Risk Assessment
Background/History
• It’s NATURAL – we do it all the time
• Commercial use of risk analysis/assessment
• Health and Safety
GOOD PRACTICE
• Essential in our workplace
2
LAW
Management of Health and Safety 1999
Under Regulation 3 of the above:
•
•
•
(1) Every employer shall make a suitable and sufficient assessment of(a) the risks to the health and safety of his employees to which they
are exposed whilst they are at work; and
(b) the risks to the health and safety of persons not in his employment
arising out of or in connection with the conduct by him of his
undertaking.
3
Risk Assessment - Procedure
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Define task and hazards.
Who is at risk?
Determine level of risk.
Record result, and Implement.
Review.
HSE publications –
Five Steps to Risk Assessment
4
Step 1
A
&
B
What is the task ?
What are the HAZARDS ?
5
A
•
The task
Provide details of the task
Can be a Method Statement or an actual Description of the
work
Method Statement - say how you are intending to
carry out the work; this may be in general terms
Description - the work in more detail.
6
HAZARD
definition
A HAZARD is something with the ability or
potential to cause HARM :
human injury
ill health
damage to property
environmental harm
7
B
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
HAZARDS [or the effect of]
Heat Cold Sharp Heavy Toxic Noise Asphyxiant Choking Physical -
liquid, gas, object.
liquid, gas, object.
tools, object, edge, point.
equipment, object.
chemical, gas, substance, liquid.
machine, tool, equipment.
reduced air, gas mixtures.
gas, smoke, dust, chemical.
poor seating / posture.
8
HAZARD - importance/impact
Consequence
Personal
Damage
Damage Cost
Process
Interruption
Environmental
Impact
Major
Extensive injury or
death
>£1M
> 6 weeks
National /
International
Severe
Hospitalisation
£100K - £1M
1 week – 6 weeks
Regional
Minor
Medical treatment
£25 – 100K
1 day- 1 week
Off site
Low
First aid treatment
£ 2 – 25K
1 hour – 1 day
On site
No treatment
<£2K
<1 hour
Potential
V. Low
9
Step 2
C
Who is involved ?
D
Who/What would be affected if there is
an incident ?
10
C
Who is involved ?
o Designer (you)
o Operator(s)
o Support personnel
11
D
Who/What is affected by this work or task ?
o You
o Other people (group).
o Co-workers.
o Members of the public.
o Environment.
12
Step 3
E
F
Analyse information
Evaluate level of RISK.
If result of evaluation is unacceptable –
consider control measures – decide on
the measures – retest – check that they
are now acceptable.
13
RISK
definition
• The LIKELIHOOD, or PROBABILITY, that
harm from any particular hazard will occur
under the circumstances of use, and the
SEVERITY of the resulting harm.
14
RISK
E
Likelihood
V. High
High
Medium
Low
V. Low
Description
The event is CERTAIN to occur.
The event is expected to occur in most circumstances.
The event is likely to occur.
The event could occur, but only rarely.
The event is unlikely to ever occur.
15
How to quantify the results
A matrix is a simple, graphical, way to
illustrate the result of comparing two
variables.
16
HAZARD
V.LOW
11
7
4
2
1
LOW
16
12
8
5
3
MINOR
20
17
13
9
6
SEVERE
23
22
18
14
10
MAJOR
25
24
21
19
15
V.HIGH
HIGH
MEDIUM
LOW
V. LOW
RISK
17
F
Risk Control
To enable the consequences of the effect of
the Hazard to be reduced to -
AS LOW AS POSSIBLE
18
Risk Control
 Risk control is a method of managing the risk
with the primary emphasis on controlling the
hazards at source.
 For a risk that is assessed as “high”, steps
should be taken immediately to minimize any
risk of injury.
 A method of ensuring that risks are controlled
effectively is by using “hierarchy of controls”.
19
Hierarchy of Controls
Control
Example
1
Elimination
Removing the hazard, eg taking a hazardous piece of
equipment or substance out of service.
2
Substitution
Replacing a hazardous substance or process with a less
hazardous one .
