Guide to Risk Assessment Procedures and Establishment of Safety and Health Management System

Risk assessment is a core procedure for identifying hazardous factors in the workplace and implementing corrective measures, while the safety and health management system is a management structure for continuously operating this at the organizational level.

Key Summary

item	Items to check by the person in charge
Key Topic	Procedures for conducting risk assessments and establishing a safety and health management system
Main purpose	Prevention of industrial accidents, identification of hazardous and dangerous factors, implementation of corrective measures, prevention of serious accidents
Legal basis	Obligation to conduct risk assessments under the Occupational Safety and Health Act
Main targets	All workplaces, employers, safety and health managers, supervisors, and on-site workers
Risk assessment procedure	Preparation → Identification of hazardous factors → Risk determination → Establishment and implementation of reduction measures → Recording and sharing
Safety and Health Management System Elements	Executive leadership, worker participation, risk identification, elimination/replacement/control, contingency measures, contract management, evaluation/improvement
Practical Core	Checking the implementation of improvement measures that actually reduce risk, rather than filling out evaluation sheets
Supporting documents	Risk assessment sheet, corrective action records, site inspection checklist, meeting minutes, training materials, photos, budget execution details
EAP connection point	Post-accident psychological support, high-risk job stress management, managerial response, organizational recovery support

Risk assessment is the starting point of the safety and health management system. The system can be considered to function effectively only when hazardous factors at the site are identified, risk levels are determined, and measures are implemented to reduce them to an acceptable level.

What is Risk Assessment?

Risk assessment is a procedure in which an employer identifies hazardous and dangerous factors in the workplace, determines the likelihood and severity of such risks leading to worker injury or illness, and implements measures to reduce those risks.

Risk assessment is not merely an administrative procedure involving the preparation of documents. It is a preventive activity that identifies what accidents may occur in the actual work environment, which tasks are repeatedly dangerous, and which equipment, processes, and work methods need to be improved.

For example, in the manufacturing industry, pinching, cuts, electric shock, chemical exposure, noise, and musculoskeletal strain can be risk factors. In the construction industry, falls, falling objects, collapses, equipment collisions, suffocation, and fire can be major risk factors. Even in office-centered workplaces, long working hours, job stress, emotional labor, musculoskeletal strain, and emergency response issues can be subject to risk assessment.

division	explanation
Hazardous and dangerous factors	Causes that can cause accidents or diseases
Risk	Risk level considering the probability and severity of accidents
Risk assessment	The process of identifying hazardous and dangerous factors, assessing risks, and implementing corrective measures.
Reduction measures	Measures to eliminate or reduce risk
Safety and Health Management System	A management system that systematically operates risk assessments and corrective measures

The key to risk assessment is not stopping at "identifying the risk," but rather verifying "what was done to reduce the risk and whether those measures actually worked."

Who needs to check?

Risk assessment and the safety and health management system are not the sole responsibilities of the safety and health officer. They must be interconnected with management decision-making, on-site implementation by supervisors, worker participation, and HR's training and support management.

manager	Things to check
Business owner/management executive	Establishment of safety and health objectives, budget, personnel, approval of corrective measures, and management policy
Safety and Health Officer	Risk assessment operation, on-site inspection, management of corrective actions, record keeping
Supervisor	Identifying risk factors before work, worker training, and implementing on-site safety rules
HR Manager	Industrial safety and health training, supervisor training, new employee training, post-accident employee support
Management Support Manager	Protective equipment, facility improvements, external agency contracts, safety and health budget management
Site manager	Identification of risk factors by work process, implementation of corrective measures, and work stoppage and evacuation measures
worker	Reporting on-site hazards, sharing near-miss incidents, suggesting improvements, and adhering to safety regulations
Partner company representative	Identification of risk factors and implementation of safety measures for contracted, service, and outsourced work

Worker participation is particularly crucial in risk assessments, as workers actually performing the tasks are often the first to identify risk factors. Therefore, rather than simply designating a person responsible for filling out the assessment forms, a structure is needed that listens to feedback from the field and shares the results of improvements.

Procedures that the person in charge must check

1. Prepare in advance.

Before starting a risk assessment, you must first organize the scope, participants, methodology, schedule, and materials. Beginning the assessment without preparation may result in the omission of on-site risk factors or prevent the assessment results from leading to action.

