WHAT IS A BASELINE RISK ASSESSMENT?

This risk assessment is conducted to obtain a benchmark and determine the types and sizes of potential hazards in the workplace and identify the major and significant risks that may impact the organisation. This process is often carried out using the PEPMELF approach that considers who is at risk, by what, where, when and why:

PEOPLE - who is going to be at risk (employees, contractors, visitors, etc)?

EQUIPMENT - what equipment is likely to cause danger?

PROCESS - what is the workflow and how may this be improved to increase safety?

PROCEDURES AND PRACTICES - do persons work according to prescribed procedures?

MATERIALS - what materials might be nearby that could affect safety?

ENVIRONMENT - how might the environment be affected if things go wrong?

LEGAL - what legislation dictates the preventative measures that need to be applied and what are the consequences of failure?

FINANCES - what are the costs involved for certain measures and can these be implemented properly at a reasonable cost?

The outcome of a baseline risk assessment provides a logical set of risk profiles and a clear description of the methodology, system and terminology which can then be used to carry out more specific issue-based risk assessments.

This baseline risk assessment is aimed at small organisations whose employee count is one hundred (100) employees or less.

WHO NEEDS TO DO THIS?

This baseline risk assessment is intended for all companies who wish to benchmark and determine the type and size of potential hazards in their workplace and identify all major and significant risks that may impact on the organisation.

WHY IS THIS RISK ASSESSMENT IMPORTANT?

This baseline risk assessment is important because it benchmarks and determines the types and sizes of potential hazards in a workplace and identifies the major and significant risks that may impact the organisation. This determines a risk profile for the organisation which can be used in subsequent, more specific issue-based risk assessments and provides evidence to an inspector that a comprehensive evaluation has been made by the organisation of any relevant health and safety risks that may arise through its operations. This indicates to the inspector that the employer is complying with required health and safety legislation.

VALIDITY

This baseline risk assessment must be conducted by a person who is competent to do so and who has been appointed to carry out the task. The risk assessment document must be approved and signed off by top management and must be communicated to all employees throughout the organisation.

The document must be maintained and reviewed regularly so that it remains relevant and must be available to any interested parties who wish to view it.