Workplace Risk Assessment Form (Ghana)

A Workplace Risk Assessment Form in Ghana records the particulars required for the matter it documents.

Ghana's occupational health and safety (OHS) regulatory framework draws on several statutes and institutions. The Factories Offices and Shops Act 1970 (Act 328) remains the principal OHS legislation for commercial and industrial premises in Ghana. The Labour Act 2003 (Act 651) imposes general duties on employers relating to the health, safety, and welfare of workers under Section 118, and establishes the right of workers to refuse unsafe work. The Workmen's Compensation Act 1987 (PNDCL 187) governs compensation payable to workers injured in the course of employment. The Minerals and Mining Act 2006 (Act 703) and the Petroleum (Exploration and Production) Act 2016 (Act 919) contain sector-specific safety requirements for the mining and extractive industries respectively.

The Department of Factories Inspectorate (DFI) under the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations is the primary regulatory body for workplace safety inspections in Ghana. Factory Inspectors employed by the DFI have the power under Act 328 to enter, inspect, and investigate workplaces; to require employers to remedy unsafe conditions; and to prosecute employers for violations. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), established under the Environmental Protection Agency Act 1994 (Act 490), regulates environmental hazards that may affect worker safety, particularly in chemical processing, mining, and waste management operations.

A workplace risk assessment in Ghana follows a five-step methodology consistent with international occupational health and safety practice: (1) Identify hazards — physical, chemical, biological, ergonomic, and psychosocial hazards present in the workplace; (2) Determine who might be harmed and how — workers, contractors, visitors, and members of the public; (3) Evaluate the risks and decide on control measures, applying the hierarchy of controls (elimination, substitution, engineering controls, administrative controls, and personal protective equipment); (4) Record the findings and implement control measures; and (5) Review and update the assessment periodically or when significant changes occur.

The Ghana Standards Authority (GSA), established under the Ghana Standards Authority Act 2011 (Act 820), publishes Ghanaian standards for occupational health and safety that supplement the requirements of Act 328. Employers in Ghana operating in construction are additionally subject to the requirements of the Building Regulations 1996 (LI 1630). Employers in the oil and gas sector operating in the Western Region must comply with standards set by the Petroleum Commission under the Petroleum Commission Act 2011 (Act 821).

The legal framework governing the Workplace Risk Assessment Form (Ghana) in Ghana draws on several key statutes and regulatory bodies. Under the Labour Act 2003 (Act 651), the National Labour Commission (NLC) adjudicates workplace disputes in Ghana. Section 12 of the Labour Act 2003 requires written terms of employment. The National Pensions Act 2008 (Act 766) mandates employer contributions to the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT). The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) administers PAYE under the Income Tax Act 2015 (Act 896). The Labour Division of the High Court hears employment appeals. Parties executing a Workplace Risk Assessment Form (Ghana) in Ghana should confirm the document reflects current law, including any amendments enacted since the original drafting date. The Factories Offices and Shops Act 1970 (Act 328) sets the foundational requirements.

A Workplace Risk Assessment Form in Ghana is needed whenever an employer identifies a new or changed hazard in the workplace, when workers are exposed to a new activity, substance, or process, or when the employer wishes to document compliance with the Factories Offices and Shops Act 1970 (Act 328) and the Labour Act 2003 (Act 651).

A Workplace Risk Assessment Form is required before commencing any construction, demolition, or excavation work at a workplace in Ghana, to comply with the Building Regulations 1996 (LI 1630) and to satisfy the Department of Factories Inspectorate (DFI) that hazards have been identified and controlled.

A Workplace Risk Assessment Form is needed when a manufacturing company in Greater Accra, Ashanti, or Western Region introduces a new chemical substance, machinery, or industrial process into its production operations, and must evaluate chemical exposure, mechanical injury, fire, and explosion risks under Act 328.

A Workplace Risk Assessment Form is required when an employer in Ghana employs five or more workers and wishes to document the safety arrangements that satisfy the general duty of care under Section 118 of the Labour Act 2003 (Act 651) and Section 9 of the Factories Offices and Shops Act 1970 (Act 328).

A Workplace Risk Assessment Form is needed following a workplace accident, injury, or near-miss reportable under the Factories Offices and Shops Act 1970 (Act 328), as part of the investigation and corrective action process required by the Department of Factories Inspectorate (DFI).

