Risk assessment

Risk assessment in accordance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act: A comprehensive guide

The risk assessment is a key instrument within the framework of the Occupational Health and Safety Act (ArbSchG) in Germany, which since its introduction in 1996 has obliged employers to take proactive measures to protect the health of their employees in the workplace. This assessment is not only required by law, but is also an essential prerequisite for creating safe and health-promoting working conditions. With LUX-top® we place particular emphasis on the implementation of effective risk assessments.

Legal basis of the risk assessment

According to the Occupational Health and Safety Act, employers must carry out a comprehensive risk assessment to identify and evaluate potential risks and hazards in their company. This assessment covers all aspects of working conditions, including physical, chemical, biological and psychological hazards. The aim is to ensure that health risks to employees are minimized as far as possible or, ideally, avoided altogether.

Responsibility and duties of the employer

As part of the risk assessment, the employer bears the main responsibility for the health and safety of its employees. This includes the following duties:

Identification of hazards: Employers must recognize all possible sources of danger in the workplace. These include not only physical risks such as machines and tools, but also psychosocial hazards that can arise from stress or overwork.
Risk assessment: Once the hazards have been identified, employers are obliged to assess the risks in order to determine what measures are required to protect the health of employees.
Determination of measures: Based on the risk assessment, employers must determine and implement suitable protective measures. These can include technical, organizational or personal measures.
Training and information: Employers must ensure that their employees are informed about the identified hazards and the protective measures taken. Regular training is essential here.

Documentation requirements and their implementation

One of the central requirements of the Occupational Health and Safety Act is the documentation of the risk assessments carried out and the protective measures implemented. This documentation obligation applies to all companies, regardless of their size or sector. The documentation not only serves to prove compliance with the legal requirements, but is also crucial for the continuous improvement of occupational safety.

Important aspects of the documentation:

Comprehensive recording: The documentation should contain all relevant information on the risk assessment, including the hazards identified, the risk assessments carried out and the measures taken.
Regular review: Risk assessments are not a one-off affair. Employers are obliged to review them regularly and adapt them if necessary, especially if working conditions change or new risks arise.
Accessibility: The documentation must be accessible to all employees to ensure transparency and promote awareness of occupational safety.

Carrying out a risk assessment: step-by-step guide

A risk assessment can be carried out in several steps:

Preparation: Put together a team to carry out the risk assessment. This may include safety officers, company doctors and employee representatives.
Collecting data: Gather information about work processes, machines, materials and working environments. This can be done through inspections, interviews with employees and analysis of accident reports.
Identification of hazards: Identify potential sources of danger in the collected data. All possible risks should be taken into consideration.
Risk assessment: Evaluate the identified risks in terms of their severity and probability. Use standardized methods to quantify the risks.
Action planning: Develop risk mitigation measures that are effective and practicable. Prioritize the measures according to urgency and feasibility.
Implementation: Implement the defined measures and inform employees about the changes.
Documentation: Record all steps of the risk assessment and the measures implemented in writing.
Review: Schedule regular reviews of risk assessments to ensure they are up to date and relevant.

Conclusion

Risk assessment is a central element of occupational health and safety in Germany, which obliges employers to actively ensure the safety and health of their employees. By identifying and assessing hazards at an early stage, companies can not only comply with legal requirements, but also create a safe and healthy working environment. Complete documentation and regular review of risk assessments are essential to ensure the long-term health of employees and avoid potential legal consequences. By being proactive and taking risk assessments seriously, employers make a valuable contribution to occupational health and safety.

As part of the documentation obligation in the area of fall protection, modern solutions such as the LUX-top® QUICK-DOKU app are available. This is used for legal compliance and for the seamless recording of installation and maintenance data.