What is a Dynamic Risk Assessment?
A dynamic risk assessment is a fast and continuous version of a traditional risk assessment that’s carried out in real-time. It involves identifying and analysing hazards while working to improve safety levels. This helps navigate unpredictable and changing factors as they arise and put in place relevant control measures.
Rapidly evolving risks mean workers don’t always have the time to wait for a regular risk assessment to be conducted. In high-risk and unpredictable environments the hazards that crop up must be evaluated there and then. This is where dynamic risk assessments come into play.
Learn all about what a dynamic risk assessment is and how it works with these expert answers to frequently asked questions.
What is the purpose of a dynamic risk assessment?
The purpose of a dynamic risk assessment is to deliver a framework for workers so they can identify, review, and control hazards that occur when working. It enables an effective and reactive approach as a hazardous situation develops. This means work can continue without waiting for a traditional risk assessment.
Dynamic risk assessments are conducted on the spot to speed up the review process. Work can continue without delay while safety levels are improved as any potential hazards should be identified and ways to deal with them determined. It saves time while protecting workers against any new and developing risks not covered in the initial risk assessment.
When does a dynamic risk assessment need to be undertaken?
Dynamic risk assessments are undertaken when someone enters a new working environment or there are changes to their existing one. They’re often performed before starting a new task or activity to review any hazards and determine effective ways to navigate them. Sometimes they may be carried out during work if something changes unexpectedly.
Some of the main times when a dynamic risk assessment must be undertaken is when:
- There’s an emergency and a situation develops quickly
- A worker enters a new and unknown environment
- An unforeseen hazardous situation arises
For these reasons, some of the common professions that use dynamic risk assessments are emergency service workers, security guards, carers, construction workers, retail staff, and hospital workers. They all need to regularly react to developing and unpredictable situations, which a dynamic risk assessment helps manage.
What factors may lead to a dynamic risk assessment?
Any kind of change could mean a dynamic risk assessment is required in any workplace. They’re all about reacting to unpredictable events as they develop and planning how to minimise and control hazards on the spot. The factors that trigger a dynamic risk assessment can differ across industries and sectors.
These are some common factors that may lead to a dynamic risk assessment
- Introducing new equipment, machinery, or resources to a working environment
- Changing supervisors and the approach to supervision
- Reallocating work to different employees
- Opening a new line of business
- Reacting to any safety and security threats
- Natural disasters like extreme weather
- Human error and behaviour due to stress, fatigue, and emotional sensitivity
- Failures of equipment or machinery
Who carries out a dynamic risk assessment?
Employees usually conduct dynamic risk assessments themselves as they work. Risk managers and team leaders may carry out dynamic risk assessments too, but usually, the people working are best placed to do them. People in professions that often carry out a dynamic risk assessment include:
- Emergency service workers – police officers, firefighters, and paramedics
- Hospital staff and care workers
- Retail staff
- Hospitality workers
- Security guards
- Delivery drivers
- Tradespeople and construction workers
What are the benefits of a dynamic risk assessment?
A dynamic risk assessment provides a solution for dealing with unpredictable risks that are outside of your control. There’s no legal requirement to carry out dynamic risk assessments but they are advised by the HSE where relevant. They can help reduce the chance of accidents and injuries due to less predictable circumstances and situations.
The main benefits of a dynamic risk assessment are:
- Create a greater risk awareness for workers
- Reduce the chance of accidents, incidents, and injuries
- Demonstrates a proactive approach to workplace safety
- Improves employee confidence to protect themselves and others
- Minimises the fear for workers of dealing with unknown hazards
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