Accessibility statement

What is a ‘Suitable and Sufficient’ Risk Assessment?

A 'suitable and sufficient' assessment will:

  • identify significant foreseeable hazards using the Fieldwork Hazard Checklist (MS Word , 13kb) (including travel to and from the department) associated with your fieldtrip - remember, a risk assessment that is too cluttered with minor concerns will be discarded in the field as a bureaucrat's folly, and will devalue the whole process
  • evaluate the associated risks
  • identify appropriate control measures proportionate to the level of risk
  • reflect current knowledge of the activity
  • remain valid for the period of work

Much can be done to control risk by ensuring that:

  • a suitable number of supervisors is always present
  • supervisors are competent under the circumstances likely to be encountered and have adequate first aid training
  • all fieldworkers are adequately prepared (e.g. clothing, footwear, training)
  • suitable lines of communication are available
  • accidents (and dangerous occurrences) are reported and investigated.

Past experience of the worker in his/her proposed activity will have a major bearing on the perceived level of risk in the activity and the complexity of the risk assessment should reflect this.