3
Isolation
Isolating the hazard from the person at risk, eg using a guard
or barrier.
4
Engineering
Redesign a process or piece of equipment to make it less
hazardous.
5
Administrative
Adopting additional safe work practices or providing more
appropriate training, instruction or information.
6
Personal Protective
Equipment[ PPE]
The use of personal protective equipment. This could include
using gloves, glasses, ear defenders, aprons, safety footwear,
dust masks etc.
20
Step 4
• Record and Implement the results.
• Check that they work.
21
Step 5
• Review
All work will alter over a period of time, so it is
necessary to review the assessment on a suitable
timetable, simply to ensure that the current
assessment of hazards and risks are accurate.
22
How to record the assessment
The simplest way to record both the process of developing a
risk assessment, and the results, is to use some form of table.
The following table is our current version – based upon an Excel
spreadsheet. The assessment must be easy to use and retrieve
so it is both paper and computer based.
The spreadsheet is downloadable from:
http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/physics/intranet/healthsafety/risk_assessment - template.xlsx
23
UNIVERSITY OF WARWICK
DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS
Ver 005
RISK ASSESSMENT FORM
INFORMATION SHEET 1
[for COSHH assessments use sheet 2 overleaf]
Assessor
name
Supervisor [if required]
name
Date of assessment
Review date [dd/mm/yyyy]
TITLE
title
Description
description
Who is at risk of harm?
COSHH - use sheet 2
SIGNATORIES
names and/or titles
NAME
SIGNATURE
24
INFORMATION SHEET 2
COSHH
Details of any COSHH assessment(s)
When applied?
Control Measures:
1
Details - if required
01 January 2000
detail
2
Review
Date
01 January 2000
Signatories
Name
name
Date
Title
01 January 2000title
25
HAZARD TYPE
HAZARD
HAZARD RISK
HELP
HELP
PHYSICAL
HAZARD
HELP
CONTROL MEASURES
RISK
HELP
MATRIX
SCORE
HELP
FURTHER CONTROL
MEASURES
HAZARD
impact
HAZARD
HELP
RISK
HELP
cost
interruption
MATRIX
SCORE
ACCEPT?
HELP
COMMENTS
1
2
3
CHEMICAL
1
2
3
FIRE
1
2
3
ENVIRONMENTAL
1
2
3
PERSONAL
1
2
3
OTHER
1
2
3
HELP - Risk Control
RISK
MATRIX
environmental
HELP - Matrix function
11
7
4
2
1
V. LOW
16
12
8
5
3
20
17
13
9
23
22
18
25
24
V. HIGH
certain to occur
no treatment
< £ 2K
< 1 hour
potential impact
LOW
first aid treatment
£ 2K - 25K
1 hour to 1 day
on site impact
6
MINOR
medical treatment
£ 25K - 100K
1 day to 1week
off site impact
14
10
SEVERE
hospitalisation
£ 100K - 1M
1 to 6 weeks
Regional impact
21
19
15
MAJOR
death or extensive injury
> £ 1M
> 6 weeks
National /
International impact
HIGH
MEDIUM
LOW
V. LOW
RISK
expected to occur in most
circumstances
likely to occur
could occur, but rarely
unlikely to
occur.
26
Example of a
Practical Assessment
27
Crystal growth in CO gas mixture
28
Step 1
A
&
B
What is the task ?
What are the HAZARDS ?
29
UNIVERSITY OF WARWICK
DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS
Ver 005
RISK ASSESSMENT FORM
INFORMATION SHEET 1
[for COSHH assessments use sheet 2 overleaf]
Assessor
name Tom Orton
Supervisor [if required]
B Balakrishnan
Date of assessment
25 October 2010
Review date [dd/mm/yyyy]
TITLE
title
crystal growth in CO gas mixture
Description
description
Growing a crystal in a 1600 degree tube furnace for the growth of a crystal, CO gas is part of a mixture (balance
CO2) and no more than 25% CO. The experiment will run continuously for several days at a time and will be run
overnight. The exhaust gas is fed directly into the fume cupboard by means of a dedicate pipe and will not mix with
other gases until inside the fume cupboard. The typical flow rate will be between 0.05L/min and 0.075L/min
COSHH - use sheet 2
SIGNATORIES
Who is at risk of harm?
