Body
Components
This is the foundation of the assurance framework and will ensure that any risk analysis will build on a sound legal basis.
A full understanding of the nature of the organisation, staff and contractor profile should be evident in an organisation that is managing its health risk appropriately.
This stage may be combined with Stage 2.
Useful sources of information to help identify the hazards and who might be harmed include:
- Trends in data from health screening outcomes, including pre-employment and fitness for work checks;
- Trends in data from statutory health surveillance;
- Demographic surveys;
- Current risk assessments;
- Employee sickness absence data, including for work related absence;
- RIDDOR reports of occupational disease;
- Anonymised data on ill health referrals to occupational health providers;
- ORR and HSE guidance material on known and emerging health risks associated with specific tasks or activities; and
- Company policies and procedures.
Figure 1 below provides an overview of a six stage approach to assurance. The last three stages form a management cycle once the first six steps are completed.
