Risk Assessment

Violence and Aggression is a hazard in the workplace. In order to reduce or prevent the risk, Violence and Aggression needs to be risk assessed and controls put in place. The Safety Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 and the Safety Health and Welfare (General Application) Regulations 2007 require employers to ensure the safety health and welfare of their employees. This includes finding out if there is a problem and how serious it is by:

• identifying the hazards
• assessing the risks to health and safety from violence at work and
• putting in place appropriate safeguards

Risk assessment is a cornerstone of good health and safety management. All employers regardless of the size of business are required by law to carry out a risk assessment at their place of work and to keep a written record of that risk assessment. BeSMART.ie is a free online tool that will guide you through the entire risk assessment process. Further information in relation to risk assessments can be found here.