NAME
Staff, Students and Visitors, anyone who is in the room
SIGNATURE
30
HAZARD TYPE
HAZARD
HAZARD RISK
HAZARD
HELP
HELP
HELP
PHYSICAL
1
2
gas CO
gas CO2
heat
see COSHH
see COSHH
furnace - burns,
radiated heat, fire
failure of gas
regulator
release of gas at high
pressure. physical and
chemical risk.
failure of the
connecting
pipework
release of gas at high
pressure. physical and
chemical risk.
furnace
ignition
3
4
5
CHEMICAL
CONTROL MEASURES
RISK
MATRIX SCORE
HELP
HELP
FURTHER CONTROL MEASURES
HAZARD
RISK
HELP
HELP
MATRIX SCORE
ACCEPT?
COMMENTS
HELP
1
2
3
FIRE
1
2
3
ENVIRONMENTAL
1
2
3
PERSONAL
1
heat and gas
2
3
OTHER
1
2
3
HELP - Risk Control
HELP - Matrix function
RISK MATRIX
11
7
16
20
HAZARD
4
2
1
12
8
5
3
17
13
9
6
23
22
18
14
10
25
24
21
19
V. HIGH
HIGH
MEDIUM
certain to occur
expected to occur in most
circumstances
likely to occur
V. LOW
impact
cost
interruption
environmental
no treatment
< £ 2K
< 1 hour
potential impact
LOW
first aid treatment
£ 2K - 25K
1 hour to 1 day
on site impact
MINOR
medical treatment
£ 25K - 100K
1 day to 1week
off site impact
SEVERE
hospitalisation
£ 100K - 1M
1 to 6 weeks
Regional impact
15
MAJOR
death or extensive injury
> £ 1M
> 6 weeks
National /
International impact
LOW
V. LOW
RISK
could occur, but rarely
unlikely to occur.
31
For this assessment we also need
to note the chemical [COSHH]
information
32
INFORMATION SHEET 2
COSHH
Details of any COSHH assessment(s)
Carbon Monoxide
CAS 630-08-0
Carbon Dioxide
CAS 124-38-9
When applied?
Control Measures:
1
2
Review
Toxic - inhalation - LTEL
30 ppm. Flammable
12.5 to 74 % autoignition point 620C
hazardous - inhalation axphyxiation - O2
depletion. Toxic ACGIH 5000ppm
calc - total release, no extraction - CO
7,500ppm. Keep away from ignition points
calc - total release, no extraction - CO2
22,500ppm. O2 depletion to 20.5% [ok]
Details - if required
for use out of hoursprovide CO/CO2 monitor/alarm in lab.
Date [dd/mm/yyyy]
Signatories
Name
Date [dd/mm/yyyy]
Title
33
Step 2
Who will be at risk of harm ?
Operator - researcher
Assistants
Security staff [out of hours]
Maintenance staff [emergency call out]
Visitors
34
UNIVERSITY OF WARWICK
DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS
Ver 005
RISK ASSESSMENT FORM
INFORMATION SHEET 1
[for COSHH assessments use sheet 2 overleaf]
Assessor
name Tom Orton
Supervisor [if required]
B Balakrishnan
Date of assessment
25 October 2010
Review date [dd/mm/yyyy]
TITLE
title
crystal growth in CO gas mixture
Description
description
Growing a crystal in a 1600 degree tube furnace for the growth of a crystal, CO gas is part of a mixture (balance CO2) and no more than 25% CO. The experiment will run
continuously for several days at a time and will be run overnight. The exhaust gas is fed directly into the fume cupboard by means of a dedicate pipe and will not mix with
other gases until inside the fume cupboard. The typical flow rate will be between 0.05L/min and 0.075L/min
COSHH - use sheet 2
SIGNATORIES
Who is at risk of harm?
