Risk Assessment Training

A risk assessment is a logical process which involves identifying hazards, evaluating risks, and determining appropriate control measures to keep people safe and healthy. Many people wrongly assume that they are complex documents that must be undertaken by a professional after years of study.

Often those involved in the work activity are best positioned to assess risk as they are most familiar with the associated hazards. With some guidance and a basic risk assessment template, these people can often successfully prepare such documents. Useful templates are located on the Health and Safety Executives website for your convenience.

Is risk assessment a legal requirement?

The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000 requires employers to undertake suitable and sufficient risk assessments to identify hazards to employees' health and safety and anyone who may be affected by their work activities. However, there is only a legal obligation to formally documented them in writing where the employer employs five or more employees.

What is risk assessment training?

This type of training aims to help those who partake understand how to undertake a risk assessment. Such courses are frequently based on the Health and Safety Executive's 'five steps to risk assessment', which broadly involves identifying hazards, determining who may be harmed and how, evaluating risk, and, if appropriate determining suitable control measures.

What different types of risk assessment training are available?

There are varying types of risk assessment training courses available in Northern Ireland. Classes range from short awareness level courses, often two to three hours, to higher-level externally certified programmes. Qualsafe's Level 2 and 3 and NEBOSH's HSE Award in Managing Risks & Risk Assessment at Work would be examples of externally accredited courses that take between one and two days to complete.

Is risk assessment training a legal requirement?

Risk assessment training cannot be directly considered a legal requirement as this is not specifically stated in health and safety legislation. However, it can be regarded as a significant contributor to legal compliance. This theory is based on there being a legal requirement for risk assessments to be undertaken by competent persons. On this premise, to be considered 'competent', an individual must have the required knowledge, ability, experience, and training to carry out the required task.

What does the course cover?

Risk assessment course contents will vary significantly based on the level and type of course. However, common content items form the foundation of most, these being the legal requirements, defining key terms such as hazards, likelihood, consequences and controls, the purpose and the systematic HSE's five steps. Most courses will also conclude with a practical exercise which involves the learner developing a basic assessment using a predefined template.

How are risk assessment training courses assessed?

Assessment methods vary based on the type of risk assessment course and its predefined learning outcomes. Most lessons will follow standard theory content, which is assessed by a written assessment paper. Suppose the learning outcomes incorporate the word demonstrate. In that case, this will often indicate that the course involves the learner being assessed on their ability to demonstrate the application of the course principles in a practical way, typically through the development of a basic risk assessment.

Who needs it?

Risk assessment training courses are suitable for anyone that may be required to input into their development within a workplace environment. Even staff who do not directly input may benefit as they will likely become more risk-aware, enabling them to better contribute to health and safety management. Environments that present medium to high-level risks will likely require a risk assessor with a higher level of competence and training. In such instances, a NEBOSH training course may be appropriate.

Why is risk assessment training important?

This type of training is vital as it educates on the concept of risk assessment and how to develop one. In addition, performing this essential undertaking can significantly help an employer improve safety standards and meet legislative requirements.