Introduction to the basics of risk assessment

A risk assessment is actually very simple and can usually even be carried out with your own "on-board resources", namely "common sense" and your own gut feeling. And it is certainly not a waste of time, because it not only ensures that work at TU Dortmund University is safer in all areas, but also that the insurance cover provided by Unfallkasse NRW is effective in the event of a work-related accident or illness (despite all precautionary measures) and that you as the person responsible are not liable yourself.

Believe it or not...

You have plenty of experience in carrying out risk assessments!

In fact, you've been doing it for most of your life.

You don't believe that?

• Would you get on your bike and ride off in icy conditions without a second thought?
• Would you ride slowly or fast on a winding country road in thick fog?

Why or why not?

Some situations are somewhat exaggerated and not commonplace, others are. As soon as you weigh up whether or not to enter one of these situations, you have analyzed the situation, identified a risk (for yourself or your employees) and made a decision as to whether or not you want to expose yourself to it. This decision is an action and in this case is based solely on your experience, "common sense" or gut feeling.

There is also no RIGHT or WRONG, but an appropriateness.

Example: Office workplace

The risk assessment based on the furniture framework agreements for ergonomically equipped office workstations at TU Dortmund University can be documented very briefly.

A risk assessment for a self-developed research apparatus with flammable substances - this requires specialist knowledge and comprehensive, meaningful documentation.

This is why it is somewhat time-consuming to prepare, especially in a scientific, experimental workplace, and cannot be done on the basis of experience or gut feeling alone. However, we at the Occupational Safety, Environmental Protection and Health Protection Unit can help you with this.

There is no standardized regulation on what exactly a risk assessment must look like. Ultimately, it is up to everyone who has to carry out a risk assessment to decide for themselves. Which - admittedly - doesn't make it any easier.

Our aim is to provide you with one (or more) template(s) that are as simple and self-explanatory as possible, even if you as the person responsible have to do the main work.