Risk Assessment: Enabler or Barrier?

Are occupational therapists using risk assessment to its fullest potential? Taking part in activities of daily living can introduce significant risk for someone overcoming disabilities and risk assessment is regularly utilised to confirm where harm is liable to occur. In this opinion piece, risk assessment is promoted as a valuable addition to the therapist's 'toolbox' - allowing, rather than hindering, occupational therapy practice. In offering therapists the opportunity to engage creatively in finding novel solutions to problems, risk assessment can, in fact, avoid a focus on what cannot be done in favour of what can be done with greater certainty, accountability and transparency.