The General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR) (EU 2023/988) is essential for ensuring that consumer products meet high safety standards before they reach the market. Conducting a GPSR risk assessment is a crucial step in compliance, helping manufacturers and suppliers identify and mitigate potential hazards. This regulation mandates a structured approach to assessing product risks and implementing corrective actions to ensure consumer safety. In this blog post, we'll break down the process into five easy steps based on the GPSR guidelines.
Step 1: Identify the Product and Its Intended Use
The first step in conducting a GPSR risk assessment is clearly defining the product under review. Consider:
The product’s intended purpose and foreseeable use, including misuse scenarios
The target consumers, particularly vulnerable groups such as children, elderly, or disabled individuals
The product’s design, materials, and operating conditions
Under the GPSR, market participants must ensure that all possible uses and foreseeable risks are considered, including those arising from new technologies.
Step 2: Identify Potential Hazards
A thorough hazard analysis is crucial to comply with GPSR’s general safety requirements. Hazards may include:
Mechanical risks (e.g., sharp edges, entrapment, choking hazards)
Chemical hazards (e.g., toxic substances, allergens)
Electrical risks (e.g., shocks, fire hazards)
Thermal hazards (e.g., burns, overheating)
Cybersecurity vulnerabilities if the product contains digital components
GPSR requires that market participants maintain internal safety procedures to address these risks.
Step 3: Assess the Severity and Likelihood of Each Hazard
Each identified hazard should be evaluated based on:
Severity – How serious are the potential consequences?
Likelihood – How probable is it that the hazard will materialize under normal use or foreseeable misuse?
The GPSR mandates that risk assessment considers the product’s entire lifecycle, including changes caused by updates or modifications.
Step 4: Implement Risk Mitigation Measures
Once risks are identified, implement appropriate mitigation strategies to ensure compliance with GPSR standards. These include:
Design improvements to eliminate or minimize hazards
Material modifications to replace hazardous components
Clear instructions and warnings for proper use and potential risks
Testing and certification in accordance with European safety standards
Manufacturers and suppliers are required to have documented internal processes to manage and review these safety measures.
Step 5: Document and Review the Risk Assessment
GPSR compliance requires comprehensive documentation of the risk assessment process, including:
Product description and intended use
List of identified hazards and associated risk levels
Mitigation measures applied and their effectiveness
Compliance with relevant European safety standards
Regularly review and update the assessment, especially when modifications are made to the product, new hazards emerge, or regulations change.
Final Thoughts
Conducting a GPSR risk assessment following these five steps ensures compliance with the latest European product safety regulations. By systematically identifying risks, assessing their impact, and implementing mitigation measures, businesses can ensure their products meet safety requirements while protecting consumers from harm.
Following these steps not only ensures compliance but also strengthens consumer trust in your brand. Have you conducted a GPSR risk assessment before? Share your experiences and questions with us!
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