Preparation items	Things to check
Evaluation scope	Classification by workplace, department, process, work, facility, and job unit
Participants	Safety and health officers, supervisors, on-site workers, and subcontractor representatives
Existing data	Accident history, near miss records, work standards, equipment list, chemical list
Evaluation method	Select a method suitable for the workplace, such as the checklist method, key factor description method, or frequency-intensity method.
schedule	Regular evaluation, ad-hoc evaluation, evaluation schedule for work changes
Record form	Risk assessment sheet, corrective action record sheet, meeting minutes, photo record form

In the preliminary preparation stage, it is important to specifically determine “which tasks will be evaluated.” Rather than simply listing department names, it is better to categorize them based on actual work units, equipment, movement routes, and the work environment.

2. Identify hazardous and risk factors.

Identifying hazardous and dangerous factors is a core step in risk assessment. You must inspect the site firsthand, listen to workers' opinions, and verify accident history and near-miss incidents.

Method of identification	Practical examples
On-site巡回 inspection	Check facilities, workflow, protective equipment, work posture, and electrical and chemical conditions
Worker Interview	Check anxious moments, recurring dangerous situations, and uncomfortable protective equipment during actual work
Near miss check	Records of near-injury situations, equipment malfunctions, slips, and pinch risks
Review of accident history	Check types of industrial accidents, work stoppage accidents, and recurring accidents over the past 3 years
Review of work standards	Verify that the actual work matches the documented procedures.
Verification of materials and equipment	Check MSDS, mechanical safety devices, emergency stop devices, and ventilation devices
Confirmation of subcontractor work	Identification of work scope and risk factors for contracted, service, and outsourced work

When identifying hazardous and dangerous factors, do not focus solely on "major accidents," but also pay attention to recurring discomfort and minor warning signs. Passages prone to frequent falls, uncomfortable working postures, reasons for not wearing protective equipment, verbal abuse from customers, exposure to extreme heat or cold, and fatigue from night work can all be significant risk factors.

3. Determines the risk

Once hazardous factors have been identified, the severity of the risk must be assessed. While methods for estimating risk may vary depending on the workplace, the likelihood of an accident and the severity of the consequences are generally considered together.

Judgment criteria	Confirmation question
Possibility of occurrence	How often can this risk occur?
importance	If it occurs, can it lead to death, serious injury, prolonged treatment, or occupational disease?
Exposure frequency	How often and for how long are workers exposed?
Existing measures	Are the current protective equipment, safety devices, and work procedures sufficient?
vulnerable	Are new hires, older workers, pregnant women, foreign workers, and subcontractor workers included?
Manageability	Is immediate improvement possible, and is a budget and schedule required?

In the risk assessment stage, it is more important to determine whether "this risk is acceptable at this time" than to assign an evaluation score. In particular, risks that could lead to death or serious injury must be managed as priority targets for improvement, even if they receive a low score.

4. Establish and implement risk reduction measures.

The purpose of risk assessment is to reduce risk. Therefore, reduction measures should be reviewed starting with the most fundamental methods possible.

priority	Examples of reduction measures
eliminate	Eliminate dangerous work itself or abolish unnecessary processes
Replacement	Change to safer equipment, materials, and work methods
Engineering measures	Installation of protective covers, safety railings, ventilation systems, automation, and emergency stop devices
Administrative measures	Changes in work procedures, work permit system, two-person teams, working hour restrictions, strengthened training
protective gear	Management of provision and wearing of safety helmets, safety glasses, dust masks, safety gloves, safety belts, etc.

In practice, reduction measures are often concluded solely with the provision of personal protective equipment (PPE). However, PPE should be viewed as a final supplementary measure; if possible, it is advisable to first consider methods to eliminate the risk itself or improve equipment, processes, and work methods.

5. Check whether corrective measures have been implemented.

If reduction measures have been established, you must verify whether they have actually been implemented. If you simply write "Improvement Scheduled" on the risk assessment sheet and stop there, it is difficult to consider the safety and health management system to be functioning.

Inspection items	Things to check
manager	Has a person responsible for corrective measures been designated?
Deadline	Has a scheduled completion date for the improvements been set?
budget	Have facility improvements, protective equipment, and training costs been reflected?
Execution proof	Do you have photos, purchase history, training records, and revised versions of work standards?
Verify the effect	Has the risk level decreased after the improvement?
Re-evaluation	Are there any remaining risks even after the improvements?
share	Have you notified workers and supervisors of the changes?

