WORK HEALTH & SAFETY
Risk Assessments & Reviews
ABILITY GROUP helps employers examine how work is done, identify hazards and turn risk assessment findings into practical action. The scope can focus on one activity or a wider set of workplace risks.
Discuss your priorities
THE SERVICE
Risk Assessments & Reviews: practical support for employers
A workplace risk assessment and review examines how harm could arise from work, who may be exposed and whether current controls address the risk. ABILITY GROUP helps employers look beyond a completed checklist and understand the circumstances that need attention. Reviews can focus on a task, work area, site or recurring issue, with recommendations suited to the agreed scope.
HOW WE CAN HELP
What our support can cover
Task and work-area risks
Review selected work activities and the interaction between people, equipment, materials and the environment in which work is performed.
Existing control measures
Consider what controls are in place, whether they are understood and whether day-to-day conditions support their continued effectiveness.
Changes to work
Assess the implications of new equipment, processes, locations or staffing arrangements before old assumptions are carried into changed operations.
Manual task and ergonomic concerns
Identify work demands and issues that may warrant practical changes or a more specific assessment by the appropriate health professional.
Contractor and shared-workplace interfaces
Consider coordination, communication and unclear responsibilities where several teams or businesses work together.
Incident-related reviews
Use an incident, near miss or recurring concern as a starting point for examining controls and improvement priorities within a defined review.
WHEN TO GET SUPPORT
When this service can help your business
The assessment no longer reflects the work
Changes in equipment, production, staffing or the physical environment can leave a risk register out of date. A targeted review helps identify which assumptions and controls need attention.
Controls depend mainly on people remembering
Instructions and training may be present, yet problems continue. We can review the broader work arrangement and discuss whether different controls or implementation support are needed.
There is a specific concern on site
A supervisor may have identified a task, traffic interface or work area that needs closer examination. We help scope the review and identify any specialist input before work begins.
AGREED OUTPUTS
What you can expect from the engagement
The agreed output may include a description of the work reviewed, identified hazards and exposure, observations about existing controls and a prioritised list of recommendations. Responsibilities, implementation dependencies and review triggers can be included. We explain any limits of the assessment, including where technical testing or another specialist assessment is needed.
How we work with your team
We clarify the question and select the relevant work, people and information to review. Workplace observations and consultation may be combined with existing risk assessments, incident information and procedures. Findings are discussed in the context of your operations, followed by an agreed improvement plan.
WHY ABILITY GROUP
Why work with ABILITY GROUP?
WHS support is grounded in Julie Ring's WHS qualifications and the group's experience with workplace safety, injury management and workers compensation. Your engagement is scoped around the work, the relevant risks and the support your people need.
QUESTIONS EMPLOYERS ASK
Risk Assessments & Reviews FAQs
What is the difference between a risk assessment and a review?
An assessment examines the risks associated with specified work and the controls that may be needed. A review revisits existing assumptions, controls or arrangements to consider whether they remain suitable. The two activities often form part of the same engagement.
When should a workplace risk assessment be reviewed?
A review may be appropriate when work changes, controls appear ineffective, an incident or near miss occurs, or consultation identifies a concern. The timing and any specific requirements depend on the work and relevant jurisdiction.
Can you assess one task rather than the entire workplace?
Yes. A defined task, process or work area can be a useful starting point. We agree the boundaries of the review and identify related issues or specialist input that may affect the recommendations.
Do you provide occupational hygiene testing or engineering certification?
These are specialist services with their own competence and equipment requirements. They should not be assumed to be included in a general WHS review. If the issue needs technical testing or certification, we identify that requirement when scoping the work.
Will we receive practical recommendations?
Yes, where a report or action plan forms part of the agreed scope. Recommendations should explain the issue, the proposed improvement and relevant priorities, with enough context for the responsible people to make decisions and organise follow-through.
Are risk assessments the same as a WHS audit?
No. ABILITY GROUP describes this service as Risk Assessments & Reviews. It focuses on specified work, hazards and controls. It should not be represented as an accredited audit, certification assessment or assurance opinion.
Can the review connect with injury prevention or return to work?
Yes. Findings about physical work demands or recurring injury patterns can inform related prevention discussions. An individual worker may also require a separate functional, worksite or clinical assessment, which should be scoped for its specific purpose.
RELATED SERVICES
Related support for your organisation
Discuss the support your business needs
Tell us about your organisation, the issue you want to address and any decision or timeframe that matters. We will discuss a suitable starting point and scope of support.
Call (02) 9098 5500 or request a complimentary business review.
Further information
Safe Work Australia: managing WHS risks
Guidance and service arrangements depend on the relevant jurisdiction and circumstances. NSW resources are provided as NSW references.