Risk Assessment Guidance
The assessor can assign values for the hazard severity (a) & likelihood of occurrence (b)
(taking into account the frequency & 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 &
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:
Portable electrical equipment
Assessor(s):
Overview of activity / location /
equipment / conditions being
assessed:
Portable electrical equipment
Generic or specific assessment?
Generic risk assessment
#
Hazard(s) identified
General Risks
1
Electrical faults can cause
electric shocks, electrical
burns & electrical fires
Electrical equipment can
provide an ignition source
in explosive & flammable
atmospheres
UOB Risk Assessment
Date:
This is an assessment of the electrical risks arising from the use of portable electrical equipment. It does not address other hazards such as
mechanical hazards (eg unguarded moving parts, cutting blades, etc) or dangerous emissions (eg lasers, x-rays, etc). It does not address
hazards arising from electrical work, including the performance of PAT tests.
Context of assessment (delete as appropriate): planning stage / ‘desk-top’ exercise / site visit / in consultation with employees / in
consultation with managers / other (please describe)
Generic assessment
Persons
affected
Existing controls & measures
Person in
vicinity electric shock
& electric
burns
Person in
building – fire
of electrical
origin
Person in area
– ignition of
flammables /
explosives
General Requirements
 Provide suitable l equipment in the first instance –
consider the use, users & operating environment before
purchase / supplying
 Provide sufficient information, instruction, training &
supervision for users
 Ensure equipment remains suitable for use during its
working life
o Provide planned preventative maintenance
where necessary
o Provide inspection & testing where necessary
 safely dispose of waste electrical equipment at the end of
its life
A
B
A
x
B
Additional controls required
Produce & implement a risk assessment
for other risks arising from equipment use:
Examples might be:
 Ergonomic issues (eg computer use)
 Moving parts (eg cutting blades)
 Emissions (eg laser beams)
 Noise & vibration
 Heat (eg portable heaters)
 Dangerous contents (eg asbestos
insulation, etc)
 etc
University Health, Safety & Environment Unit
#
Hazard(s) identified
Persons
affected
Existing controls & measures
2
Unsuitable Equipment
Provided
Unsuitable when first
provided for use:
 Poorly designed or
constructed - has faults
or wears rapidly;
 Not suitable for the
environment in which it
is used (eg outdoor
use, flammable &
explosive
atmospheres, etc)
 Not suitable for the
operators who will be
using it (eg insufficient
instruction, etc)
Person in
vicinity electric shock
& electric
burns
Person in
building – fire
of electrical
origin
Person in area
– ignition of
flammables /
explosives
General Requirements When Providing Equipment
Provide suitable electrical equipment in the first instance –
consider the use, users & operating environment before
purchase / supply. Electrical equipment must be:
 Suitably constructed when provided; this applies no
matter where it comes from –external suppliers as well as
constructed or modified in house
 Suitable for the environment in which it is to be used
 Suitable for the operators who will use it & the operations
that it will be used for
Person in
vicinity electric shock
& electric
burns
Person in
building – fire
of electrical
origin
Person in area
– ignition of
flammables /
explosives
NOTE: “New equipment” means any equipment newly
provided for use - includes equipment constructed or
significantly modified in house as well as equipment obtained
from a manufacturer or supplier, even if second hand.
 “New equipment” must conform to EU essential health &
safety requirements
o Manufacturer / supplier must CE mark equipment
& issue a certificate of conformity
 “New equipment” must conform to relevant BS standards
o The manufacturer / supplier must BS mark
equipment
 “New equipment” equipment must be inspected / tested
as appropriate, before first use.
2a
Unsuitable Equipment
Provided: Design /
Construction Issues
Poorly designed /
constructed / modified
electrical equipment may
have faults or rapidly
develop faults.
UOB Risk Assessment
A
B
A
x
B
Additional controls required

