HSE wants to make some changes to the current guidance on risk. They are concerned that many people see the requirement to record significant findings of a risk assessment as something separate from other things they do to manage their business.

A risk assessment is not about creating huge amounts of paperwork – it is about identifying sensible measures to control the risks in your workplace. The HSE want to put more emphasis on controlling risk and less on written assessments, without reducing standards.

They want to make it very clear to businesses that risk assessment should be part of day-to-day business management. A risk assessment can be part of an existing business document, such as:

• your workplace ‘housekeeping’ rules
• manufacturers’ instructions
• training materials
• method statements
• safety data sheets

The main thing is to make sure the way you record your significant findings helps you manage risk well.