An
Introduction
to Risk
Assessment
Trainer:
Gerard McCarthy
AIfL, ATLS, TechIOSH.
Risk Assessment
Aim:
To identify the factors to be considered in Risk
Assessment.
Objective:
To create a suitable and sufficient Risk
Assessment.
The Law
The Health and Safety At Work Act etc (1974)
General Duties of Employers to Employees (Section 2):
‘’It shall be the duty of every employer to ensure, so far
as reasonably practicable, the Health, Safety and
Welfare of all his employees’’.
The Law
The Health and Safety At Work Act etc (1974)
Duties extend to include:
2.2a Safe plant and systems of work
2.2b Safe handling, storage and transport of
articles and substances
2.2c Information, instruction, training and
supervision
2.2d Safe access and egress to workplace
2.2e Safe environment and welfare facilities
Regulations
The Management of Health & Safety at Work
Regulations (1999)
Regulation 3: Risk Assessment
Regulation 10: Information for employees
Regulation 11: Cooperation and Coordination
Regulation 14 Employees duties:
I. Work as trained
II.Report any short comings
Risk Assessment
What is a Hazard?
A hazard is something with the
potential to cause harm
What is a Risk?
A risk is the chance (or likelihood)
of harm being caused
Common Hazards
Mechanical Machine
Hazards
Non-Mechanical Machine
Hazards
•Entanglement
•Access (slips, trips and falls)
•Trapping
•Lifting and Handling
•Impact
•Electricity
•Contact
•Fire & Explosion
•Ejection
•Noise & Vibration
Common Controls
Mechanical Machine Hazard control: Guards
•Interlocking (disables machinery until guard is replaced).
•Distance fixed guards (restrict access using a perimeter
around machinery).
•Automatic Guards (operate as part of machine process)
•Self adjusting guards (restrict access when machine is in
operation).
•Two handed operation (ensures hands are away machine
actions).
Common Controls
Non-Mechanical Machine Hazard control.
•Good housekeeping
•Planned maintenance
•Sensible behaviour
•Reporting hazards
•Information, instruction, training and supervision
Conducting the Risk Assessment
The five steps to conducting a risk assessment are:
Identify the hazards. Systematically identify all significant hazards that exist from
work activities.
Evaluate the risks. Identify the likelihood of harm actually occurring and the
severity of likely injuries/damage that could occur. Identify the people that
could be affected.
Implementing control measures. Remove the hazard or control its possible
impact.
Recording the findings. (5 or more employees) Record all significant findings e.g.
it is not necessary to record the possibility that someone may slip on a clean, dry,
level floor. Findings of the assessment must be communicated to affected
personnel.
Monitoring and reviewing the assessment. Risk assessments shall be reviewed
annually and when there is a change in circumstances, such as new equipment or
implementation of control measures.
Evaluating the risk
The following combination of severity and likelihood will give an
indication of the risk involved for each hazard. (Risk = Severity x
Likelihood)
Severity (consequences)
1. No injury
2. Minor Injury/minor
damage to property
3. Major Injury/ serious
damage to Property
4. Fatality.
5. Multiple fatality
Likelihood
1. Very
Unlikely
2. Unlikely
3. Possible
4. Very Likely
5.Certain
1
2
3
4
5
1
1
2
3
4
5
2
2
4
6
8
10
3
3
6
9
12
15
4
4
8
12
16
20
5
5
10
15
20
25
Severity
Likelihood
A score of five or above requires control measures to reduce the risk
to one that is reasonably practicable. Nine and above require
immediate attention
Hierarchy of Control
PIGSRISE (reverse)
ERICPD
Eliminate,
Substitute,
Isolate,
Reduce,
Safe Systems of Work,
Good Housekeeping,
IITS,
PPE
Eliminate
Reduce
Isolate
Control
Personal Protective Equipment
Discipline
Questions?
Further Information
Further information can be obtained from
the Health and Safety Executive website.
http://www.hse.gov.uk/risk/index.htm
or
The European Agency for Safety and Health at Work
https://osha.europa.eu/en/topics/riskassessment
Summary
•Employers must undertake Risk Assessments By Law.
•Involve employees in carrying out Risk Assessments.
•Follow the “5 steps to Risk Assessment”;
•Identify the hazards
•Decide who can be harmed
•Evaluate the risk (high, medium, low)
•Record significant findings
•Review and revise
• Provide Information, Instruction, Training and
Supervision and communicate the findings of the Risk
Assessments to employees.