How a health and safety risk assessment contributes to sustainable employability

What is a health and safety risk assessment and why is it important?

A health and safety risk assessment (RI&E in Dutch) is a mandatory tool for employers to understand the potential risks within their company. The goal is to ensure the health and safety of employees by identifying potential hazards and containing those hazards by taking appropriate measures.

The health and safety risk assessment consists of two parts: an inventory of the risks and an evaluation of their severity. This systematic approach enables employers to take targeted action to prevent accidents and health problems and ensure a healthy and safe working environment for all employees.

The role of the health and safety risk assessment in heavy-duty occupations

In heavy professions, such as in sectors like construction, healthcare, and industry, employees are often exposed to physically and mentally demanding conditions. A properly conducted health and safety risk assessment is crucial to identify and control specific risks – inherent to these occupations.

Due to the nature of the work in these sectors, the risk of industrial accidents, physical overloading, and occupational diseases can be higher. A health and safety risk assessment helps employers recognize these risks and take preventive measures, such as ergonomic adjustments, better protective equipment, and training that teaches employees to work safely.

The relationship between a health and safety risk assessment and ESG

The health and safety risk assessment and ESG are both designed to promote sustainable and responsible business practices. Whereas ESG provides guidelines for sustainability, social responsibility and good governance, a health and safety risk assessment (required by law in the Netherlands) focuses specifically on working conditions and safety in the workplace. A health and safety risk assessment is therefore much more a practical tool for identifying and reducing risks for employees. A health and safety risk assessment, part of the 'Social' pillar of ESG. contributes to safe and healthy working conditions. These are essential to the social aspect of sustainable business. So companies that take ESG compliance seriously will also want to have their health and safety risk assessment in order – as evidence of care for people and society.

How a health and safety risk assessment contributes to sustainable employability

Sustainable employability revolves around the ability of employees to continue working in a healthy, motivated, and productive manner until their retirement. An occupational risk assessment plays a key role in this by creating a safe and healthy working environment.

With a properly conducted health and safety risk assessment, employers can address not only physical and safety risks but also psychosocial workloads, such as work pressure and stress. Managing these risks also improves employees' well-being, which in turn contributes to their long-term employability.

Successful health and safety risk assessment implementation examples

There are countless examples of companies that have made their workplaces safer and healthier thanks to an effective health and safety risk assessment. For example, after a comprehensive health and safety risk assessment, a large construction company invested in ergonomic tools and safety training, leading to a significant decrease in workplace accidents.

Risk management is also a hot topic in healthcare. A healthcare facility discovered through a health and safety risk assessment that the workload among staff was too high. By revising work schedules and offering stress management training, they were able to improve the well-being of their staff, resulting in lower absence numbers and higher employee satisfaction.

Practical tips for an effective health and safety risk assessment with WoodWing Scienta

An effective health and safety risk assessment starts with a thorough inventory of all potential risks within the company. WoodWing Scienta provides concrete tools for setting up and maintaining the management of risks in an organization and is an effective tool for structuring and documenting this process.

Involve employees in the process by asking for their input on the risks they experience. This doesn't just provide a more complete picture, but also increases involvement and support for actions to be taken.

Periodically update the health and safety risk assessment to identify and address new risks in time. This keeps the work environment continuously safe and healthy, which is essential for the sustainable employability of employees.