BESPOKE RISK ASSESSMENT |
|
Bespoke risk assessments are required under the Management of Health & Safety at Work Regulations 1999. They may be required to assess the risks arising from a specific task or work process. Examples of bespoke risk assessments may be for the use of hazardous machinery, or working in a potentially hazardous environment.
Examples of bespoke hazards may be:
- Hazardous machinery
- Hazardous environment
- Workplace transport
- Warehouse storage
- Working at height
It is a requirement that the bespoke risk assessment be carried out by a competent person. Failure to comply with this requirement may render a bespoke risk assessment as non-conforming and void.
On a practical level, the main benefit of a bespoke risk assessment is to reduce the likelihood of bespoke hazards resulting in harm.
On a legal level, the main benefit of having a bespoke risk assessment in place is that if a worst-case scenario does happen and a bespoke hazard does result in harm, your organisation will have a legal defence.
These benefits rely on the risk assessment being kept up-to-date, and recommendations made in the risk assessment being acted on within a reasonable timeframe.