Why are Risk Assessments Important

Risk Assessments are often seen as a tick-box exercise for many companies. However they can be the difference between life and death.

Snowdome Limited, an indoor skiing facility in Tamworth, was fined £100,000 following the tragic death of 12-year-old Louis Watkiss during a tobogganing birthday party. Louis was coming down the main ski slope when his toboggan collided with a staff member conducting a slope walk, resulting in fatal head injuries.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation revealed that Snowdome Limited lacked a suitable and sufficient risk assessment for tobogganing activities. The company had failed to consider all individuals likely to be on the slope during such activities, leading to an absence of safe systems of work, as well as inadequate information, instruction, training, and supervision to manage collision risks.

This incident highlights the necessity for all organisations to conduct thorough risk assessments. Risk assessments are vital in identifying potential hazards, and play a crucial role in preventing accidents and ensuring the safety of both employees and the public.

The British Safety Council outlines key purposes of risk assessments:

- Identifying health and safety hazards and evaluating the associated risks.

- Assessing the effectiveness and suitability of existing control measures.

- Ensuring the implementation of additional controls when residual risks are not low.

- Prioritizing resources to address significant risks.

In the case of Snowdome Limited, the absence of a comprehensive risk assessment led to inadequate safety measures, resulting in a preventable tragedy. Nathan Cook, senior enforcement lawyer for HSE, emphasised that Louis's death could have been prevented with proper risk assessment and control measures.

This case serves as a poignant reminder for businesses to prioritize risk assessments as an integral component of their health and safety protocols. Regularly reviewing and updating these assessments ensures that potential hazards are identified and mitigated promptly, safeguarding lives and maintaining compliance with legal obligations.

At Ranmoor Health and Safety, we are committed to assisting organizations in developing and implementing effective risk assessment strategies to create safer work environments.