Factsheet: Risk assessments (APV)

What the law says

All companies with employees must complete a written risk assessment (APV).
The APV has to be in writing.
There are no requirements about what methods and tools should be used to complete the risk assessment, but you must work through the following steps:
- Identify and map out current health and safety conditions.
- Describe and assess any health and safety issues found.
- Include absence due to illness caused by existing health and safety conditions.
- Prioritise the various health and safety issues and work out an action plan.
- Establish guidelines for how to follow up on the action plan
The employer must include the Health and Safety Organisation or the employees in APV planning, preparation, completion and follow-up.
The Health and Safety Representative or another employee representative must sign the APV.
The employer must ensure that the APV is available to employees, managers and the WEA (Working Environment Authority).
If the company does not have the resources necessary to complete the APV, the employer must seek assistance to complete it.
An APV needs to be completed at least every three years, or when there is any major change at the workplace that affects the working environment.

Use the insights from previous APVs.
Uncover any health and safety issues through online surveys, round table discussions, interviews or discussions during branch meetings.
Consider the degree of anonymity. Anonymity can make it difficult to uncover and follow up on specific issues or problems but can also help encourage honest answers.
Remember that special attention must be paid to the working environment for pregnant employees - this can be done via the APV in general or by looking at the specific situation in question.
All issues described in the APV must be addressed and suggestions for how to solve them must be put forward and acted upon.
Make sure that any relevant Health and Safety Committees or Groups are involved in the work with the APV.
Decide how you are going to inform and motivate management and employees during the APV process.
Work out a schedule and follow up on it as you go.
Make sure that employees know what an APV is and where they can find written and electronic versions. This also applies to temporary staff.

Contribute actively to the APV process.
Inform a Health and Safety Representative or a manager if you experience any health and safety issues.