Accidents happen if hazards are not identified and risks assessed adequately. Risk assessment that identifies hazards is the basis of occupational safety and all operations. A risk assessment must be done before starting the work. Risks are under control when they have been identified and their significance understood. As well as planned and implemented measures to prevent them.
In general, the different stages of risk assessment are planning, hazard identification, assessment of the magnitude of the risk, measures and monitoring. In a construction project, risk assessment is carried out by all parties from project planning to the handover phase. Risks are assessed as a collaboration of everyone, especially the employees should also be involved. Experts are also often needed (e.g. designers). Everything is based on anticipation, because accidents can no longer be prevented after the fact. Assessments must always be documented.
In construction, risk assessment is done at different levels and in different phases. In the case of an individual company, it means identifying the dangers and disadvantages related to one's own work. In the case of a construction project, hazards are identified and risks are assessed at different stages.
Risk assessment in a construction project
+- Implemented as a collaboration of all parties to the construction project.
- From the project planning stage, the developer identifies the dangers and plans the construction project's safety rules and procedures to combat the dangers.
Risk management of the implementation phase of the construction project
+- Designers identify hazards in their plans and plan measures to eliminate hazards and reduce risks.
- The main contractor completes his own risk assessment of the type of construction project, taking into account the special features and conditions of the construction site and the project, and draws up safety plans based on this.
- Contractors supplement their risk assessment regarding their own task, taking into account the special features and conditions of the construction site, and plan and implement countermeasures.
- Employees recognize the dangers in their own work and take the necessary measures.
Caption: Risk management during the implementation phase of a construction project
Definitions of risk assessment
- Wrong is a factor, characteristic or phenomenon occurring at work that can cause a harmful event, accident, occupational disease or harmful load
- risk is a combination of the severity and probability of damage caused by a hazard (how dangerous x how often).
- Risk assessment is a wide-ranging and systematic identification of hazards and determining the magnitude of the risks caused by them
- Risk management is systematic work to ensure the continuity of operations and to safeguard the well-being of the personnel