Behind every safe site is a risk assessment somebody actually thought about. It's the process that turns 'that looks dangerous' into a documented plan to fix it. This guide covers the five steps, how to control what you find, and the Safety Statement Irish law requires.
The skill behind every control
Manual handling training, PPE, permits, guarding — none of it happens without a risk assessment first identifying the need. It's the foundation everything else is built on.
Which is why inspectors look at it first, and why it's worth doing properly.
The five-step process
A clear, repeatable sequence. Tap each step to explore it.
Identify the hazards
Walk the job and the workplace. What could realistically cause harm — machinery, chemicals, height, manual handling, slips?
The hierarchy of controls
Control risk in order of strength. PPE is the bottom rung, not the top.
Eliminate
Remove the hazard entirely — design it out, or stop doing the risky task altogether.
Reduce & engineer
Substitute safer materials, guard machinery, add ventilation or change the method of work.
PPE
Protective equipment only protects the wearer and only when worn — never the first line of defence.
PPE is the last resort, not the first move. Always try to eliminate or engineer out the hazard before relying on equipment.
The process in four moves
From blank page to working assessment:
Identify the hazards
Look at the real workplace and the real task. Ask the people who do the job.
Decide who might be harmed, and how
List the groups at risk and the way each could be hurt.
Evaluate the risk and act
Rate likelihood and severity, then apply controls top-down from the hierarchy.
Record, share and review
Write down significant findings, brief the team, and review after changes or incidents.
The legal position in Ireland
Under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005every Irish employer must identify hazards, assess risks and prepare a written Safety Statement. In practice that means being able to:
- Identify hazards and assess workplace risks
- Apply the hierarchy of controls
- Record significant findings and a safety statement
- Review assessments regularly and after changes