Work Health & Safety
Risk assessment
Before you start a new or changed task, take a moment to assess the risks and put controls in place. Here’s a simple way to do it.
Five steps
- Identify the hazards — what could cause harm?
- Assess the risk — how likely is it, and how serious?
- Control the risk — use the hierarchy of controls below.
- Record what you found and what you did.
- Review — check the controls work and update if things change.
Hierarchy of controls
- 1 Eliminate. Remove the hazard completely (most effective).
- 2 Substitute. Replace it with something safer.
- 3 Isolate. Separate people from the hazard.
- 4 Engineer. Use equipment or design to reduce risk.
- 5 Administer. Use procedures, training and signage.
- 6 PPE. Use personal protective equipment (least effective).