By Jessica Frostick Citation
Don’t risk your sanity: a quick rundown on risk assessments
Risk assessments are all about spotting hazards in your business that could potentially harm your members’ employees – but they can be a bit of a daunting process. So, the experts at our partner Citation are here to give a quick introduction…
Why do your members need risk assessments?
Risk assessments make workplaces a safer place for everyone. They give clear instructions for employees to go about their work, reducing the opportunities for incidents.
And of course – it’s a legal requirement to carry out risk assessments under the Health & Safety at Work Act. If your members employ five or more people, it’s also a legal requirement to write them down, but we’d recommend your members record them anyway, as this is what the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) will want to see at inspections.
The need for risk assessments in numbers: in 2023/24 in Great Britain…
1.7 million working people were suffering from a work-related illness
776,000 workers suffered from work-related stress, depression or anxiety
138 workers were killed in work-related accidents
33.7 million working days were lost due to work-related illness and workplace injury
£21.6 billion was the estimated cost of injuries and ill health from current conditions
What happens if your members don’t have robust risk assessments?
Illness, injury and death are some of the worst consequences of bad risk assessments. When fatalities do happen, it’s often because risk assessments haven’t been completed, reviewed or acted on properly.
Having bad risk assessments increases the risk of enforcement notices, prosecution, huge fines and even imprisonment – which only leads to irreversible financial and reputational damage, higher insurance premiums, and loss of investment and clients.
What are some of the most common workplace risks?
Slips, trips and falls – slips, trips and falls account for 31%* of non-fatal injuries at work, and falls from height the most common reason for fatalities, so risk assessments are key to preventing them.
Stress – around half of all reported cases of work-related ill health in 2023/24 were due to stress, depression or anxiety. Stress risk assessments are a legal responsibility and they’re vital to prioritise employee wellbeing.
Moving vehicles – this can be one of the biggest risks in some industries, accounting for 25 fatal injuries to workers in 2023/24. So, you’ll need to properly assess the risks that vehicles can cause on your site.
No more risky business
Workplace risk assessments are a legal requirement. But do your members know what their business needs and how to do them?
That’s why we’re here. Working with us means you’ll be able to get must-know information out to your members including content for your newsletters, free guides and joint webinars and events. And, if your members need more support, we’ll make sure they get our bespoke compliance packages for less with preferential rates. For more information about becoming a Citation partner email partnerships@citation.co.uk.
*Source: Health and Safety Executive 2023/23
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