Electrical equipment purchased from
outside the EU is unlikely to be CE
marked or have a certificate of
conformity – the importer is
responsible for CE marking & issuing a
certificate
University Health, Safety & Environment Unit
#
Hazard(s) identified
2b
Unsuitable Equipment
Provided: Environment
Issues
Unsuitable for the
environment in which it is
used – especially “hostile”
environments Examples:
 Outside
 Building sights
 Water exposure
 Flammables &
explosives
 Dust exposure
 Corrosives & salts
Persons
affected
Existing controls & measures

Person in
vicinity electric shock
& electric
burns
Person in
building – fire
of electrical
origin
Person in area
– ignition of
flammables /
explosives



2c
Unsuitable Equipment
Provided: Operators /
Operation Issues
Unsuitable for the
operators who will use it
 High level of
competence to operate
 Cleaning or
maintenance regime of
which the operators are
unaware
Unsuitable for intended
operations.
UOB Risk Assessment
Person in
vicinity electric shock
& electric
burns
Person in
building – fire
of electrical
origin
Person in area
– ignition of
flammables /
explosives


Provide suitable electrical equipment in the first instance
– consider operating environment before purchase /
supplying
If the equipment not used in a hostile environment construction to relevant BS and CE marked should
suffice.
If the equipment is to be used in a hostile environment:
o Identify suitable equipment before purchase /
construction / modification – consult relevant BS
standards & manufacturers / suppliers
 Consider less hazardous alternatives eg
battery powered or low voltage
 Consider additional safety precautions –
such as use of an RCD
Provide suitable electrical equipment in the first instance
– consider users & operations before purchase /
supplying
Ensure suitable information & instruction provided &
distributed
o Ensure manufacturer / supplier provides suitable
information & instruction on use & maintenance
o Ensure suitable information & instruction passed
to the users
Equipment is used in a way not covered by manufacturer
/ supplier information & instruction. eg use of domestic
kitchen or DIY equipment in a laboratory
o Produce & implement a specific risk assessment
for equipment
o Produce specific information & instruction for
users
A
B
A
x
B
Additional controls required

For environments with potential for
flammable and/or explosive
atmospheres consider the
requirements of DSEAR

If the equipment requires a high
degree of competence to operate
safely or requires a special cleaning or
maintenance regime then
o Consider alternative
equipment that is easier to
operate / clean / maintain; or
o Provide additional training to
the operators
University Health, Safety & Environment Unit
#
Hazard(s) identified
Persons
affected
Existing controls & measures
A
B
A
x
B
Additional controls required

3
3a
1





Develops A Fault
Unsuitable due to:
 Damage or
deterioration
 Poor modification or
repair
 Significant change in
operators or operation
Person in
vicinity electric shock
& electric
burns
Person in
building – fire
of electrical
origin
Person in area
– ignition of
flammables /
explosives
Develops A Fault:
Unsuitable Repair Or
Modification
Unsuitable modified or
repaired equipment may
have faults or develop
faults
Person in
vicinity electric shock
& electric
burns
Person in
building – fire
of electrical
origin
Person in area
– ignition of
flammables /
explosives


Electrical equipment to be suitably constructed & include
safety features to protect users from dangerous faults.
Examples would be:
o All equipment fitted with a suitably rated fuse
(refer to manufacturers / suppliers instructions)
o Class I equipment to be earthed
o Class II equipment to have an electrically
insulated case
Electrical equipment to be subject to an inspection /
testing regime


Provide such supervision as may be
needed after considering competence,
personal attributes & the work to be
done.

Consider providing equipment that is
suitable for the operators, environment
or operation to avoid the need for
modifications.

