Risk Assessment Knowledge Relating to Occupational Health and Safety Risks: A Case Study of Five Finnish Companies

Abstract

Conducting risk assessment in workplaces has proved to be demanding, even though it is essential in occupational health and safety promotion and accident prevention. To identify knowledge gaps regarding risk assessment in workplaces and related development needs in Finland, five medium- and large-sized Finnish companies were studied using semi-structured safety expert interviews. The interviewees (n = 10) highlighted the need to develop the assessment of the magnitude of the risk, the utilization of the risk assessment and residual risk, and the use of occupational health and safety systems. Further studies are needed to determine how to support risk assessment skills and evaluate the success of risk assessment in workplaces.