| Step 4. Record your findings.If you have less | | | | you to keep an eye on any particular hazards |
| than 5 employees then you do not need to | | | | and precautions.You should also make sure |
| write anything down. Although you will find | | | | that any new employees read the documentation |
| it useful to keep a written record of what | | | | so that they are aware of what is being |
| you have done.If you have five or more | | | | done.To make things easier, you could refer |
| employees, then you must put in writing the | | | | to other documents, such as manuals, the |
| significant findings of your risk assessment. | | | | arrangements in your health and safety policy |
| This means writing down the significant | | | | statement, company rules and regulations, |
| hazards and your conclusions.Examples might | | | | working instructions, health and safety |
| be something like:Electrical installations: | | | | procedures, and your arrangements for general |
| insulation and earthing checked and found | | | | fire safety.You may already list these |
| OK.orFumes from welding: local exhaust | | | | procedures elsewhere. You do not need to |
| ventilation provided and regularly | | | | repeat all of them, but it is up to you how |
| checked.You must also tell your employees | | | | you wish to present the documents. You could |
| about your findings.Suitable and sufficient, | | | | keep them seperately or combine them all into |
| not perfect.Risk assessment must be suitable | | | | one document.Step 5. Review your assessment |
| and sufficient. You need to be able to show | | | | and revise it if necessary.Sooner or later |
| that:a proper check was made, | | | | you are going to bring in new machinery, |
| | | | substances or procedures which may lead to |
| you asked who might be affected (at risk), | | | | new hazards. If there is any significant |
| | | | change, add this new hazard to your |
| you dealt with all the obvious significant | | | | assessment. You do not need to amend your |
| hazards, taking into account the number of | | | | assessment for every trivial change, or for |
| people who could be involved, | | | | each new job.But if any change, or new job, |
| | | | brings in significant new hazards, then you |
| the precautions are reasonable, and the | | | | should consider them in their own right and |
| remaining risk is low.Keep your written | | | | do whatever is necessary to keep the risks |
| record for reference in the future. It will | | | | down.And finally, it is a good working |
| help you if a Health and Safety Inspector | | | | practice to review your assessment from time |
| decides to pay you a visit and asks what | | | | to time, to ensure that the precautions are |
| precautions you have already taken. Or if you | | | | still working effectively.David Barnard is a |
| become involved in any legal action for civil | | | | personal injury accident investigator. |
| liability.It can also act as a reminder for | | | | |