Prepare simple building sketches and drawings

Hazards and risks

Site risk assessment

Any building site has the potential for safety risks – the term 'risk' is applied when there is a likelihood of a hazard resulting in injury. The severity of a risk is defined by looking at how likely it is that an injury could occur, and how serious that injury would be.

Read building site risk assessment to find out more.

Site risk controls

Most risks can be controlled in some way. The best control method is to eliminate the hazard completely, but since that isn't always possible you'll need to find ways to manage hazards and minimise risks. To do this, you can apply the hierarchy of controls. The most effective solution is removing the hazard completely. Working down from there you'll reach the least effective option which is acknowledging that the hazard cannot be removed and taking steps to protect workers from risk as much as possible.

Read about hierarchy of controls to find out more, then try the activity six steps for risk control.

Before commencing any tasks on a building site, you should carry out a full site assessment and identify any risks and all possible hazards. From there, you can put the appropriate safety procedures in place so that risks are minimised.