Risk Assessment - Introduction
The Management of Health & Safety at Work Regulations 1999 came into force on the 29th December 1999 and replacing the 1992 regulations. These new Regulations will clarify some changes in UK health and safety law to implement European Directive 89/391/EEC. The framework of the directive is principally concerned with risk assessment and management, health surveillance, use of competent assistance, provision of information and training for employees. The regulations also consolidate earlier amendments to the 1992 regulations concerning young persons, new and expectant mothers.
The requirement for risk assessment is principally covered by regulation 3, which states:

(1) Every employer shall make a suitable and sufficient assessment of :-

(a) the risks to the health and safety of his employees to which they are exposed whilst they are at work; and

(b) the risks to the health and safety of persons not in his employment arising out of or in connection with the conduct by him of his undertaking.

(2) Every self employed person shall make a suitable and sufficient assessment of :- (a) & (b) as above in the respect of himself or others affected by the work he does.

(3) Any assessment shall be reviewed if:

(a) there is reason to suspect that is no longer valid; or

(b) there has been a significant change in the matters to which it relates

(4) Where the employer employs five or more employees, he shall record :-

(a) the significant findings of the assessment ; and

(b) any group of his employees identified by it as being especially at risk.

General

So, what must one assess?

The remaining Regulations in this Statutory Instrument (SI) continue the broad generalities stated above. The explanatory statements within the Code of Practice merely amplify the generalities.

Explanatory note 15 :-

"in some cases a single exercise covering all risks in a workplace or activity may be appropriate; in other cases separate assessment exercises for the risks arising from particular operations may be more effective. But in all cases. It is important that the employer adopts a structured approach to risk assessment".
explanatory note 22 :-
".....The overall assessment under this Regulation might then consist of separate risk assessments covering duties under other Regulations plus a further risk assessment covering any aspects of the work not covered elsewhere".
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