A Brief Introduction to the Risk Assessment Form

A risk assessment form is an important part of every business and facility. Assessment forms are used to check for, identify and quantify risks in order to concentrate control efforts on these areas.

Types of Risk Assessment Forms

There are various types of risk assessment forms. These include forms that are weather related, facility related, and technology related. Weather related assessment forms deals with identifying the risks involves in bad weather such as storms, typhoons and tornadoes. Facility related forms deal with risk assessment in bomb threats, chemical spills, civil disturbances, electrical failure or fires, while technology–related risk assessment forms deal with assessment when it comes to technology application, database or hardware problems, risks for human error, loss of telecommunications, corrupted data, and the like.

Purpose of Risk Assessment

Risk assessment is done to identify the risk indicators in order to formulate a good risk management plan. It provides a checklist for the kinds of hazards present in a business, a facility or a location, help identify the nature of the risk, the likelihood of it occurring, the kinds of people the risk is likely to occur to and the impact of the risk should it occur. These are also used to list preventive actions to reduce the likelihood of its occurrence, identify contingent actions to reduce the impact, and to monitor and control risks.

Who Uses a Risk Assessment Form?

Various institutions and business utilize risk assessment forms on a regular basis. These include IT departments, security companies, consulting companies, health institutions such as hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and nursing homes, catering services, pharmaceutical companies and law firms , telecommunications firms and the like. Virtually any kind of facility or business where hazards are present will require periodic risk assessment with the use of comprehensive risk assessment forms.

A risk assessment form can be filled up by any member of the team or by any employee and is reviewed by management.

Risk Level Estimation

This is how the risks identified in risk assessment forms are categorized according to severity and likelihood of occurrence. When looking at the degree of severity risks are identified by numeric symbols. A degree of severity at 3 requires less than three days off from work, while moderate harm is given a 2, which requires more than three days off from work. Serious harm is a number 3, which is categorized as a major injury that could lead to death.

When it comes to risk levels, risks are numbered from6 6 9 to 1. 6-9 refer to high risk hazards, while 4 refers to medium risks, and 1-3 refers to low risk hazards. High-risk hazards require immediate actions, while 4 requires action within a month or less. Risks categorized at 1-2 requires an action within three months or less.