Records relating to health and safety risk assessments are vital in informing staff of inherent risks and securing the safety of colleagues, patients and the general public. In addition, since many of the statutory duties in health and safety laws must be complied with ‘as far as is reasonably practicable’ often the only way in which the employer can prove, on a balance of probabilities, that he did all that was reasonably practicable is by refeÆrring to the records relating to risk assessments, etc. If prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive, the employer would find it very difficult to achieve an acquittal in the criminal courts, if the records are not present.