Risk assessments are one of the most important parts of demonstrating health and safety competence during an SSIP assessment (the tenth of the SSIP Core Criteria).
They show that your organisation understands the hazards associated with its work and has taken practical steps to control them.
What a risk assessment should include
A typical risk assessment identifies:
- the hazards associated with a task
• who could be harmed
• the level of risk
• the control measures used to reduce that risk.
For higher-risk activities, these assessments are often supported by method statements, which explain how work will be carried out safely.
Make them relevant to your work
Assessors will expect to see examples that reflect the type of work your organisation performs.
For example:
- roofing contractors may provide assessments for working at height
• maintenance companies may include electrical safety controls
• cleaning contractors will require COSHH assessments for chemicals included within their risk assessment documents.
Avoid over-complicated documents
Risk assessments do not need to be long or complex. What matters is that hazards are clearly identified and that control measures are realistic and practical.
In the next blog, we will look at another key requirement for SSIP assessments: demonstrating workforce training and competence.
