Whether you are an individual employee or part of a management team, this chapter will give you information on:

• ∎ the need for risk assessments

• ∎ the legal responsibilities of employers as regards risk assessment

• ∎ what a risk assessment actually is

• ∎ the five steps involved in risk assessment.

The need for risk assessments

Workplace problems caused by employees, managers and others are rarely discussed before events force them into the open and the organization is faced with possible disciplinary procedures, accusations of unfair dismissal and even industrial tribunals.

Listing aggression, violence and bullying as hazards alongside physical aspects of the workplace such as heat, light, ventilation, dangerous equipment and practice provides an opportunity for rational and purposeful discussion and the development of agreed procedures for dealing with what are often regarded as taboo subjects.

In larger organizations it is probable that a risk assessment has been carried out covering premises and equipment, but this can be extended within a section or department such as the library and information service to include aggression, bullying, conflict, harassment, stress and violence either in response to a known problem or to provide a basis for the development of formal arrangements to deal with possible future situations.

Legal responsibilities

You should be aware that it is the duty of every employer under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 (see Appendix D) to make a suitable and sufficient assessment of:

• a) the risks to the health and safety of his employees to which they are exposed whilst they are at work; and

• b) the risks to health and safety of persons not in his employment arising out of or in connection with the conduct by him of his undertaking, for the purpose of identifying the measures he needs to take to comply with the requirements and prohibitions imposed upon him by or under the relevant statutory provisions.

The regulations also state:

If you are a self-employed person you will need to make a suitable and sufficient assessment of:

• a) the risks to your own health and safety to which you are exposed whilst you are at a place of work; and