NAME
Staff, Students and Visitors, anyone who is in the room. Security staff, Maintenance staff
SIGNATURE
35
Step 3
Analyse information
E
Evaluate level of RISK.
F
If result of evaluation is unacceptable –
consider control measures – decide on
the measures – retest – check they are
now acceptable.
36
HAZARD TYPE
HAZARD
HAZARD RISK
HELP
HELP
gas CO
PHYSICAL
major
1
gas CO2
see COSHH
major
2
Furnace
furnace - burns,
radiated heat, fire
3
4
5
CHEMICAL
HAZARD
HELP
see COSHH
failure of gas
regulator
release of gas at high
pressure. physical and
chemical risk.
failure of the
connecting
pipework
release of gas at high
pressure. physical and
chemical risk.
furnace
ignition
major
minor
CONTROL MEASURES
gas use is controlled
during the experiment.
Waste gas is vented into
the fumehood
gas use is controlled
during the experiment.
Waste gas is vented into
the fumehood
furnaces are insulated
and mounted away from
possible contact
gas regulators are in
date and of correct type
RISK
HELP
MATRIX SCORE
HELP
low
19
low
19
v low
6
v low
6
minor
pipes are checked and
are of correct quality
and material for the
purpose.
v low
6
minor
maintained and have
safety devices.
low
6
major
controlled as above
low
19
FURTHER CONTROL MEASURES
HAZARD
HELP
RISK
HELP
MATRIX SCORE
ACCEPT?
HELP
COMMENTS
1
2
3
FIRE
1
2
3
ENVIRONMENTAL
PERSONAL
1
2
3
1
heat and gas
2
3
OTHER
1
2
3
HELP - Risk Control
HELP - Matrix function
RISKMATRIX
11
7
16
20
HAZARD
4
2
1
12
8
5
3
17
13
9
6
23
22
18
14
10
25
24
21
19
V. HIGH
HIGH
MEDIUM
certain to occur
expected to occur in most
circumstances
likely to occur
V. LOW
impact
cost
interruption
environmental
no treatment
< £ 2K
< 1 hour
potential impact
LOW
first aid treatment
£ 2K - 25K
1 hour to 1 day
on site impact
MINOR
medical treatment
£ 25K - 100K
1 day to 1week
off site impact
SEVERE
hospitalisation
£ 100K - 1M
1 to 6 weeks
Regional impact
15
MAJOR
death or extensive injury
> £ 1M
> 6 weeks
National / International impact
LOW
V. LOW
RISK
could occur, but rarely
unlikely to occur.
37
Result
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
19
19
6
6
6
6
19
38
Control Measures
Consider solutions to the high risk items and
select the most suitable.
- considerations may/should include analysis of
practicability and the cost of solutions
39
SUGGESTED CONTROL MEASURES
• CO connections are checked regularly. Gas monitoring is
in the lab
• CO2 connections are checked regularly. Gas monitoring is
in the lab
N.B This is a gas mixture – the gases are treated separately
40
INFORMATION SHEET 2
COSHH
Details of any COSHH assessment(s)
Carbon Monoxide
CAS 630-08-0
Carbon Dioxide
CAS 124-38-9
When applied?
Control Measures:
1
Toxic - inhalation - LTEL 30 ppm.
Flammable 12.5 to 74 % autoignition point 620C
calc - total release, no extraction - CO 7,500ppm. Keep away
from ignition points
hazardous - inhalation - axphyxiation - calc - total release, no extraction - CO2 22,500ppm. O2 depletion
O2 depletion. Toxic - ACGIH
to 20.5% [ok]
5000ppm
Details - if required
for use out of hoursprovide CO/CO2 monitor/alarm in lab.
2
Review
Date [dd/mm/yyyy]
Signatories
Name
Date [dd/mm/yyyy]
Title
41
REASSESS THE RISK
REASSESS THE RISK WITH THESE CONTROL
MEASURES IN PLACE
42
HAZARD TYPE
HAZARD
HELP
gas CO
PHYSICAL
HAZARD RISK
HAZARD
HELP
HELP
see COSHH
CONTROL MEASURES
major
1
gas CO2
see COSHH
MATRIX SCORE
HELP
HELP
low
major
burns, radiated heat, fire
failure of gas regulator
release of gas at high pressure. physical and
chemical risk.
failure of the connecting pipework
release of gas at high pressure. physical and
chemical risk.
