Every business owner should manage the health & safety of their business and control risks. Health and safety risk assessments should be carried out with key staff who know the environment in which you operate. Risks are triggered when changes affect your work activities, such as:

• Starting a new business, project, or planning an event
• Changing work practices, procedures, environment, or undertaking any high-risk work
• Purchasing new or used equipment or using new substances
• Planning to improve productivity or reduce costs
• New hazards have been identified
• Responding to workplace incidents
• Responding to concerns raised by workers, health and safety representatives, or others
• Sending a student or apprentice on placement

For any of the above situations, as a business owner, you should:

• Identify foreseeable hazards and the risks associated with them
• Assess the risks - determine the consequence and likelihood of the risk occurring
• Control the risk – implement control measures to eliminate or reduce the risk
• Monitor and review the entire process

Note that legal obligations of employers may vary according to circumstances. You may wish to seek independent legal advice on what is applicable to your situation.