Risk assessments are a core part of health and safety policies in the workplace. They are necessary to prevent accidents and other ill harm before it happens. The risk assessment process is often split into five steps, including identifying any hazards that could cause an injury, accidents or ill health. 

The likelihood of incidents occurring and their associated level of risk need to be analysed so that effective control measures can be implemented and monitored. Any significant findings through risk assessments must be well-communicated across all levels of the company. Through these steps, companies in the construction industry can ensure a safe work environment for the employees.

Every workplace environment will have hazards that could potentially cause harm or ill-health. From wet floors, exposure to hazardous substances, fire hazards, dangerous work equipment, and much more. 

Complete risk assessments are guaranteed to reduce the likelihood of any work-related injuries and ill-health. Through risk assessments, workers and others on-site will become more aware of identifying future hazards and risks and will become generally more educated on workplace health and safety.

Whilst Risk assessments primarily serve to protect your team from accidents; there is also the potential to save lives. Fatal accidents are the most apparent accidents to prevent. As an example, fire hazards have a high potential for fatalities. Employers also need to keep in mind the effects of long term exposure to certain chemicals, which can lead to potentially fatal conditions later on. 

Asbestos, in particular, is common in the workplace and extremely dangerous. Dangerous, highly skilled machinery can also cause fatal injuries for employees if misused. By doing proper risk analysis and assessment beforehand, lives can be saved, and employees will feel a lot safer in the workplace.

Injuries at work can be incredibly costly for a business. An injured employer will likely have to take time off work, depending on the business's healthcare structure. They may need to be paid whilst off work. Additionally, legal fees can quickly pile up if the affected individual(s) decides to make a claim. 

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is likely to get involved by contacting your business for investigation if they believe you are breaching health and safety laws, which could not only be costly in terms of fees but could present damage to your reputation. A bad reputation will affect your customer base, and you may struggle to take on new employees.

If an accident occurs, the first question people ask is, "who's fault was this?". If your business is the one at fault due to poor health and safety procedures, then you could face significant legal troubles. It is not unusual for cases to reach tens of thousands of pounds in fees. 

Potentially of all of this could be avoided if proper risk assessments were in place and employees were taught good health and safety rules and procedures.