A hazard is something that is potentially harmful. It may result in injury, ill health, damage to property, damage to the environment or a combination of some or all of these.

Risk is a combination of the likelihood and consequences of a hazard. Risk assessment is the process of estimating the risk and potential harm of a hazard.

These four basic steps will help you to:

• identify hazards


• assess risks


• control risks

1. List all the work activities covering premises, plant, people and procedures and gather information about them


2. Identify all hazards relating to each area of work. Consider who/what may be harmed and how


3. Determine risk by looking at different variables and estimating the impact. Look at variables such as severity of potential injury, frequency of exposure to hazard, probability that hazard will result in an accident


4. Decide if risk is tolerable. Judge whether safety precautions are sufficient to control the hazard and meet legal requirements