Health & Safety week provides chance to review risks

Run by the European Agency for Health & Safety at Work, the week is part of a two year campaign which aims to promote risk assessment via systematic examination of all aspects of work undertaken. This would consider what could cause injury or harm, whether the hazards can be eliminated and, if not, what measures can be taken to control the risk. Steve Walter, Health & Safety Adviser at the manufacturers’ organisation EEF, which is supporting the initiative, said the week provided an ideal opportunity for large and small businesses review their procedures. “In particular, businesses have to manage many risks in order to grow and risk assessment can be a useful business tool if it is carried out properly and delivers a prioritised action plan,” he went on. Risk was often exaggerated because of fear of litigation, distorting what was expected under the law and tying businesses up in unnecessary red tape, added Walter.