Before you begin a training session or assessment event, you should carry out a risk assessment of the area and the activity you plan to undertake, and make sure that the area is safe.

This process is called risk management, and involves:

• Identifying the hazards
  
  
• Assessing the risk of each hazard causing an accident or injury
  
  
• Controlling the risks, either by removing the hazard or minimising its effect.

Depending on the type of training or assessing you're doing and the location, you may only need to do an informal risk assessment - simply by looking around, making a mental note of any hazards and taking steps to minimise them on the spot. In other circumstances, however, you may need to carry out a formal risk assessment and document your actions.

Most businesses have their own risk assessment forms, as well as set procedures on when they must be used. In some workplaces, you may be required to submit the form to a particular person for processing. Make sure you check what the requirements are at the workplace you are training or assessing in before you commence the session.