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Union involvement in risk assessment: hazard mapping
[ch 3: page 43]Although risk assessment is the responsibility of the employer, unions can involve their members in trying to identify what hazards they face in their workplace. The TUC recommends a method known as hazard mapping. This method provides a much more visual picture than statistics from surveys and so on and should help identify and prioritise hazards. A simple map of the workplace is used to highlight where problems are found, using colour-coding for different hazards so that patterns of potential hazards and ill health can be seen at a glance.
The HSE risk management web pages provide examples of what a risk assessment might look like. There are also electronic templates, aimed particularly at small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). These combine the requirements of a health and safety policy, risk assessment and written record of health and safety arrangements into one document. The pages also include online interactive risk assessment tools for shops, charity shops and offices.
HSE resources on risk assessment are available on its website at www.hse.gov.uk/risk.
Risk assessment: a guide for safety representatives, produced by unionlearn and the TUC (https://www.tuc.org.uk/sites/default/files/extras/riskassessment.pdf)
Health and safety and organising provides advice on hazard mapping (https://www.tuc.org.uk/sites/default/files/TUC%2025951%20Health%20and%20Safety%20Organising%20Report%20v4%20Lo-res.pdf)
The TUC’s Hazards at Work can also be ordered from the TUC website (https://www.tuc.org.uk/publications/hazards-work).