The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 is a key piece of health and safety regulations, and supports the requirements of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.

The duties set out the The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations are wide ranging, but one of the main duties is the need for employers and the self-employed to carry out an assessment of risks to the health and safety of their employees while at work, and the risks to others not in their employment who may be affected by the undertakings of their business, including visitors, customers and contractors.

In addition, the regulations specifically require a record of the significant findings of any risk assessment be made when the employer employs 5 or more members of staff.

What is a Risk Assessment?

A risk assessment is a methodical way of looking at your working practices and arrangements, identifying the hazards and who might be harmed, and systematically planning controls to eliminate or reduce risks.

When do you need a Risk Assessment?

You need to carry out a risk assessment for all your work activities and workplaces, and if you have 5 or more employees (including part-time employees) you must record the significant findings of the assessment.

If you make any changes that affect the basis of the risk assessment then you will need to carry out a new assessment. Changes include introducing new tasks, new equipment, changing working arrangements, etc.

Carrying out your Risk Assessment

I can help with your workplace or task based risk assessments. The first step will be to discuss your requirements to identify where a risk assessment is needed. Then we will carry out the assessment using the 5 steps to risk assessment

1. identify the hazards
2. decide who might be harmed and how
3. evaluate the risks and decide on what precautions need to be put in place
4. record the significant findings and action plan, with actions prioritized and suggested timescales
5. set a review date and send you a reminder when the review is due

Your risk assessment may identify a need for a more detailed assessment of specific hazards, for example you may need to carry out COSHH assessments for chemical hazards.

Risk Assessments

Covid-19 Risk Assessments

Homeworker Risk Assessments

DSE Assessments

Fire Risk Assessments

Manual Handling

COSHH Assessments