Risk Assessment
This page provides guidelines for all UWSP department managers, lab managers, supervisors, faculty, staff, and student employees of the University. The goal is to outline the practical steps of risk assessment for all work environments, to provide employees a standard for personal and corporate protection of self, others and general reduction of risk in the campus’ multi-faceted work environment. This is best practice in any workplace, industry, and government organization and required in Wisconsin higher education by University policy and the State of Wisconsin code.
1. Risk (Hazard) Identification;
2. Risk Analysis – consists of determining general probabilities (likelihoods) for identified risk events, taking into account the presence (or not) and the effectiveness of any existing controls, and;
3. Risk Evaluation – which uses the understanding of risk obtained during Risk Analysis to make decisions about future actions[1] [2]
Risk assessment is an ongoing process and so it should be undertaken at various times, including:
If a risk assessment has not been conducted before
When a new hazard has been identified
When any changes occur in the workplace such as equipment, practices, procedures or environment
After workplace accidents, incidents, and near misses
When new information about a risk becomes available or concerns about a risk are raised by workers [3]
And At regularly scheduled times appropriate to the workplace (UWSP recommends upon initial employment and annually thereafter)
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