Risk Assessment for Apprentices

Any employee is entitled to ask their employer to conduct a risk assessment, especially if they are pregnant or suffering from an illness. Apprentices are encouraged to request a work place risk assessment, if one has not already been done, to ensure that the workplace is as safe as possible for them.

The government guidelines on risk assessments in the workplace are set into five clear points that make sure all aspects of health and safety in the workplace are covered. Use these guidelines to highlight how quickly and easily a risk assessment can be carried out, yet how important the findings can be if any issues are unearthed. Apprentices may find that a valid risk assessment is required by their college as part of the paperwork for starting the apprenticeship.

Here are the five government guidelines for completing a risk assessment.

Identify Hazards

Start by walking through the workplace and looking at potential hazards. This should also be done from different perspectives, such as sitting at a desk or crouched on the floor – wherever the apprentice is required to work. Identifying hazards means that any areas or methods that could be problematic, such as doors that snap shut, kettles incorrectly stored or blocked gangways are noted and changed.

Hazards refer to both the working environment generally and the particular workspace of the individual, so correct chair height and desk height must be maintained, as well as correct positioning of computer screens and keyboards.

Decide Who May Be Harmed

Not every hazard will affect every employee, so the person conducting the risk assessment needs to be specific to the different departments and individuals in the company. The potential risk to the apprentice is usually connected to lack of understanding of the role, chemicals or equipment, so this is an important element.

Evaluate Risks and Decide on Precautions

Evaluation is often the hardest part of a risk assessment because it is about understanding the potential problems that may come from the hazards identified. If, for example, one of the hazards identified was that the kettle in the tea room had the flex stretched over the sink in order to be plugged in, it may be considered a high risk, with the precaution being to move it to a place closer to the plug. If, however, the hazard identified was that the overflowing kitchen bin could cause someone to trip, just make sure it is emptied more often!

Recording Findings and Implementation

Once the first three stages of the risk assessment have been completed, it is important to make sure the findings are clearly documented and any changed implemented. For the apprentice, it is your responsibility to make sure that any guidance offered is understood.

Review and Update

As with any company policy, it is very rarely static. Risk assessments need to be regularly reviewed – this often happens when someone is pregnant or a new member of staff joins. Changing circumstances in the company warrant a review too, so if a new product or service is introduced there may be the need for an updated risk assessment.