YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED

Can I use a ‘Take-5’ as a risk assessment for my jobs? 

Although a ‘Take-5’ is a form of risk assessment, it doesn’t replace a SWMS, JSA or risk assessment but instead engages the worker(s) to prepare their mind for the job ahead. It can be used by each individual worker to assess their work and processes to ensure all risks have been considered for their task.  

It is an effective way to increase safety awareness on site and should be considered as another tool in your Safety Management System.  

What is a Take-5?  

The Take-5 process involves taking 5 minutes to think about the hazards of the job and the controls needed to be implemented to eliminate or minimise risks.  

It’s important if you have been off site for a period of time during the day and have returned to continue your work. It commonly considers the job as a whole and rarely breaks down each step or process to identify related hazards.  

Risk assessments  

A risk assessment or JSA is a more thorough process to document the hazards and controls of the job and should be completed before commencing your work. It should be a consultative process involving all workers on the site documenting each step of the task and the hazards and controls for each step. It can also assign responsibilities to an individual or a team to ensure the controls are implemented and maintained.