What is a risk assessment and does every business have to have one?
The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 requires all employers and self-employed people to assess any risks to workers and anyone else who may be affected by their business operation. A risk assessment is a careful examination of what, in your business, could cause harm to people (employees as well as members of the public). It should involve the identification of significant hazards present in any working environment or arising out of commercial activities and work activities. There are no fixed rules about how it should be carried out; it will depend on the nature of your business and the type and extent of the hazards and risks found. Employers with five or more employees must record the significant findings of their risk assessment.
