Not only is risk assessment a vital component of any good Practice involved in care giving, it also signifies a well-balanced outlook by minimising foreseeable risks.
Here’s a tried and tested 5 step approach:
- IDENTIFY HAZARDS
It is the primary responsibility of the Manager in charge to identify and determine both items and practices that could be deemed hazardous. For this to be done effectively a physical tour of the workplace is mandatory while Employee feedback is also vital.
- WHO’S MOST SUSCEPTIBLE?
Who is more prone to risk? Again, the employee feedback will greatly come in handy. It is also important to identify a collective group or team of personnel who are prone to risk, rather than identify and give preferential treatment to a single individual. Eg; the Radiology Dept staff is more likely to face the risk of Radiation, as opposed to identifying one individual among them.
- PRECAUTIONS?
The primary precaution is to see if the risk can be completely eliminated. If not then a less hazardous alternative should be sought, in which case precautionary methods should be weighed against Industry Best Practices by way of limiting exposure, issuing safety equipment etc.
- RECORD!
It is wise and prudent to record the risk assessment even in the instance a Practice has lesser than five employees. By demonstrating that staff was made aware of such potentials hazards and duly acting on them will enable the identified risks/ threats to be minimised.
- BE REGULAR!
Risk assessment should ideally be carried out annually, or more frequently depending on the nature of the Practice. Either way, in the long run, being consistent will affirm that prevention is certainly better than cure.
