Workplace Risk Assessment: A Practical Step-by-Step Guide for Employers and Safety Officers
Every employer in Ireland has a legal obligation to carry out risk assessments in the workplace. Under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005, employers must identify hazards, assess risks, implement controls, and maintain written records. Yet despite this legal requirement, many organisations still approach risk assessment informally â leaving them exposed to accidents, injuries, enforcement action, and significant legal liability.
At IACT and through our EazySAFE platform, we provide comprehensive Health & Safety training, including risk assessment, manual handling, fire safety, and compliance training for organisations of all sizes. This article walks you through the five-step risk assessment process and shows you how to do it properly.
What Is a Risk Assessment?
A risk assessment is a systematic examination of your workplace to identify what could cause harm to people, evaluating whether you are taking reasonable precautions, and determining what additional measures are needed. It is not about creating paperwork for its own sake â it’s about understanding and managing real risks that affect real people.
A hazard is anything with the potential to cause harm (chemicals, working at height, electrical equipment, manual handling).
A risk is the likelihood that harm will actually occur given the current controls, and the severity of that harm if it does.
The 5-Step Risk Assessment Process
Step 1: Identify the Hazards
Walk around your workplace with fresh eyes â or better yet, involve employees in the process since they know the day-to-day realities best. Look for:
- Physical hazards â Slipping/tripping hazards, working at height, machinery, noise, vibration
- Chemical hazards â Cleaning products, solvents, dust, fumes
- Biological hazards â Legionella, mould, infectious diseases (particularly relevant post-pandemic)
- Ergonomic hazards â Manual handling, repetitive tasks, poor workstation setup
- Psychosocial hazards â Work-related stress, bullying, lone working, excessive workloads
- Electrical hazards â Damaged cables, overloaded sockets, inadequate earthing
Also review accident and near-miss records â these are valuable indicators of existing hazards.
Step 2: Decide Whnð§ç½ Might Be Harmed and How
For each hazard identified, think about who could be harmed. Consider:
- Employees (including new starters, young workers, pregnant workers)
- Contractors and visitors
- Vulnerable groups who may be at higher risk
- Members of the public if applicable
Be specific â don’t just write “employees.” Consider how different groups might be affected differently by the same hazard.
Step 3: Evaluate the Risks and Decide on Precautions
For each hazard, assess the likelihood of harm occurring and the potential severity of that harm. A simple risk matrix plots these against each other:
| Minor Injury | Serious Injury | Fatality | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Very Unlikely | Low | Medium | High |
| Possible | Medium | High | Very High |
| Very Likely | High | Very High | Very High |
Apply the Hierarchy of Controls when deciding on precautions:
- Eliminate â Remove the hazard entirely (most effective)
- Substitute â Replace with something less hazardous
- Isolate â Separate people from the hazard
- Engineering controls â Guards, ventilation, barriers
- Administrative controls â Safe work procedures, training, signage
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) â Last resort only (least effective alone)
Step 4: Record Your Findings
If you employ five or more people, you are legally required to write down the significant findings of your risk assessment. Even for smaller employers, written records are strongly recommended â they demonstrate due diligence and provide a baseline for review.
A good risk assessment record includes:
- The hazard identified and who might be affected
- Existing controls already in place
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