A risk assessment is essentially an examination and plan regarding the associated health & safety risks with a construction project. A risk assessment must do the following: 

• Identify the risks of a project which can be removed
• Review the risks and hazards which can be avoided
• Set up controls and processes to manage and mitigate the risks
• Monitor the effectiveness of these measures

For more in-depth information about what a risk assessment is, please see our recent blog post ‘What is a risk assessment in construction?’.

Under Regulation 3 of the MHSWR (Management of Health & Safety at Work Regulations 1999) employees are required to undertake a suitable and sufficient assessment of risks to health & safety of both employees at work as well as contractors, temporary workers and potential visitors to the site. 

What types of risk assessment are there? 

Baseline Risk Assessment – Establishing a benchmark of potential hazards on a construction project.

Issues-Based Risk Assessment – This identifies risks associated with a particular activity or task, usually using the risks identified in the baseline risk assessment. This is a good option when new equipment or issues are highlighted. 

Continuous Risk Assessment – This is a regularly conducted risk assessment carried out by the construction team involving hazard awareness to keep employees alert of the risks involved.

Here are the following steps on how to conduct a risk assessment for a construction project:

1. Identify potential risks 

This requires analysis of every aspect of the construction works where you may want to consider: 

• The site location – It’s position to roads, schools, railways etc
• Site security – Locks, screening and access points
• Buildings – Temporary buildings & storage containers
• Equipment – Use of plant, power tools, working with heat, scaffolding and correct PPE
• Materials used – Storage of hazardous substances (COSHH) 
• Working environment – Working at height, in depth, confined spaces, noise, dust and trip hazards
• Deliveries – Vehicles access and manual handling

From these points, you should create a list of all the sources of hazards present and this should be reviewed and updated regularly. 

As well as this, you can identify potential risks by looking back to accident & health records to ensure that you do not make the same mistakes. It is also worth considering long-term hazards which may be present.

2. Identify who or what will be affected by the risks

The risks should be categorised based on who they may affect. This includes employees, subcontractors, delivery drivers, architects, surveyors, construction professionals, clients, visitors, neighbours and the general public.

3. Assess the risks identified

Risks should then be categorised by their severity. This includes how likely the hazard is to cause harm and the extent of how bad the harm could be. Risks should also be analysed under different circumstances including different weather conditions, emergencies and power outages. 

You should review any information available about your construction site such as operator manuals for equipment and tools, safety data sheets, inspection reports, test results, accident reports and studies from reputable third parties.

Risks should be evaluated and prioritised using a chart or risk assessment matrix. This won’t only help you categorise the risks but also enable you to calculate risks quickly.