Risk Assessment Guidance
The assessor can assign values for the hazard severity (a) and likelihood of occurrence (b)
(taking into account the frequency and duration of exposure) on a scale of 1 to 5,
then multiply them together to give the rating band:
Hazard Severity
1 – Remote
2 – Unlikely
3 – Possible
4 – Likely
5 – Very likely
(b)
(almost never)
(occurs rarely)
(could occur, but uncommon)
(recurrent but not frequent)
(occurs frequently)
Fatal
The risk rating (high, medium or low) indicates the level of
response required to be taken when designing the action plan.
Serious
1
Likelihood of Occurrence
(single or multiple)
Moderate
Remote
(eg discomfort, slight bruising, self-help recovery)
(eg small cut, abrasion, basic first aid need)
(eg strain, sprain, incapacitation > 3 days)
(eg fracture, hospitalisation >24 hrs, incapacitation >4
Minor
Trivial
1 – Trivial
2 – Minor
3 – Moderate
4 – Serious
weeks)
5 – Fatal
(a)
2
3
4
5
4
6
8
10
Rating Bands (a x b)
LOW RISK
(1 – 8)
MEDIUM RISK
(9 - 12)
HIGH RISK
(15 - 25)
Continue, but
implement
additional
reasonably
practicable
controls where
possible and
monitor regularly
-STOP THE
ACTIVITY-
Unlikely
2
Possible
3
6
9
12
15
4
8
12
16
20
5
10
15
20
25
Likely
Very
likely
UOB Risk Assessment
Continue, but
review
periodically to
ensure controls
remain effective
Identify new
controls. Activity
must not
proceed until
risks are
reduced to a low
or medium level
University Health, Safety & Environment Unit
Risk Assessment Record
Risk Assessment of:
Assessor(s):
Overview of activity / location / equipment /
conditions being assessed:
Use of fume cupboards
This assessment does not include recirculating fume cupboards that return clean air back into the
workroom or other local exhaust ventilation systems
This assessment does not include biological safety cabinets used to control exposure to hazardous
microorganisms.
Context of assessment (delete as appropriate): planning stage / ‘desk-top’ exercise / site visit / in consultation with
Generic or specific assessment?
Generic risk assessment
#
Hazard(s) identified
UOB Risk Assessment
Date:
employees / in consultation with managers / other (please describe)
Persons
affected
Existing controls & measures
A
B
A
x
B
Additional controls required
University Health, Safety & Environment Unit
#
Hazard(s) identified
Persons
affected
Existing controls & measures

FUME CUPBOARD USE –
GENERAL
Fume cupboards may not
provide sufficient reduction in
hazardous chemical exposure.
 Poorly designed, constructed,
installed or commissioned;
 Performance deteriorates
after installation; and
 Performance less than
expected as not used
properly
 Exposure during monitoring,
inspection, testing or
maintenance operations
Users may be exposed to
hazardous chemical residues
during decommissioning,
removal or disposal
UOB Risk Assessment
A
B
A
x
B
Additional controls required
General precautions:
o Fume cupboards designed,
constructed, installed and
commissioned to a recognised
standard;
o Fume cupboard subject to a
regime of performance
monitoring, inspection, testing
and maintenance;
o Fume cupboard users follow
manufacturer’s instructions and
other authoritive guidance;
o Exposure to hazardous
chemicals to be prevent or
reduced during inspection,
testing or maintenance
operations; and
o Fume cupboard subject to any
necessary decontamination prior
to decommissioning, removal and
disposal
University Health, Safety & Environment Unit
#
Hazard(s) identified
Persons
affected
Existing controls & measures

FUME HOOD POORLY
DESIGNED OR
CONSTRUCTED
Fume cupboard hood may not
provide sufficient reduction in
hazardous chemical exposure
due to poor cupboard design or
construction



UOB Risk Assessment
Fume cupboard hood requirements to be
clearly defined prior to selection
o Fume hood cupboard
construction materials to be
resistant to the chemicals to be
used;
o Fume hood containment to be
sufficient for the planned
activities; and
o Fume hood size to be sufficient
for the planned activities
Fume cupboard hoods designed and
constructed to a recognised standard:
o Fume cupboard hoods
manufactured prior to XXXX –
BS 7258: 1994
o Fume cupboard hoods
manufactured from XXXX
onwards – BS EN 14175
Fume cupboard hoods services, such as
gas and electricity, designed and
constructed to relevant British
Standards.
Newly purchased equipment to conform
with EU essential health and safety
requirements – manufacturer / supply to
CE mark and issue a certificate of
conformity
A
B
A
x
B
Additional controls required



Fume cupboard hood requirements to be
recorded prior to selection
Manufactures / suppliers / designers /
installers claims regarding design,
construction and performance to be
recorded – used to inform subsequent
acceptance and operations
Manufactures / suppliers / designers /
installers instructions for operation and
maintenance to be recorded – used to
inform subsequent operations
University Health, Safety & Environment Unit
#
Hazard(s) identified
Persons
affected
Existing controls & measures


FUME SYSTEM POORLY
DESIGNED OR
CONSTRUCTED
Fume cupboard hood may not
provide sufficient reduction in
hazardous chemical exposure
due to poor system design or
construction
Fume cupboard system may not
provide sufficient reduction in
hazardous chemical exposure
due to poor system design or
construction




