Gallagher has launched a voice-operated risk assessment tool for business. RiskTalk helps businesses cut down on the time and expense of undertaking workplace safety assessments, and benefit from increased reporting reliability.

The health and safety app helps businesses perform fast and efficient risk assessments to manage the risks on site to the health, safety and welfare of their employees and visitors to their premises.
RiskTalk also makes the process much easier for managers to review risk assessments. Users can take photos in-app and send recorded voice memos straight to a cloud storage system, with managers able to approve assessments by using a voice sign-off feature.

Reports can be generated via the app avoiding the need for a lengthy data entry process which can then be converted to PDF files if hard copies are required. In-built speech recognition technology is understood to be able to process recordings in 220 languages.

All entries are time, date and author stamped, and the app works offline – allowing users to conduct risk assessments and store data while working in areas with limited or no network coverage.

Neil Hodgson, managing director of risk management at Gallagher, said: “We’re delighted to be bringing this innovative risk assessment tool to UK businesses. It is easy to use, makes the process of undertaking risk assessments quicker and more reliable, and businesses will benefit from increased peace of mind that in the event of an incident they are more likely to have a robust defence. This is particularly important when you take into account that half of UK firms are unsure whether they are completing the risk assessment process correctly.

"Evidence of risk assessments carried out and the steps taken to mitigate any identified risks can be crucial in the defence of an insurance claim for personal injury or illness, or intervention by the Health and Safety Executive or other regulatory authority. Penalties can be significant – with over £250m worth of fines paid by businesses across all industries to the HSE over the last five years for non-compliance with regulations, with the average fine costing £135,000.”

Research commissioned by Gallagher and conducted last month among 200 UK firms, found that one in two companies are concerned they are not carrying out risk assessments thoroughly enough to protect their organisation, employees and clients. Over two fifths feel that completing risk assessments is an expensive process – costing their business an average of £1,500 a year.

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