Risk Assessment Policy Example
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Date Written:
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POLICY STATEMENT
The purpose of this policy is to:

Define Risk

Establish guidelines for workers that will equip them with the necessary tools to appropriately
assess risk and react accordingly to the level of risk.
POLICY
It is a requirement that all risk assessments be documented and filed even if your assessment
suggests that the risk is low and nothing needs to be done to address it. This provides proof that the
risk assessments have been conducted and it will also be useful for review processes.
DEFINITIONS
Risk: A risk is the possibility that harm (death, injury or illness) might occur when exposed to a
hazard.
Hazard: A hazard means a situation or thing that has the potential to harm a person. Hazards at work
may include; a repetitive job, bullying and violence at the workplace.
Risk Control: Risk control means taking action to eliminate health and safety risks so far as is
reasonably practicable, and if that is not possible, minimising the risks so far as is reasonably
practicable. Eliminating a hazard will also eliminate any risks associated with that hazard.
A safe and healthy workplace does not happen by chance or guesswork. You have to think about
what could go wrong at your workplace and what the consequences could be. Then you must do
whatever you can (in other words, whatever is ‘reasonably practicable’) to eliminate or minimise
health and safety risks arising from your business or undertaking.
This process is known as risk management and involves four steps.

identify hazards – find out what could cause harm

assess risks if necessary – understand the nature of the harm that could be caused by the
hazard, how serious the harm could be and the likelihood of it happening

Control risks – implement the most effective control measure that is reasonably practicable in
the circumstances

review control measures to ensure they are working as planned.
WHAT IS A RISK ASSESSMENT?

A risk is the likelihood that a hazard will cause injury or disease

Australian Standard AS 4360 defines risk assessment as the overall process of risk
identification, risk analysis and risk evaluation.
GUIDELINES
Four-Step Process to Risk Assessment
The Company relies on a four-step process to risk assessment that must be complied with when
evaluating a hazard. Steps include:
1. Identify the hazards – find out what could cause the harm
2. Assess and prioritise the risks – understand the nature of the harm that could be caused by
the hazard, how serious the harm could be and the likelihood of it happening
3. Control Risks – implement the most effective control measure that is reasonably practicable in
the circumstances
4. Monitor and review – review control measures to ensure they are working as planned.
Consulting your workers
Section 47: The Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (WHS Act) requires that you consult, so far as is
reasonably practicable, with workers who carry out work for you who are (or are likely to be) directly
affected by a work health and safety matter.
Section 48: If the workers are represented by a health and safety representative, the consultation
must involve that representative.
How to Conduct a Risk Assessment
Risk control measures must meet the following criteria. They must:

Adequately control the risk

Allow workers to perform their duties without undue discomfort or stress

Not create new risks
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Protect every person who has any risk of being exposed

Eliminate the risk for the public as well as the workforce
Some means of addressing the hazard must be considered. The risk control hierarchy is a systematic
approach to selecting control measures and compromises the following options, in order of
diminishing preference:

Elimination

Substitution

Redesign

Isolate

Administrative

Personal Protective Equipment
Monitoring and Review
All controls should be monitored for effectiveness and reviewed regularly. If it is found that a control
measure is not working as well as hoped, it may be necessary to reconsider control options.
If a hazard has been identified, assessed as constituting a significant risk and if a cost-effective
control measure is available, then it is prudent for an employer to implement that control measure.
SUMMARY OF KEY POINTS

It is a requirement that all risk assessments be documented and filed even if your assessment
suggests that the risk is low and nothing needs to be done to address it.

The Company relies on a four-step process to risk assessment that must be complied with
when evaluating a hazard.

The WHS Act provides that workers must be consulted with respect to health and safety
issues that affect them.

Some means of addressing a hazard must be considered. The risk control hierarchy is a
systematic approach to selecting effective control measures.

All controls should be monitored for effectiveness and reviewed regularly.