Stop Think Plan Risk Assessment

At Hireup, the safety of our community is our number one priority. And because support work happens in a range of environments, it's important to understand the risks of each new environment you, and the person you support, go into. Whether it's someone's home, a public place, a car or a restaurant, there are three steps for support workers to assess risk on all Hireup shifts:

1.​ ​STOP

If you notice a hazard that could potentially injure someone or cause damage, stop what you're doing. Nothing is more important than preventing injury from happening. Ask yourself:

• What’s about to happen?
• What are the hazards?

2.​ ​THINK

Take the time to observe the environment and take everything in. Ask yourself:

• What could go wrong?
• Is it likely the hazard could harm me or someone else?

3.​ ​PLAN

Once you have enough information about the risk or hazard, plan your next steps. Ask yourself:

• What can I do?
• Can I eliminate the risk?
• Can I substitute with something less hazardous?
• How can I communicate the controls effectively?

TYPICAL​ ​HAZARDS:

Manual​ ​handling:

• Can you access the right equipment?
• Are you well positioned?
• Are you avoiding heavy loads, highly repetitive or extreme movements?

Slips​ ​and​ ​trips:

• Are you holding stair handrails?
• Are walkways free of trip hazards without slippery surfaces?
• Is there adequate lighting?

Personal​ ​safety​ ​and​ ​security:

• Are you protected from physical harm?
• Are you protected from psychological harm?