A questionnaire study about the Finnish chemical industry was devised to explore the implementation of the risk assessment obligations of the EU Chemical Agents Directive (98/24/EC), and the role of risk assessment activities as a part of OSH management. The quantitative method involved an assessment of online questionnaire. The respondents were employers' (N = 49) and workers' (N = 105) OSH representatives from different companies'. The regression analysis of the responses indicated that prioritizations in the risk assessment had a highly significant (p < 0.001) effect both on the prevention measures in the management and on the safe use of chemicals. The present results showed that development measures have to be directed at the most important problems ensuring that sub-contractors carry out hazard identification and arranging their on-the-job training so that it matches the chemical plant enterprise's own workers. Furthermore, the results of risk assessment should be used in the planning and management of the work, in the development of the supervisors' leadership skills as well as when following up the improvements. (c) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.