Once corrective measures are completed, it is recommended to keep on-site photos, training materials, records of changes to work standards, and checklists together. In particular, items with a high risk of serious accidents must be linked to reports to management and budget execution records.

6. Record and share with members.

The results of the risk assessment and corrective actions must be documented. These records serve not only for responding to inspections but also as foundational data for subsequent assessments, training, and accident prevention activities.

archival materials	Management purpose
Risk Assessment Implementation Plan	Verification of evaluation scope, schedule, and participants
List of hazardous and dangerous factors	Management of risk factors by task and process
Risk determination results	Basis for selecting priority improvement targets
Reduction measures	Identify risk elimination, replacement, and control measures
Record of implementation of corrective measures	Check person in charge, deadline, and completion status
On-site photos	Comparison before and after improvement
proceedings	Records of worker feedback and improvement discussions
Educational materials	Connecting evaluation results to on-site training
Re-evaluation records	Identify remaining risks after improvement

It is recommended to manage records so that supervisors and site managers can also access them, rather than having them kept solely by the safety and health officer. Actual on-site behavior can only change if the results of the risk assessment are reflected in training and work standards.

Standards for Establishing a Safety and Health Management System

If risk assessment is a procedure for identifying and improving risks in the field, the safety and health management system is a structure that ensures those activities are repeatedly executed within the organization.

The safety and health management system can be inspected based on the following elements.

element	Items to check by the person in charge
Executive Leadership	Safety and health goals, management policies, budget, and personnel allocation
Worker participation	Reporting risk factors, listening to opinions, Occupational Safety and Health Committee, sharing improvement results
Identify risk factors	Risk assessment, site inspection, near-miss analysis, accident history review
Elimination, replacement, and control of risk factors	Improvement measures, equipment upgrades, changes to work procedures, management of protective equipment
Emergency measures	Stop work, evacuation, relief measures, accident reporting, prevention of further damage
Management of contracts, services, and entrustment	Subcontractor selection criteria, pre-work consultation, joint inspection, and reflection of safety and health costs
Evaluation and Improvement	Regular inspections, reporting to management, re-evaluation of corrective measures, measures to prevent recurrence

The purpose of a safety and health management system is not merely to create separate file folders. Risk assessment, training, budgeting, site inspections, accident response, and subcontractor management must be connected as a single flow.

Practical Checklist

item	check
The scope of the risk assessment and the target tasks were determined.	□
Participation standards were established for safety and health officers, supervisors, and on-site workers.	□
I checked preliminary materials such as accident history, near misses, work standards, equipment lists, and MSDS.	□
Hazardous and dangerous factors were identified through on-site inspections and listening to workers' opinions.	□
We established criteria for determining risk and selected priority targets for improvement.	□
Risk reduction measures were reviewed in the order of removal, replacement, engineering measures, administrative measures, and protective equipment.	□
The person in charge, deadline, budget, and completion criteria for each improvement measure were determined.	□
We re-evaluated whether the risk level had decreased after the completion of improvement measures.	□
The results of the risk assessment were reflected in supervisor training and industrial safety and health education.	□
Emergency procedures, including work suspension, evacuation, relief measures, and accident reporting, have been established.	□
We verified the risk factors of contracted, outsourced, and subcontracted work, as well as the safety and health standards of partner companies.	□
Risk assessment sheets, records of corrective actions, meeting minutes, training materials, and photos were kept.	□
Regular reports were submitted to management regarding major risk factors and the status of improvement measures.	□
Procedures for psychological support for victims, witnesses, and managers were established together following the accident.	□

parts that are often missed

first, Cases where risk assessment is handled solely through paperwork Risk assessment is not merely about filling out an evaluation sheet, but is an activity that actually reduces risk. The assessment results must lead to corrective measures, budget allocation, training, and changes to work procedures.

Second, Cases where worker participation is operated only in a formality On-site workers are often the most aware of actual risk factors. Their opinions must be reflected through risk assessment meetings, suggestion systems, pre-work TBMs, and the sharing of near-miss incidents.

