Risk assessment can involve a very complex explanation, as standards seem to change daily. Essentially, risk assessment is the first step in machine safeguarding.

The risk assessment process includes:

• Analyzing the inherent risks of the machine
• Identifying tasks that cause people to be exposed to those inherent risks
• Application of risk reduction methods
• Documenting the results

The whole process should also be considered as an iterative process, in which:

• All risk/task pairs are assessed for severity and probability
• A resulting category or performance level of control is determined
• A reduction method is chosen
• Residual risk is assessed after integration of those methods.

If the residual risk is not deemed to be acceptable (tolerable), then the process should be repeated to further refine the reduction of risk. Also, remember that methods of reduction applied should not create new hazards. With this in mind, be sure to assess residual risk in a manner that looks for possible newly created hazards.

One final point is that the standards require that you document your assessment. If you do not document it, it does not exist. If an accident occurs, you will have something to refer to in order to determine if:

• The hazard had been recognized
• If it was an acceptable risk
• If the employee did something unexpected to cause the accident.

For more information on ROSS Safety Applications, please visit http://goo.gl/Krlt8q

For more information on our company and products, feel free to visit our website www.rosscontrols.com or give us a call at 1-800-GET-ROSS to discuss your application.