Everyone has a responsibility to ensure their own safety and the safety of others.

Every work area or task poses a potential risk to personnel, property or the environment.

These risks are heightened when there is a change in work practices or environmental conditions.

Managing these risks is the foundation of all safety and health management systems and can make the difference between completing a task safely or not.

Risk management means looking at each specific task and determining the safest and best way to complete it.

Risk management is everybody’s responsibility.

One of the tools at our disposal in risk management is a TAKE 5.

A TAKE 5 is a personal risk assessment tool used to assist us in maintaining awareness of our environment at all times and aid in the identification and control of immediate hazards as we go about our day-to-day work.

The TAKE 5 risk assessment process is a simple and effective way to increase safety awareness and reduce the risk of an incident.
A TAKE 5 risk assessment involves giving a rating to the level of risk associated with an event, then putting in place controls to help remove or reduce the risk to an acceptable level.

The level of risk associated with an event can be established by assessing the chance of the event happening (Likelihood) and the potential harm or damage the event could cause (Consequences).

Complete a TAKE 5 before starting any task and during the task when there is a change in conditions (e.g. starts to rain).

The TAKE 5 booklet helps you identify risks to yourself, your workmates, equipment or property and the environment.

You can perform a TAKE 5 in a group but everyone should record the controls in their own books.

The first section is easy.
Write down your name, the location/task and the current date.

These six questions help to identify any relevant permits, procedures or training that must be in place or complied with before commencing the task.

Work through the questions and tick the relevant boxes.

If you change the way the task is to be done, it is important to identify if there have been any new hazards introduced.

A change management process may be required.

Some types of work are legislated as ‘High Risk’ and require additional controls and authorisation. These tasks can have their own separate permit processes.

Ask your supervisor about the requirements for any high risk work you might have to do.

You must be trained and authorised to perform certain tasks.

This may include electrical or mechanical work and operating some mobile or fixed equipment.

Check your PPE and equipment to make sure it is fit for the task and safe to use.

Ask yourself if there are additional safety items required to perform this task?

• Breathing apparatus
• Hearing protection
• Life preserver
• Hat, sunscreen and extra water

Have you thought through the task in detail?

Do you have a clear idea of what is required?

If you are unsure of anything – ask for clarification.

This step involves spotting any potential hazards in your work area.

These questions help you to identify any hazards that can pose a risk to yourself, others, property or the environment.

Ticking a bold box identifies a potential hazard.

When no hazards are found

Use the hierarchy of controls to control or eliminate the risks.

Some types of controls are more effective than others.

If you cannot eliminate the hazard (most effective) then you can always combine controls to lower the risk of an incident happening.

Use the risk matrix to help determine the risk score.

Choose how severe the consequence will be if the hazard causes an incident.

Then decide how likely it is that the consequence is going to happen.

The number where these two values meet is the risk rating score.