conditions, unsafe work practices.
2. Biological hazards caused by organisms such as viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites.
3. Chemical hazards caused by a solid, liquid, vapour, gas, dust, fume or mist.
4. Ergonomic hazards caused by physiological and psychological demands on the worker, such as repetitive and forceful movements, awkward postures arising from improper work methods, and improperly designed workstations, tools, and equipment.
5. Physical hazards caused by noise, vibration, energy, weather, heat, cold, electricity, radiation and pressure.

Psychosocial hazards that can affect mental health or well-being such as overwork, stress, bullying, or violence.

The purpose is to keep the workplace free of hazards. The schedule should state:

1. when to inspect each area or item within the workplace
2. who carries out the inspection
3. what degree of detail to inspect each area or item

How often inspections are performed will depend on several factors:

1. the frequency of planned formal inspections may be set in your legislation
2. past incident records
3. number and size of different work operations
4. type of equipment and work processes – those that are hazardous or potentially
5. number of shifts – the activity of every shift may vary
6. new processes or machinery
7. legislative requirements for your jurisdiction

High hazard or high-risk areas should receive extra attention.

It is often recommended to conduct inspections as often as committee meetings. Do not conduct an inspection immediately before a committee meeting but try to separate inspections and meetings by at least one week. This time allows for small items to be fixed and gives the committee an opportunity to focus on issues requiring further action.

1. Give confidence to the insurers to give you competitive premium rates.
2. Optimal Productivity
3. Happier Employees
4. Better Qualified Employees
5. Saving Money
6. Positive Image
7. Recognize and control hazards in your workplace.
8. Create awareness among your employees.
9. Reduce incidents in the workplace.
10. Save costs by being proactive instead of reactive.
11. There are fewer surprises.
12. Budgets rely less on guesswork.
13. The team remains focused.

Industrial fires and explosions cost companies and governments billions of dollars every year, not to mention the loss of life, which can’t be described in monetary terms.

According to the most recent fire statistics from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA):

1. An average of 37,000 fires occurs at industrial and manufacturing properties every year.
2. These incidents result in:
3. 18 civilian deaths,
4. 279 civilian injuries, and
5. $1 billion loss in direct property damage.

These disasters happen for many reasons, often because managers and employees aren’t aware of the risks that surround them at work every day.

According to one estimate, the major losses reported by the Indian Insurance Companies in the year 2007-2008 indicate, that about 45% of the claims are due to fire losses. According to another estimate about Rs. 1000 cores are lost every year due to fire. Fire losses are reported both in industrial and non-industrial premises like hospitals, commercial complexes, educational institutions, assembly halls, hotels, residential buildings, etc… According to Fire Risk Survey (FRS) 2013, carried out by Pinkerton & Federation of Indian Chambers and Industry, in India, fire accounted for 8.45% of the overall ranking of risks. FRS also revealed that fire has been rated as the 5th highest risk in the industry in 2013.