In Part I of this blog, Scott Gaddis looked at how falls in the workplace happen and the impact they can have on workers. In Part II, Scott examines the role of Risk assessments in preventing falls from happening in the first place.

Risk Assessment

The objective of Risk Assessment and analysis is to understand the level of risk associated with the hazards found in the work environment as well as the concerns related to how people are navigating walking and working surfaces. All associated activities need to be judged with criteria that assist in building a credible understanding of what is acceptable or not acceptable.

Most regulatory bodies require some form of risk assessment and all follow a similar template:

• Identify risks to the worker associated with work activity.
• Identity hazards found in the work environment that pose a threat of loss.
• Provide details of identified risks or hazards