Health and Safety Dynamic Risk Assessment

Aim To inform the students of the need for and the importance of a risk assessment.

Learning Outcomes At the end of the session students will: Understand the principles of risk assessment Be aware of the strategy of risk assessment and control.

Dynamic management of risk Definition: The continuous process of identifying hazards, assessing risk, taking action to eliminate or reduce risk, monitoring and reviewing, in the rapidly changing circumstances of an operational incident.

Hazard The property of a substance, article or situation which has the potential for damaging persons, plant, material and or the environment The potential to cause harm.

Risk The probability of an event occurring in a given set of circumstances RISK = probability of event and severity of outcome Expresses the likelihood that the harm from a hazardous substance, article or situation is realised.

Key elements Identification of the hazards Assessment of the risks associated with the hazards Identification of who is at risk The effective application of measures that control the risk.

Evaluation Information available e.g. risk cards, fire safety plans, etc Nature of the tasks to be carried out Hazards involved. For every situation, task and person the Incident Commander will need to consider;

Risks involved to; Firefighters Other emergency service personnel Members of the public The environment Resources available; Experienced personnel Appliances and equipment.

Safe systems of work Review the options available in terms of standard procedures, choose the most appropriate for the situation The starting point must be procedures agreed in pre-planning and training.

Assess the chosen system Once a course of action has been decided, the Incident Commander will need to make a judgement on whether the risks involved are proportional to the perceived benefits.

Assess the chosen system If YES proceed after ensuring; Goals, both individual and team are understood Responsibilities have been clearly allocated Safety measures and procedures are understood.

Assess the chosen system If NO then introduce additional control measures.

Additional control measures PPE (safety glasses, safety harnesses) Use of breathing apparatus Specialist equipment e.g. HP, TL Appointment of safety officers. Incident Commanders will need to eliminate or reduce remaining risks to an acceptable level

Re-assess systems of work Even when safe systems are in place there may be residual risks or the risks and hazards may change It is therefore important to continually re-assess the hazards, risks and perceived benefits and ensure the safe systems of work in place are adequate.

Incident debrief Review Re-evaluate Refine Modify. It is important to highlight any unconventional system or procedure used which was successful or made the working environment safe

Incident debrief It is equally important to highlight all equipment, systems or procedures which did NOT work satisfactorily, or made the working environment unsafe.

Initial stage of incident Evaluate the situation, tasks & persons at risk Select systems of work Assess the chosen systems of work Can additional control measures be introduced? Do not proceed with tasks Re-assess systems of work Consider viable alternatives Are the risks proportional to the benefits? Proceed with tasks NO YES

Development stage of incident Constantly assess the risks and control measures required Halt tasks completely if the risk outweighs the benefit. As the incident develops;

Closing stage of incident Maintain the process of task & hazard identification, assessment of risk, planning, organisation, control, monitoring & review of the preventive and protective measures Incident debriefed Strategic level Significant information fed back to; Systematic level

Confirmation Learning Outcomes Understand the principles of risk assessment Be aware of the strategy of risk assessment and control. Assessments will be based on this session and the corresponding study note

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