Strip away the jargon and a risk assessment is one simple habit: spot what could hurt someone, then sort it before it does. This guide keeps it plain — the five steps, how to control what you find, and the written Safety Statement Irish law expects.
It's simpler than it sounds
Every workplace has things that could go wrong. A risk assessment is just thinking those through on purpose instead of finding out the hard way.
No fancy forms needed — clear thinking and honest answers do most of the work.
The five steps
The process is a short, logical sequence. Tap each step to see what it means.
Identify the hazards
Walk the job and the workplace. What could realistically cause harm — machinery, chemicals, height, manual handling, slips?
Controlling risk: the order
When you find a risk, deal with it strongest-first. PPE is always last.
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.
Don't reach for PPE first. Try to remove or design out the hazard before handing out gloves and goggles.
How to actually do it
Four simple moves:
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.
What the law says
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