HELP
MATRIX SCORE
ACCEPT?
major
19
v low
15
yes
connections are checked
regularly. Gas
monitoring is in the lab.
major
v low
COMMENTS
HELP
15
yes
low
19
v low
6
yes
v low
6
yes
v low
6
yes
low
6
yes
low
19
connections are checked for
tightness at the start of each run
and the two CO sensors are in
place inside the room. One is
electronic measuring the PPM
every 30 seconds and the other
is a fixed patch which turns
colour in the presence of CO.
connections are checked for
tightness at the start of each run
and the two CO sensors are in
place inside the room. One is
electronic measuring the PPM
every 30 seconds and the other
is a fixed patch which turns
colour in the presence of CO.
pipes are checked and are of correct quality
and material for the purpose.
minor
5
RISK
HELP
gas regulators are in date and of correct type
minor
4
HAZARD
furnaces are insulated and mounted away
from possible contact
major
3
FURTHER CONTROL MEASURES
connections are checked
regularly. Gas
monitoring is in the lab.
gas use is controlled during the experiment.
Waste gas is vented into the fumehood
2
furnace
RISK
gas use is controlled during the experiment.
Waste gas is vented into the fumehood
CHEMICAL
1
2
3
furnace
FIRE
ignition
maintained and have safety devices.
minor
1
2
3
ENVIRONMENTAL
1
2
3
heat and gas
PERSONAL
major
1
conroled as above
v.low
15
yes
2
3
OTHER
1
2
3
HELP - Risk Control
HELP - Matrix function
RISKMATRIX
11
7
16
20
HAZARD
4
2
1
12
8
5
3
17
13
9
6
23
22
18
14
10
25
24
21
19
V. HIGH
HIGH
MEDIUM
certain to occur
expected to occur in most circumstances
likely to occur
V. LOW
impact
cost
interruption
environmental
no treatment
< £ 2K
< 1 hour
potential impact
LOW
first aid treatment
£ 2K - 25K
1 hour to 1 day
on site impact
MINOR
medical treatment
£ 25K - 100K
1 day to 1week
off site impact
SEVERE
hospitalisation
£ 100K - 1M
1 to 6 weeks
Regional impact
15
MAJOR
death or extensive injury
> £ 1M
> 6 weeks
National / International impact
LOW
V. LOW
RISK
could occur, but rarely
unlikely to occur.
43
RESULT
lowest result
15 = ACCEPTABLE
44
Step 4
Implement
45
Step 5
Review
46
Summary
• It may be necessary to carry out more detailed risk
assessments.
• Risk assessment may appear to be subjective.
• It is a very useful tool - but use with care.
• Take care to consider all aspects carefully - but use a
common sense approach.
47
REMEMBER
RISK ASSESSMENT IS ONLY A TOOL -----------
BUT IT IS HIGHLY LIKELY TO RESULT IN POSITIVE CHANGES IN
A WORKPLACE.
48
Any questions ?
49
50
The days before
[formal]
Risk Assessments
However – did people really not assess risk?
What do you think?
51
Working at Height
… the good old days …
52
Lifting
Empire State Building
53
Supervising
Empire State Building
54
Cable Spinning
Golden Gate Bridge
55
Riveting
Empire State Building
56
Bolting
Empire State Building
57
Slinging
Empire State Building
58
Inspecting
Empire State Building
59
Electrical work
Eiffel Tower
60
Hanging
about
Empire State Building
61
Lifting
Golden Gate Bridge
62
Admiring the view
Golden Gate Bridge
63
A few more -
More modern times, but --------------
64
A long way down - [but note the PPE]
65
Gauge - blown apart by gas pressure]
research student - lacerations to face [just below eye level!]
66
Heavy Magnet
[slipped in the slings]
technician – severed right foot behind toes
67
Any Questions?
68