UOB Risk Assessment
Generally, the average face velocity
needs to be:
o For vapours and the like 0.5 m/s
o For dusts and the like 1.0 m/s
Fume cupboard system requirements to
be clearly defined prior to selection
o Fume cupboard system
construction materials to be
resistant to the chemicals to be
used; and
o Fume system containment to be
sufficient for the planned
activities; and
Fume cupboard systems designed and
constructed to a recognised standard:
o Fume cupboard systems
manufactured prior to XXXX –
BS 7258: 1994
o Fume cupboard systems
manufactured from XXXX
onwards – BS EN 14175
Fume cupboard hoods services, such as
gas and electricity, designed and
constructed to relevant British Standards
Newly purchased equipment to conform
with EU essential health and safety
requirements – manufacturer / supply to
CE mark and issue a certificate of
conformity
Design and installation to take account
of factors that might disrupt airflow such
as:
o Need for source of make-up air;
o Presence of disruptive airflows
from doors, windows, other
A
B
A
x
B
Additional controls required




Fume cupboard system requirements to be
recorded prior to selection
Manufactures / suppliers / designers /
installer claims regarding design,
construction and performance to be
recorded – used to inform subsequent
acceptance and operations
Manufactures / suppliers / designers /
installers instructions for operation and
maintenance to be recorded – used to
inform subsequent operations
Fume cupboard system performance to be
determined once in situ – follow standard in
BS EN 14175-4: 2004 on site test methods
University Health, Safety & Environment Unit
#
Hazard(s) identified
Persons
affected
Existing controls & measures

FUME SYSTEM
PERFORMANCE
DETERIORATES
Fume system performance may
deteriorate with time as
components suffer wear or
damage
FUME CUPBOARD
PERFORMANCE MAY BE LESS
THAN EXPECTED DURING
OPERATION
A fume cupboard may give less
than the expected performance
due to users not following good
practice whilst operating the
cupboard.
UOB Risk Assessment


Proactive actions to prevent deterioration
o Maintain as per manufacturers /
suppliers instructions and other
authoritive guidance
Monitoring to detect deterioration in
performance – activities to stop and fault
reported
o Visual check and air flow check
before use – fitted with a means
to check air flow (eg manometer)
o Periodical visual checks and air
flow checks by Department
o Full examination and testing at
least every 14 months by Estates
o Alarms fitted to warn of sudden
performance loss
Fume cupboard users must be
competent to use them
o Sufficient understanding of how
the cupboards work;
o Sufficient understanding of the
limitations of cupboards; and
o Sufficient understanding of how
their actions may impact on
cupboard performance
A
B
A
x
B
Additional controls required



Proactive actions to prevent deterioration
o Increase the frequency of
maintenance actions if monitoring
shows this to be necessary
o Increase the frequency of
maintenance if the activities are
likely to cause a deterioration in
performance
Reactive actions to detection of
deterioration
o Increase the frequency of monitoring
actions if results show this to be
necessary
Fume cupboards reduce exposure to
airborne chemicals. However, users hands
and arms may still be exposed and this
needs to be considered in the COSHH
assessment.
University Health, Safety & Environment Unit
#
Hazard(s) identified
Persons
affected
Existing controls & measures

Sash opening too wide,
reducing face velocity and
containment
Material drawn into
ducting (eg paper sheet,
plastic bags, etc),
disruption air flow and
reducing containment
Equipment or material in
fume cupboard blocks
airflow / creates air flow
eddies reducing
containment
Running equipment may
create air flows that
disrupt the fume
cupboard air flow (eg
centrifuge, power tools,
etc)
UOB Risk Assessment

Loose material that might be drawn into
the ducting to be excluded from the fume
cupboard

Large items of equipment that are likely
to disrupt air flow to be excluded from
the cupboard – test air flow if there are
any doubts
Smaller items of equipment can be
raised slight (eg on small wooden
blocks) to allow air flow all around the
equipment

B
A
x
B
Additional controls required
Mark maximum sash height that still
allows the face velocity to be maintained
on the fume cupboard
As a general rule, keep sash down as far
as possible whilst still allowing access,
but not above maximum


A

If loose material is drawn into the ducting,
then use of the cupboard must cease until
the material has been recovered

Large items of equipment that generate air
flows that might reduce face velocity to be
assessed separately. Examples might be:
o Centrifuges
o Cooling fans
o Power tools
o etc
University Health, Safety & Environment Unit
#
5
6
Hazard(s) identified
Raid or violent
movements across the
face of the fume
cupboard may disrupt air
flows, reducing face
velocity and containment
Air flows from open doors
/ windows may disrupt
fume cupboard air flow,
reducing face velocity and
containment
FUME CUPBOARD IMPACTS
UPON ACTIVITIES WITHIN THE
CUPBOARD
The condition of the fume
cupboard may make some
activities more difficult to
perform, increasing the risk of a
failure
Level of illumination
insufficient
View of work obscured by
fume cupboard
Persons
affected
Existing controls & measures
Insufficient space to
perform tasks safely
UOB Risk Assessment
B
A
x
B
Additional controls required



Doors and windows to be kept shut
Fans are not to be run whilst fume
cupbaords are being used





7
A

Provide good lighting
Suitable for chemicals used eg dust
proof, flameproof
Sash viewing screen to be kept clean
and clear
Cupboard housekeeping to remove
uneccessary materials, leaving as much
free space as possible
See also seleting a fume cupboard
above
University Health, Safety & Environment Unit
#
Hazard(s) identified
Existing controls & measures
A
B
A
x
B
Additional controls required

8
9
Persons
affected
FUME CUPBOARD

10

11

Assessor signature:
UOB Risk Assessment
Print name:
Review date:
University Health, Safety & Environment Unit
Risk Assessment Action Plan
Action Plan in respect of:
Ref
no.
Prepared by:
Action to be taken, incl. Cost
Responsible manager’s signature:
Print name:
UOB Risk Assessment
By whom
Target
date
Review
date
Outcome at review date
Responsible manager’s signature:
Date:
Print name:
Date
University Health, Safety & Environment Unit