Third, Cases where the risk assessment is concluded without corrective measures Even if risk factors are identified, the preventive effect is low if there is no person in charge of the action, a deadline, a budget, or confirmation of completion.

Fourth, If you intend to manage all risks solely through the provision of protective equipment While protective equipment is important, measures to eliminate the risk itself or improve facilities and processes should be considered first.

Fifth, Cases where contract, service, or outsourced work is excluded from risk assessment Even if the work is performed by a subcontractor, if it takes place within our workplace or falls within the scope of the company's actual management, risk factors and safety measures must be verified before the work begins.

Sixth, Cases where psychological trauma and organizational anxiety are not managed after an accident There is. After a near miss or major accident, not only the victim but also witnesses, colleagues, and managers may experience anxiety and tension.

Situations where EAP is needed

Risk assessment and the occupational safety and health management system are fundamental frameworks for preventing accidents. However, in actual workplaces, situations requiring psychological and organizational support may arise simultaneously, such as tension from high-risk work, recurring near-misses, anxiety following an accident, managerial burden, disputes over responsibility, and support for returning to work.

In the following situations, you may consider EAP or external counseling and organizational support systems together.

situation	Directions for EAP Utilization
Employees are expressing anxiety due to repeated near misses.	Job stress counseling, risk awareness training
Witnesses and colleagues are shocked after a major accident or industrial accident	Crisis intervention, support for post-traumatic stress prevention
Site managers feel burdened between strengthening safety measures and employee resistance	Providing manager coaching and communication guides
Accumulation of tension and fatigue in high-risk workers	Recovery support, individual counseling, discussion on work environment adjustment
Disputes over liability or conflicts arise after the risk assessment	Organizational communication support, team recovery program
Workers returning from industrial accidents or leave of absence complain of difficulties adapting to work and anxiety about recurrence.	Psychological support before and after return, work adaptation counseling
Customer verbal abuse, emotional labor, and job stress were identified as risk factors.	Emotional Labor Counseling and Guide to Organizational Protection Systems

While risk assessment is a procedure to reduce physical and workplace risks, EAP is a complementary system that supports organizational recovery and alleviates psychological burdens before and after an accident. Particularly after an accident, it is necessary to address the burdens faced by victims, witnesses, colleagues, managers, and HR personnel.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Is a risk assessment required at all workplaces?

Risk assessment is a procedure for employers to identify hazardous factors and evaluate risks within the workplace to take necessary measures. While the operational methods may vary depending on the size and industry of the workplace, it is a core management activity that must be reviewed by all businesses as a fundamental measure to prevent industrial accidents.

Q2. Is it sufficient to conduct a risk assessment only once a year?

While regular evaluations are necessary, re-evaluations must be conducted frequently whenever there are changes, such as modifications to work processes, the introduction of new equipment, accidents, repeated near-misses, or the identification of new hazardous factors. Risk assessment is not a one-time procedure but a process of iterative improvement.

Q3. Is it sufficient to just complete the risk assessment table?

No. The risk assessment sheet is merely a document for recording results. What is truly important are corrective measures to reduce risk factors, designation of personnel, budget allocation, verification of completion, and re-evaluation.

Q4. What is the relationship between the safety and health management system and risk assessment?

Risk assessment is a procedure for identifying and improving on-site risk factors, while the safety and health management system is a structure that ensures this procedure operates continuously within the organization. The results of the risk assessment must lead to reporting to management, budgeting, training, contract management, emergency measures, and evaluation and improvement.

Q5. What should the HR manager do in a risk assessment?

HR personnel must oversee occupational safety and health training, supervisor training, new hire training, post-accident employee support, management of leave, industrial accidents, and return-to-work, and grievance response. It is advisable to collaborate with the safety and health manager to organize training participants, completion records, and procedures for post-accident psychological support.

Next step

If you want to go beyond simple checklist management for risk assessment and safety and health management systems and connect them to accident prevention, managerial response, job stress management, and post-accident organizational recovery, review the training, counseling, and organizational support systems tailored to your organization through Nudge EAP implementation consultation.

👉 Go to Nudge EAP Implementation Consultation →

source

This content is intended for general informational purposes. Specific legal, labor, employment, occupational safety and health, medical, and psychological counseling matters may vary depending on workplace conditions and the latest laws, so review by relevant experts may be necessary.

Risk Assessment & Safety Management System