The Ultimate Guide to Risk Assessment: Types, Methods and Best Practices
Risk assessment is a crucial process for organizations across all sectors. At Anyrisks, we've assessed a huge variety of risks for our clients in numerous industries.
We’ve even assessed the risk of talking llamas on a walking holiday!
This comprehensive guide will provide valuable insights into different types of risk assessments, methodologies, and best practices across various sectors.
But first, here’s a list of the many diverse risks we’ve created risk assessment documents for:
Anyrisks really can create a risk assessment for the most unusual of scenarios
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Risk assessment to replace batteries on a JCB tele-hander
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Risk assessment to supply an emergency generator
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Risk assessment to carry out stone restoration at height
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Risk assessment to carry out beauty treatments including micro needling and dealing with sharps
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Risk assessment to paint a static caravan
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Risk assessment to hold a music festival
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Risk assessment to sing in a live music venue
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Risk assessment to carry out tattooing and piercing
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Risk assessment to unload materials from vehicles and move around building sites
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Risk assessment to cleaning biohazard waste
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Risk assessment to teach a gymnastics glass to 20 children
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Risk assessment to sell from a stall at a steam rally
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Risk assessment for selling products at craft markets and farmers markets
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Risk assessment for cutting hair in a barber’s van
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Risk assessment for cleaning public buildings
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Risk assessment for playing pickleball
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Risk assessment for installing a kitchen in a residential house
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Risk assessment for supplying a burger van for a birthday party or event
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Risk assessment for farming and driving tractors, using a seed drill, combine harvester
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Risk assessment for providing counselling services
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Risk assessment for food safety and hygiene in a kitchen
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Risk assessment for an operator using a workstation with a crutch and avoiding heavy lifting
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Risk assessment to carry out waxing treatments
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Risk assessment for installation of an audio system in a gym
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Risk assessment to carry out filming work and walk-and-talks to camera
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Risk assessment for hydraulic tightening
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Risk assessment to take students on an overnight trip to the beach
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Risk assessment for drilling
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Risk assessment for working in an engine room and machine space
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Risk assessment to install a new CNC machine in a factory and workshop
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Risk assessment for hotel employees
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Risk assessment for loading and offloading material
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Risk assessment for performance of a cabaret and singing
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Risk assessment for replacing windows
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Risk assessment for providing entertainment in a nursing home
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Risk assessment for electrical work in a kitchen
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Risk assessment for installing racking in a warehouse
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Risk assessment for organising a charity running race
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Risk assessment for trading at a market stall inside a marquee
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Risk assessment to work at height painting window frames
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Risk assessment to be a carer for a disabled child
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Risk assessment to run a 5 a side football match
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Risk assessment for a standing desk
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Risk assessment for a fish and chip van
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Risk assessment to demolish a garage or outbuilding
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Risk assessment for using a CNC machine
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Risk assessment for cutting hedges on a tower scaffold
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Risk assessment for a mobile bar serving alcohol
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Risk assessment for a tanning salon
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Risk assessment for delivering plant machinery
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Risk assessment for 3D resin printing
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Risk assessment for spray painting with aerosol paints
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Risk assessment for soldering flux copper pipes
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Risk assessment for teaching children to swim
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Risk assessment for laying vinyl flooring
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Risk assessment for hair dressing
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Risk assessment for moving objects with an overhead crane
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Risk assessment for a mobile DJ
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Risk assessment for running wreath making workshops
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Risk assessment for taking people canoeing
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Risk assessment for fixing potholes​
Industries and Their Specific Risks
Here's an expanded list of industries and the types of risks they commonly face:
1. Construction
- Falls from heights
- Electrical hazards
- Heavy machinery accidents
- Structural collapses
2. Hospitality
- Food safety and hygiene
- Fire hazards in kitchens
- Slips, trips, and falls
- Occupancy management
3. Healthcare
- Patient safety
- Infectious disease spread
- Medical equipment failures
- Medication errors
4. Manufacturing
- Machine safety
- Chemical exposure
- Repetitive strain injuries
- Supply chain disruptions
5. Education
- Student safety
- Bullying and violence
- Data protection
- Emergency preparedness
6. Finance
- Cybersecurity threats
- Market volatility
- Regulatory compliance
- Fraud and embezzlement
7. Retail
- Shoplifting and theft
- Customer injuries
- Inventory management
- Payment security
8. Transportation
- Vehicle accidents
- Cargo safety
- Driver fatigue
- Weather-related risks
9. Energy
- Environmental hazards
- Equipment failures
- Regulatory compliance
- Workplace accidents
10. Technology
- Data breaches
- Intellectual property theft
- System failures
- Rapid technological changes
11. Agriculture
- Weather-related risks
- Pesticide exposure
- Equipment accidents
- Crop diseases
12. Events and Entertainment
- Crowd management
- Structural safety
- Weather-related risks
- Security threats
13. Cleaning Services
- Chemical exposure
- Slips, trips, and falls
- Repetitive strain injuries
- Equipment-related accidents
14. Aerospace
- Equipment failures
- Weather-related risks
- Security threats
- Regulatory compliance
15. Pharmaceutical
- Drug safety
- Clinical trial risks
- Intellectual property protection
- Regulatory compliance
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Risk Assessment Methodologies
Qualitative Risk Assessments
Qualitative risk assessments are the most common type used by health and safety professionals. This method involves using personal judgment to identify hazards, assess risks, and plan control measures. Risks are typically classified as high, medium, or low-level based on their probability and severity.
Quantitative Risk Assessments
Quantitative assessments use numerical tools and techniques to measure risk levels. A risk matrix is often employed to assign values to the likelihood and severity of risks.
Generic Risk Assessments
These assessments evaluate hazards and risks involved in common work tasks and activities. They can be used as templates across different locations and companies for similar activities, helping to reduce duplication in risk management processes.
Site-Specific Risk Assessments
Site-specific assessments are tailored to a particular activity in a specific location. They provide a deep dive into the health and safety aspects of different activities and work sites, ensuring that all relevant hazards are identified and addressed.
Best Practices for Effective Risk Assessment
1. Involve the right people: Include workers, supervisors, and subject matter experts in the assessment process.
2. Consider all potential hazards: Look beyond obvious safety risks to include health, psychological, and environmental hazards.
3. Use appropriate risk criteria: Clearly define the parameters for assigning severity and probability scores.
4. Regularly review and update: Risk assessments should be living documents, updated as circumstances change.
5. Communicate findings: Ensure all relevant parties are aware of the identified risks and control measures.
6. Implement and monitor controls: Put recommended control measures in place and regularly evaluate their effectiveness.
Risk assessments can be time-consuming and complex. Let Anyrisks take the strain
At Anyrisks, we take away hours of writing and box-ticking, leaving you free to ensure your team are safe and you're up to date with your documentation. Our AI-powered software asks a few simple questions and produces your complete PDF and Word document risk assessment for you, in under 1 minute. Try it today!
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