How to Write a Task-Specific Risk Assessment for a Safety Statement

Learn how to write a task-specific risk assessment for inclusion in an Irish Safety Statement. A practical guide for construction contractors and employers.

# How to Write a Task-Specific Risk Assessment for a Safety Statement --- A Safety Statement is only as good as the risk assessments it is based on. Under Section 19 of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005, every employer is required to identify hazards, assess the risks arising from those hazards, and implement appropriate control measures. The results of this process must be recorded in writing and form the basis of the Safety Statement required under Section 20. In practice, many Safety Statements contain risk assessments that are too generic to be useful. A risk assessment that simply states "work at height: wear a harness" does not meet the legal standard and does not help workers understand what they need to do to stay safe. A well-written task-specific risk assessment, by contrast, is a practical tool that workers can understand and apply on the job. This article explains how to write a task-specific risk assessment that meets the legal requirements and is genuinely useful as a safety management tool. --- ## What Is a Task-Specific Risk Assessment? A task-specific risk assessment is a written assessment of the hazards and risks associated with a particular task or activity. It identifies the specific hazards present when carrying out that task, assesses the likelihood and severity of harm, and describes the control measures that will be implemented to reduce the risk to an acceptable level. Task-specific risk assessments are used in Safety Statements to document the risk assessment process for each significant activity carried out by the business. For a construction contractor, this might include activities such as working at height, operating plant and equipment, carrying out excavations, using hazardous substances, and carrying out hot works. Task-specific risk assessments are distinct from method statements, which describe how a task will be carried out step by step. The two documents are often combined into a single RAMS (Risk Assessment and Method Statement) document, particularly for higher-risk activities. --- ## The Five Steps of Risk Assessment The HSA recommends a five-step approach to risk assessment, which is consistent with the approach set out in the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005. ### Step 1: Identify the Hazards The first step is to identify all the hazards associated with the task. A hazard is anything that has the potential to cause harm. For a construction task, hazards might include: - Falls from height - Falling objects - Moving plant and vehicles - Manual handling - Hazardous substances (dust, chemicals, fumes) - Noise and vibration - Electricity - Unstable structures - Adverse weather conditions The hazard identification process should involve the workers who carry out the task, as they will often be aware of hazards that are not immediately obvious to a manager or safety officer. Walk through the task mentally or physically, considering what could go wrong at each stage. ### Step 2: Decide Who Might Be Harmed and How For each hazard identified, consider who might be harmed and how. This should include not only the workers directly carrying out the task, but also: - Other workers in the vicinity - Members of the public - Visitors to the site - Workers from other contractors Consider the specific ways in which harm might occur. For a fall from height hazard, for example, harm might occur through a fall from a scaffold, a fall through a fragile roof, a fall from a ladder, or a fall into an excavation. ### Step 3: Evaluate the Risks and Decide on Precautions For each hazard, evaluate the risk by considering two factors: the likelihood of harm occurring, and the severity of the potential consequences. The combination of these two factors gives the risk level. A simple risk matrix can be used to record this evaluation: | Likelihood | Severity | Risk Level | |---|---|---| | Unlikely | Minor injury | Low | | Possible | Serious injury | Medium | | Likely | Fatal or major injury | High | Once the risk level has been established, decide on the control measures that will be implemented to reduce the risk. The hierarchy of control measures should be applied: 1. **Elimination:** Remove the hazard entirely (for example, redesign the task so that work at height is not required) 2. **Substitution:** Replace the hazardous activity with a less hazardous one (for example, use a mobile elevated work platform instead of a ladder) 3. **Engineering controls:** Use physical measures to reduce the risk (for example, install edge protection on a flat roof) 4. **Administrative controls:** Change the way the work is organised (for example, restrict access to the work area) 5. **Personal protective equipment:** Provide PPE as a last resort (for example, safety harnesses, hard hats, safety boots) The control measures selected should reduce the risk to the lowest level that is reasonably practicable. ### Step 4: Record the Findings The findings of the risk assessment must be recorded in writing. The record should include: - The task or activity being assessed - The hazards identified - Who might be harmed and how - The existing control measures already in place - The additional control measures to be implemented - The residual risk level after controls are applied - The name of the person responsible for implementing the controls - The date of the assessment and the date of the next review The record does not need to be lengthy or complex. A simple table format is often the most practical approach. ### Step 5: Review and Update the Assessment A risk assessment is not a one-off document. It must be reviewed and updated whenever: - There is reason to believe it is no longer valid - There has been a significant change in the task or the working environment - An accident, near miss, or dangerous occurrence has occurred - New information becomes available about the hazards involved In practice, risk assessments for construction tasks should be reviewed at the start of each new project and whenever working conditions change significantly. --- ## A Practical Example: Risk Assessment for Working at Height on a Pitched Roof The following example illustrates how a task-specific risk assessment might be structured for a common construction activity. **Task:** Installation of roof tiles on a pitched roof at a height of 6 metres. **Hazards identified:** - Fall from the roof edge - Fall through the roof structure before tiles are laid - Fall from a ladder while accessing the roof - Falling tools or materials striking workers below - Adverse weather conditions (wind, rain, ice) **Who might be harmed:** - Roofers working on the roof - Workers on the ground below - Members of the public passing the site **Control measures:** | Hazard | Control Measure | Responsible Person | |---|---|---| | Fall from roof edge | Scaffold with edge protection to be erected before roof work begins; scaffold to be inspected weekly and after adverse weather | Site Foreman | | Fall through roof structure | Roof boards to be laid progressively as work proceeds; no worker to stand on unsupported rafters | Roofing Contractor | | Fall from ladder | Ladders to be secured at top and bottom; three points of contact to be maintained; no materials to be carried up ladders | All workers | | Falling objects | Exclusion zone to be established below work area; hard hats to be worn by all persons in the exclusion zone | Site Foreman | | Adverse weather | Work to be suspended in wind speeds above Beaufort Scale 5; roof to be secured before leaving site | Roofing Contractor | **Residual risk level:** Low (with controls in place) --- ## Integrating Risk Assessments into the Safety Statement Task-specific risk assessments should be incorporated into the Safety Statement as appendices or supporting documents. The main body of the Safety Statement should reference the risk assessments and describe how they will be communicated to workers. Workers must be made aware of the risk assessments that apply to their work. This is typically done through site inductions, toolbox talks, and pre-task briefings. Simply filing the risk assessment in a folder and never discussing it with workers does not meet the legal requirement. --- ## Common Mistakes in Task-Specific Risk Assessments The following are the most common mistakes seen in task-specific risk assessments on Irish construction sites: - **Too generic:** The assessment refers to "work at height" without specifying the type of work, the height involved, or the specific control measures required. - **Controls not specific enough:** The assessment states "PPE to be worn" without specifying what PPE is required and when. - **No residual risk evaluation:** The assessment identifies hazards and lists controls but does not evaluate whether the controls are sufficient to reduce the risk to an acceptable level. - **Not reviewed:** The assessment was prepared at the start of the project and has not been reviewed since, even though working conditions have changed. - **Not communicated to workers:** The assessment exists on paper but has never been discussed with the workers who carry out the task. --- If you need help preparing task-specific risk assessments for your Safety Statement, or if you want your existing risk assessments reviewed for compliance and practical usefulness, Safety Check can assist. We prepare risk assessments that are specific, practical, and legally compliant. [Contact us](/contact) to discuss your requirements.