H8tS/PRO/007
NEWMAN UNIVERSITY COLLEGE
Risk Assessment Procedure
1.
Introduction
1.1
The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 set out
general duties which apply to employers and are aimed at improving health
and safety management. Employers have an explicit duty to carry out risk
assessments in order to assess the risk:
•
to the health and safety of their employees to which they are exposed
whilst at work
•
to the health and safety of persons not in their employment, i.e. students,
visitors and contractors
1.2
These general duties sit side by side with more specific duties in other health
and safety regulations and approved codes of practice (ACOP's). Specific as
well as general duties often require simultaneous attention in the overall
assessment of a work related activity or area of work.
2.
Principles
2.1
All personnel are required to ensure adherence to the University College
pOlicies, procedures and codes of practice, as well as to departmental rules
and safe systems of work.
2.2
The proper management of risk requires the production of written safe
systems of works, rules and procedures, which identify areas of potential risk
and clarify the process by which activities will be preformed in order that they
can be executed safely. Properly conducted risk assessments are essential for
the effective management of risk.
2.3
The Health & Safety Officer will develop an annual monitoring programme to
ensure all areas of the University College have suitable and sufficient risk
assessments in place.
3.
Implementation and Monitoring of the Procedure
3.1
The HR Director will be responsible for ensuring this procedure is
implemented.
Line Managers will be responsible for undertaking risk assessments within
their areas of responsibility.
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Monitoring of the risk application process will be carried out by the Health and
Safety Officer and form part of an annual report to the Board of Governors
and Newman Management Group. The report will facilitate a critical review of
trends and necessary corrective action.
4.
Risk Assessment
4.1
The Regulations require employers to assess the risk to the health and safety
of their employees and to anyone else who may be affected by their work
activity. This is necessary to ensure that the preventative and protective steps
can be identified in order to control hazards in the workplace
4.2
A hazard is something with the potential to cause harm.
A risk is the
likelihood of potential harm from being realised. The extent to which a risk
may become harmful will depend on a number of factors:
•
•
•
Likelihood of occurrence
Potential severity
The population, which might be affected (including the number of
persons who might be exposed to harm) and the consequence of such
exposure
4.3
The intention of a risk assessment is to be suitable and sufficient in
identifying the significant risks which arise out of the work activity; trivial risks
should be noted but generally not acted upon unless the work activity
compounds those risks.
4.4
The risk assessment should be conducted to determine the measures
necessary to eliminate or control the hazards identified. They must also
identify any areas that may require 'special' attention in the form of specific
risk assessments under other statutory provisions, for example complying
with the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH).
5.
Identification of Hazards
5.1
A hazard is something with the potential to cause harm. Common hazards
6.
Risk Assessment Process
and their causes are listed in Appendix 2. When completing a risk assessment
form the individual must refer to the list of hazards and the Risk Assessment
Process - Guidance in Appendix 3.
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6.1
In order for the risk assessment process to work effectively it requires those
responsible for the identification, assessment, control and implementation to
take ownership of associated risks.
6.2
To conduct the risk assessment process the line manager responsible for the
area or service, in conjunction with any other persons with a responsibility in
the area to be assessed which may also include the Estates Management
Team, will complete the University College Risk Assessment Form (Appendix
1) and process identified in Appendix 3.
6.3
The Health & Safety Officer will provide advice and support to the responsible
manager conducting the risk assessment, including the timescale for
completion and the process for amending the documentation.
6.4
Once the risk assessment is complete all parties involved in the assessment
process will sign the form in acceptance of its content.
6.5
Where estates work is required, the Director of Estates will be responsible for
ensuring any remedial work is carried out within the agreed time scales.
6.6
The Health & Safety Officer will be responsible for monitoring work is
completed within agreed timescales.
6.7
Where amendments cannot be agreed between the parties the Director of
Human Resources and the member of the Directorate responsible for the area
will arbitrate.
6.8
A copy of the risk assessment form must be returned to the Health & Safety
Officer once the documentation is completed and signed by the appropriate
personnel.
7
Review of the Risk Assessment Process
7.1
The Health & Safety Officer will ensure that the risk assessment process is
reviewed on annual basis as part of the general health and safety monitoring
responsibilities highlighted in section 3 above.
This Risk Assessment Procedure supersedes all previous Risk Assessment
Procedures and shall be reviewed at no less than 3 yearly intervals
Authorised By:
Chair of Health & Safe
Review Date:
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University College
RISK ASSESSMENT FORM
Appendix 1
Birmlngtiam
Task/area to be assessed:
School/Dept
Risk assessment ID no:
Assessing Officer
Significant Hazards
Date:
Who might be
harmed8r.how?
How is the risk currently
controlled?
Review Date:
Initial Risk
.Level .
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Location:
What a~on is required
to further reduce the
risk?
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Residual risk
level after
controls?
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Deadline
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RISK ASSESSMENT FORM
Appendix 1
Newman
University College
Birmingham
Name:
Position:
Date:
Signature:
Prepared by:
Reviewed by:
Approved by :
Minor (1)
Serious (2)
Major (3)
Low, may happen
(1)
1
2
3
Medium, could
happen (2)
2
4
6
High, will happen
(3)
3
Probability (P) rating
NB: If activities give rise to specific risks that should
be assessed further such as manual handling,
COSHH, display screen equipment then reference
needs to be made to the relevant risk assessment
form and guidance document for such .
Information is available from the Health & Safety
Information Page.
Categories:
Marginal
I ssue 1/lan uary 2011
Refer to the Newman University Risk Matrix
Explanatory Notes to determine risk ratings
and Legal References.
