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QHSE Glossary

Risk Assessment

A systematic process for identifying hazards, evaluating risks, and determining appropriate controls to reduce them.

Risk Assessment

Risk Assessment (Identifying and Evaluating Workplace Hazards) is a critical concept in quality, health, safety, and environmental management.

What Is Risk Assessment?

Risk assessment is the process of identifying hazards, analysing the associated risks, evaluating their significance, and determining appropriate control measures. The hierarchy of controls (elimination, substitution, engineering controls, administrative controls, PPE) guides risk reduction. Risk is typically quantified using a risk matrix: Likelihood (1-5) × Severity (1-5) = Risk Score (1-25). Scores determine priority: 1-4 Low (acceptable), 5-12 Medium (ALARP), 13-25 High (unacceptable). Risk assessments must be suitable and sufficient, recorded, communicated to workers, and reviewed regularly.

Risk Assessment Requirements Under UK Law

The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 (Regulation 3) requires every employer to make a suitable and sufficient assessment of risks to employees and others. Specific regulations require specific assessments: COSHH Regulation 6 (hazardous substances), Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992, DSE Regulations 1992, PUWER 1998, LOLER 1998. HSE Approved Code of Practice L21 provides guidance. Failure to conduct suitable assessments can result in improvement notices, prohibition notices, unlimited fines, and imprisonment. In 2023/24, HSE issued 8,281 enforcement notices.

Key Components of Risk Assessment

  • General risk assessment
  • COSHH assessment
  • Fire risk assessment
  • Manual handling assessment
  • DSE assessment
  • Noise assessment
  • Vibration assessment
  • Working at height assessment
  • COMAH safety report

Risk Assessment in Practice

A chemical processing plant (120 employees) maintains 340 risk assessments in Q-Hub covering all activities, substances, and equipment. Each assessment uses a 5×5 matrix with automatic residual risk calculation after controls. When a new chemical is introduced, the COSHH assessment workflow triggers automatically — requiring hazard data sheet upload, exposure assessment, control measures, health surveillance requirements, and line manager approval within 7 working days. Quarterly reviews are auto-scheduled with email reminders 14 days before due date.

How to Manage Risk Assessment with Q-Hub

Q-Hub provides comprehensive tools for Risk Assessment management. The Risk Assessment module handles the core requirements. Combined with document control, audit scheduling, and training management, Q-Hub ensures your Risk Assessment processes are audit-ready at all times.

Related Terms

Want to see how Q-Hub handles Risk Assessment in practice? Book a demo or see pricing.

Related QHSE Terms

  • AS9100 — The aerospace quality management standard, based on ISO 9001 with additional requirements for aviati
  • Audit — A systematic, independent examination of processes, products, or systems to verify compliance with d
  • Bow-Tie Analysis — A visual risk assessment method that maps the causes of an event, the event itself, its consequences
  • CAPA — Corrective and Preventive Action — a systematic approach to investigating root causes of non-conform
  • COSHH — Control of Substances Hazardous to Health — UK regulations requiring employers to control exposure t
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