A Workplace Risk Assessment Form is required when a company is seeking certification against an occupational health and safety management system standard — such as ISO 45001 — which requires documented risk assessment processes as part of the management system, and which is increasingly required by procurement officers in Ghana's public and private sectors.

A Workplace Risk Assessment Form is needed when a workplace in Ghana is subject to inspection by Factory Inspectors from the DFI, who have the power under Act 328 to request documentary evidence of risk assessments and safety management arrangements.

Parties in Ghana should prepare a Workplace Risk Assessment Form (Ghana) proactively rather than waiting for a dispute to arise. Courts interpret agreements based on the written terms rather than oral representations. Under the Labour Act 2003 (Act 651), the National Labour Commission (NLC) adjudicates workplace disputes in Ghana. Section 12 of the Labour Act 2003 requires written terms of employment. The National Pensions Act 2008 (Act 766) mandates employer contributions to the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT). The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) administers PAYE under the Income Tax Act 2015 (Act 896). The Labour Division of the High Court hears employment appeals. Where the transaction involves regulated activities, prior approval from the relevant authority may be required before execution.

A compliant Workplace Risk Assessment Form in Ghana under the Factories Offices and Shops Act 1970 (Act 328) and the Labour Act 2003 (Act 651) must contain the following essential elements.

Workplace Identification: Full name and address of the employer, nature of the business, registration number with the Office of the Registrar of Companies (ORC) or Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) if applicable, and the specific work area or activity being assessed.

Assessor Details: Name, position, and qualifications of the person conducting the risk assessment. Where a workplace in Ghana employs a safety officer under the requirements of the Factories Offices and Shops Act 1970 (Act 328), that officer should lead or supervise the assessment. External safety consultants engaged through the Ghana Institution of Engineers (GhIE) or a firm accredited by the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) may also conduct assessments.

Hazard Identification: A systematic list of all hazards identified in the work area or activity, classified by type: physical hazards (noise, heat, vibration, electricity, manual handling); chemical hazards (dusts, fumes, solvents, pesticides regulated under the Environmental Protection Agency Act 1994 (Act 490)); biological hazards (pathogens, allergens); ergonomic hazards (repetitive strain, awkward postures); and psychosocial hazards (stress, harassment, violence at work prohibited under the Labour Act 2003 (Act 651)).

Persons at Risk: Identification of all categories of persons who may be harmed by each hazard — employees, temporary workers, contractors, visitors, customers, and members of the public. Particular attention must be given to vulnerable persons including pregnant workers, workers with disabilities, and young persons whose employment is regulated under Section 58 of the Labour Act 2003 (Act 651).

Risk Evaluation: For each hazard, an assessment of the likelihood of harm (unlikely, possible, likely) and the severity of potential harm (minor injury, serious injury, fatality), resulting in an overall risk rating (low, medium, high, extreme). The risk matrix approach recommended by the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) should be applied.

Control Measures: A description of the control measures in place or to be implemented, following the hierarchy of controls: (1) Elimination — remove the hazard entirely; (2) Substitution — replace the hazardous substance or process with a less hazardous alternative; (3) Engineering controls — isolate workers from the hazard by physical means; (4) Administrative controls — safe work procedures, training, supervision, work rotation; (5) Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) — helmets, gloves, safety boots, respirators procured to Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) or equivalent international standards.

Residual Risk Rating: After control measures are applied, the residual risk level must be assessed and recorded to confirm that risks have been reduced to as low as reasonably practicable (ALARP), consistent with the general duty under Section 9 of Act 328.

Action Plan: Persons responsible for implementing each control measure, target completion dates, and verification methods.

Review Schedule: The date on which the risk assessment will next be reviewed. The Department of Factories Inspectorate (DFI) recommends annual review as a minimum, with immediate review following any workplace accident or significant change in work activities.

Signatures: Signatures of the assessor and a responsible manager or employer confirming that the assessment has been completed and that control measures have been communicated to affected workers in accordance with Section 118 of the Labour Act 2003 (Act 651).

Forms-legal.com provides this Workplace Risk Assessment Form template as a starting point for employers operating in Ghana. Employers in high-risk industries — mining, construction, oil and gas, chemical processing — should engage a qualified occupational health and safety professional to conduct and certify their risk assessments to satisfy the Department of Factories Inspectorate (DFI) and sector-specific regulators.