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Appendix 2
Hazard Identification Check List
This list is intended to assist with the identification of common hazards generally found in
the workplace. However, in specialist areas e.g. Estates, Housekeeping, Catering there will
be task specific hazards that will require further identification. Advice on accessing
specific hazards is available from referring to the appropriate health and safety regulations,
approved code of practice and HSE website: www.hse.gov.uk
The Health & Safety Officer is able to provide advice and guidance in identifying hazards in
support of the responsible person completing the Risk Assessment. Potential hazards to
consider may be:
Access
Egress
Cold Surfaces
Confined Spaces
Contractors
Display Screen Equipment
Dust
Electricity
Fire
First Aid
Hazardous Substances
Hot Surfaces
Ughting
Lone Working
Manual Handling
Personal Protective Equipment
Security
Significant Noise
Slippery Floors
Storage
Stress
Substances
Temperature
Trailing Leads
Vehicles
Weather
Work Methods
Work Environment
Work Equipment
This is not an exhaustive list and there may be other hazards particular to the activity or
area being assessed which require identification.
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Appendix 3
Risk Assessment Process - Managers Guidance
Under Regulation 3 of the Management of Health and Safety at Work
Regulations 1999, employers and the self employed must assess the risks to
anyone who may be affected by their work activities. Assessments must be
revised if they cease to be valid, or the work activity changes, or additional hazards
are introduced. Employers with five employees or more must assess the risks and
record any employee or groups of employees identified to be at significant
or high risk and record them in writing.
The findings of the risk assessment will govern the way employers comply with
subsequent duties.
This concept of requiring employers to assess the risks to their employees is in line
with other regulations under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.
The Approved Code of Practice, which accompanies the regulations, states \ a Risk
assessment should usually involve identifying the Hazards present in any
undertaking (whether arising from work activities or from other factors, e.g. the
work layout, the design of the premises etc)and then evaluating the extent of the
risks involved taking account of any existing control measures.
A HAZARD is something with the potential to cause harm which may include
methods of work, work organisation, the environment, substances etc.
A RISK is defined as the likelihood that the Hazard identified will actually cause
Harm
EXTENT of the RISK is determined by the persons identified as at risk (young
persons, students, staff, viSitors, contractors etc
RISK therefore reflects both the LIKELIHOOD that Harm will occur and its
SEVERITY.
Precautions MUST be identified and implemented for High Risk Activities.
The HSE defines a Risk Assessment as needing to be SUITABLE and SUFFICIENT
A suitable and sufficient risk assessment should:
1. Identify the Significant Risks arising from the work activity.
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2. Enable the employer to identify and Prioritise measures that need to be
taken to comply with statutory provisions.
3. Be appropriate to the nature of the work and be valid for a reasonable
period of time
In particular a Risk Assessment should:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Ensure that all Relevant Hazards are identified and addressed
Address what actually happens in the workplace or work activity
Identify all those who may be at particular risk
Take account of existing preventative or precautionary measures
already in place.
The Assessment Process
The assessment of hazards using the following process is best undertaken on a team
basis. This may include the manager, supervisor, and the staff member.
Professional expertise may be required in some instances (Le. where chemicals may
be involved, noise, manual handling, personal protective equipment, etc) advice may
be obtained from the University College Health & Safety Officer, the Estates team,
the Fire Officer)
The prime responsibility for risk assessments is with the employer but it is essential
that the departmental manager and or supervisor and the staff member are involved
in the process.
The process MUST be supported by adequate documentation.
Fundamentally the Risk Assessment MUST takes into account the following factors:
1. Likelihood that an accident or incident could occur
2. Potential Loss in terms of Injury, Damage, Or Loss
3. FREQUENCY of EXPOSURE
4. NUMBER of PEOPLE AFFECTED.
A HAZARD IDENTIFICATION CHECK LIST should be established for the
department or Area being assessed to enable all hazards to be identified.
A task inventory can then identify trivial tasks by a simple qualitative judgement.
A Quantative approach to the detailed assessment of risk is then used through the
use of an overall RISK RATING, to identify higher risk activities.
All Risk Assessment documentation must be forwarded to the HitS
Officer for recording on the Risk Assessment database.
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Completing the Documentation
The risk assessment process is based on the 5 principles set out by the HSE in
Principles of Risk Assessment and developed in the Newman University Colleges risk
assessment process incorporated in document.
Step 1
Using the document Hazard Identification Check List identify the hazards in
your work place or the work activity you are assessing. Use the Common Hazards
Check List to assist you in identifying common hazards found in the work place.
Step 2
Complete the Risk Assessment Form and identify where you can the legal
requirements to indicate compliance with the appropriate regulations.
Step 3
Evaluate the risks before and after the actions required to reduce and or control the
risks you identified using the Risk Rating Calculation identified. This will be a
good indicator of the severity of the potential risk you have identified and the
priority to attach to the actions required.
Step 4
Identify the priority required in order to either:(a) Eliminate the Risk
(b) Reduce the Risk
(c) Isolate the Risk
(d) Control the Risk
StepS
Review and evaluate the process and disregard low risk activities.
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The Risk Assessment Process
Define the Hazard
Hazard Identification Checklist
-
Identify the Hazard
Potential to cause harm
~
Persons at Risk
Who could be affected?
Staff, students, visitors, contractors
Evaluate the Risk
What does the Law require?
r
Control the Risk
Use E.R.I.C. PD
Eliminate, Reduce, Isolate, Control.
Prevents Death
Record the Findings
Record all significant Hazards
Produce an Action Plan
To reduce and/or control the Risks
Regular Review
Is the assessment still valid?
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