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risk is defined as the likelihood that harm from a particular hazard may be realised.
A hazard is defined by the current health and safety legislation as something with the potential to cause harm. Thus the concept of risk assessment is actually the identification of hazards in the workplace - AND the quantifying of the risk that such hazards might cause harm. The guidelines suggest that there are three classifications of risk: low, medium and high. The category is based on two factors: First, the level of injury or health hazard, and Secondly, the probability of the accident occurring. Thus a hazard that has a medium frequency of occurring, but results at worst in a minor cut, could be deemed low risk, whereas a relatively unlikely event that results in amputation or death, would warrant being treated as high priority. |