Modifications and repairs of electrical equipment must
only be carried out by competent1 persons
o Persons must be competent in the type of work
to be performed - competence in one area does
not guarantee competence in all areas.
Substantially modified electrical equipment is : “New
equipment” – see Unsuitable Equipment Provided
Consider additional safety features,
especially where equipment is used in
hostile environments / likely to suffer
high wear / at high risk of damage.
o Consider less hazardous
alternatives, such as battery
powered or low voltage
equipment
o Consider additional safety
precautions – such as an RCD
In the event of a significant change in
the operators or operation - reconsider
the use, users & operating
environment.
A competent person will:
Have adequate theoretical & practical knowledge of the work to be done
Have an understanding of the hazards & the precautions needed
Be able to recognise at all times if it safe for work to continue
Have sufficient practical skills to complete the job safely
Have suitable personal attributes, such as a diligent attitude to safety requirements
UOB Risk Assessment
University Health, Safety & Environment Unit
Hazard(s) identified
Persons
affected
3b
Develops A Fault:
Deterioration Or Damage
Equipment may deteriorate
to a dangerous state
Equipment may suffer
damage that leaves it in a
dangerous state.
Person in
vicinity electric shock
& electric
burns
Person in
building – fire
of electrical
origin
Person in area
– ignition of
flammables /
explosives
3c(1)
Battery operated
equipment (<40 volts)
Extra low voltage
equipment (<50 volts AC)
eg telephone equipment,
low voltage desk lights
Inspection & testing regime portable electrical equipment in
low risk environments
 Informal checks not required
 Formal inspection not required
 Formal inspection & testing combined not required
Desktop computers &
computer screens
Inspection & testing regime portable electrical equipment in
low risk environments
 Informal visual checks not required
 Formal visual inspection every 2-4 years
 If double insulated then combined inspection & testing
not required, otherwise up to 5 years
3c(3)
Photocopiers, fax machines
– not hand held & rarely
moved
Inspection & testing regime portable electrical equipment in
low risk environments
 Informal visual checks not required
 Formal visual inspection every 2-4 years
 If double insulated then combined inspection & testing
not required, otherwise up to 5 years
3c(4)
Double insulated
equipment– not hand held
& rarely moved (examples
might be desk fans, table
lamps, etc)
Inspection & testing regime portable electrical equipment in
low risk environments
 Informal visual checks by users
 Formal visual inspection every 2-4 years
 Formal inspection & testing combined not required
#
3c(2)
UOB Risk Assessment
Existing controls & measures


Devise & implement a suitable inspection & testing
regime
o Electrical equipment used in low risk
environments - see HSE publication
INDG236(rev2) ‘Maintaining portable electrical
equipment in low risk environments’
Immediately remove defective equipment from use
o Secure equipment to be repaired against use
until a repair can be made
o Render equipment for disposal inoperable,
clearly mark as faulty and arrange for collection &
disposal in the WEE waste stream
A
B
A
x
B
Additional controls required
The frequency of inspection & testing
should be increased in some
circumstances. Examples are:
 The equipment is used in a hostile
environment (eg wet laboratory,
exposure to dust, exposure to metal
filings, used outside);
 The equipment is used in such a way
to increase the risk of mechanical
damage (eg commercial cleaning
operations); and
 Past inspection & test results show a
higher than expected failure rate
University Health, Safety & Environment Unit
Persons
affected
#
Hazard(s) identified
3c(5)
Double insulated
equipment– hand held
(examples might be some
kitchen equipment)
Inspection & testing regime portable electrical equipment in
low risk environments
 Informal visual checks by users
 Formal visual inspection every 6 months – 1 year
 Formal inspection & testing combined not required
3c(6)
Earthed equipment
(examples might be kettles,
some floor cleaners, some
kitchen equipment, irons,
etc)
Inspection & testing regime portable electrical equipment in
low risk environments
 Informal visual checks by users
 Formal visual inspection every 6 months – 1 year
 Formal inspection & testing combined every 1-2 years
3c
Cables (such as leads &
plugs connected to any of
the equipment listed above)
& mains voltage extension
leads & battery charging
equipment
Inspection & testing regime portable electrical equipment in
low risk environments
 Informal visual checks by users
 Formal visual inspection every 6 months – 4 years
 Formal inspection & testing combined every 1-5 years
Assessor signature:
Print name:
UOB Risk Assessment
Existing controls & measures
A
B
A
x
B
Additional controls required
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