Risk Assessment Made Easy Presented by Andrew Knight University Safety Adviser

Emergency Procedures & Welfare Fire Alarm Assembly Point Toilets Mobiles

Introduction Introduce your neighbour to the group –Why are they here? –What hazards do they need to assess?

Guess the Figure Match events against the probability of the event occurring. –Chance of being struck by lightning –1 in 3,000,000 –Chance of winning lotto –1 in 14,000,000

What is a risk assessment? A risk assessment is: –a careful examination of what, in your work, could cause harm to people, so that you can weigh up whether you have taken enough precautions or should do more to prevent harm.

Hazard and Risk Hazard – Anything with the potential to cause harm Risk – the likelihood and severity of harm being realised.

Crossing the Road

Origins Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 introduced “reasonably practicable” Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1992 (amended 1999)

Why risk assess? Legal Moral Economic Fines and costs Court time Civil cases Notices Pain and suffering Duty to fellow human being Premiums Uninsured losses Reputation Morale Productivity

Why risk assess? Risk assessment requirements from legislation –COSHH –Display Screen Equipment (DSE) –Manual handling –Genetic Modification –Fire –Noise

Who can do the risk assessment? Any member of staff is able to complete a risk assessment if they are competent

Risk assessor competence The key attributes that contribute to a person’s competence: Training Qualification Knowledge Experience Ability Knowledge of your own Limitations Pretending to be an expert in something you do not understand can be dangerous!

Team approach The best risk assessments are team based

Card Exercise Match the activity against the legislative requirement for a risk assessment.

Types of Risk Assessment Generic –covering a range of similar activities –adapted to suit Activity Specific –apply to a single activity Dynamic –undertaken on the spot (e.g. During fieldtrips)

Specific or Generic Generic –Sport activity –Woodworking shops –Equipment Specific –Overseas fieldtrips –Public events –Research activities –Work at height

The five steps to risk assessment Step 1 Identify the hazards Step 2 Decide who might be harmed and how Step 3 Evaluate the risks and decide on precaution Step 4 Record your findings and implement actions Step 5 Review your assessment and update if necessary

Stage 1 Identify hazards How could you identify hazards?

Stage 2 Decide who might be harmed and how Have you considered students, contractors, persons with disabilities, expectant and nursing mothers.

Stage 3 Evaluating risk

Stage 3 – Deciding upon precautions Design out/Eliminate Substitute with safer alternative Isolate staff from hazard Reduce frequency of exposure to hazard Follow procedures Housekeeping Provide training Provide PPE (e.g. safety footwear)

Stage 3 – Deciding upon precautions Control measures should be “reasonably practicable” or commensurate with the risk Risk should be LOW after controls are applied.

Have I done it correctly? School Safety Advisers should be approached to review risk assessments to check that they are suitable and sufficient.

Have I done enough? A proper check of the hazards was made You asked who might be affected You dealt with all the obvious significant hazards, taking into account the number of people who could be involved The precautions are reasonable, and the remaining risk is low You involved staff

Examples Take a look at the examples and decide whether the format is acceptable? Would you accept the assessment?

3 Stage Approach

Risk Survey Identify assessments needed

‘Dirty Washing’ Assessment Undertake risk assessments

Risk Control Statement This contains details of the hazards and how they are managed following the risk assessment. It should be issued to appropriate staff and contractors Should be used as part of induction for new staff. Form part of training

Review Review risk assessments when: –Legislation changes –New guidance –New people –Young Persons

Risk Survey Example 1

Workshop Risk Survey Items of Work Equipment (PUWER) –Vibration –PPE Requirements –Noise Overcrowding, Walkways First Aid (Eye Wash, Kit, First Aiders) Young Persons COSHH (Dusts, Fume) Fire Risk Assessment (Materials Storage) DSEAR (Dust Explosion?) Manual Handling (Bags of Dust, Materials)

LUNCH

Summary - 3 Stage Approach

‘Dirty Washing’ Assessment Risk assessment is a tool Risk assessments are undertaken using the HSE 5 steps Undertaken to identify hazards and evaluate whether controls are sufficient Assists duty holders by applying a prioritization for further action (e.g. High, Medium or Low)

Risk Assessment Exercise 2

Extreme Sport Step 1 - In your groups, create an extreme sporting event! Step 2 - Identify the safety hazards and how you will minimise and control the risk.

Risk Control Statement The RCS sets out the controls necessary to minimise the risk of harm to staff and others. It is the written record of when all the risk assessment actions have been completed. Only significant findings are recorded on the RCS.

Risk Control Statement Use the risk control statement form to identify the control measures needed to control the risk from the hazards identified in the risk assessment form.

Risk Control Statement As a group, consider who needs to be provided with a Risk Control Statement? Where are they going to be kept?

Clean Washing?

Break

Monitoring and Review Variables Expectant Mother (6 months) Young Person (15 years old) Disabled Person (Wheelchair user)

Monitoring and Review SDR Audit and Inspection Accident investigations Staff observations Awareness from training courses Attendance to seminars Journals Trade associations

Sensible Health and Safety Risk assessments should not pick up on trivial issues

Course assessment To obtain a training certificate we need to assess whether you can complete a satisfactory risk assessment. Complete a real risk assessment of an activity in your workplace. the document for comment and review by Health and Safety Department no later than 30 th September 2008.

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