Risk assessment
A systematic examination of the hazards present in a workplace and the measures needed to control the risks that arise from them. Required by regulation in GB and Ireland; often implied by individual OSHA standards rather than mandated by one general duty.
Also known as
By jurisdiction
UK HSE
“risk assessment”Exact equivalentRegulation 3 of MHSWR 1999 requires every employer to make a suitable and sufficient assessment of the risks to health and safety of employees and of others who may be affected by their work. Employers with five or more employees must record the significant findings.
Irish HSA
“risk assessment”Close equivalentSection 19 of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 requires an employer to carry out a written assessment of hazards and risks. The assessment must identify the risks to which employees are exposed and the protective measures in place.
US OSHA
“hazard assessment”Partial equivalentOSHA does not impose a single general risk assessment duty equivalent to MHSWR or SHWWA. Individual standards require hazard assessment within their scope, for example 29 CFR 1910.132(d) (personal protective equipment) and 29 CFR 1910.119 (process safety).
Practitioner note: The central H&S management tool. MHSWR reg 3 (GB), SHWWA s19 (Ireland), OSHA standards individually. Specific risk assessments (COSHH, noise, vibration, fire) flow from the general duty.