Title of project or activity
Responsible Person /
Manager
School
Date of assessment
Location of work
(Buildings and room numbers)
[ENTER DETAILS HERE]
[ENTER DETAILS HERE]
[ENTER DETAILS HERE] dd/mm/yyyy
[ENTER DETAILS HERE]
The following risk assessment and guidance has been developed to assess the hazardous activities, risks and identify appropriate prevention and control measures. A simple implementation check is provided to assist schools in demonstrating that the control measures are being implemented. Please identify when they have been implemented.
These are contained within the shaded area. The first shaded area in the assessment identifies the hazard or hazardous activity and the second identifies the risks imposed by that activity.
These are contained within the un-shaded areas. This section identifies the control measures required and may require schools to choose options or carry out additional risk assessments.
Safety Office
Occupational Health
Service
Schools must visit the University Safety Office website. The website contains a wide range of guidance to assist schools to manage health and safety effectively including University
Safety Policies and Supplements, Safety Guidance,
Training, Forms, etc.
Hazard 1
Risks
Control
Measures
Exposure to wood dust/ metal fluids or other substances
Implemented Date

Risk of lung diseases from inhaling wood dust.

Hardwood dust can cause cancer.

Chemical fluids can cause harm if in contact with skin or eyes

Specific COSHH assessment completed for each harmful substance.
Hazard 2
Manual handling*
See manual handling additional page at the end of this risk assessment
Implemented Date
Risk Assessment v3 Page 1 of 6

Risks
Control
Measures

Staff or students may suffer musculoskeletal disorders such as back pain from handling heavy, bulky objects e.g. timber boards or machinery parts.
Also risk cuts when handling tooling, or splinters when handling pallets.

Staff trained in manual handling techniques.

Work benches and machine tables set at comfortable height.

Strong, thick gloves provided and worn for handling tools and pallets.

Consider use of panel trolley and/ or lifting hooks available for moving boards.

Use team lift for large, awkward or heavy loads.

Minimise delivery distances. Site material stores close to roadways and workshops.
Hazard 3
Risks
Noise
Implemented Date

Staff and students may suffer temporary or permanent hearing damage from exposure to noise from woodworking machinery.

Noise enclosures used where reasonably practicable, and maintained in
Control
Measures good condition.

Low noise tooling used where possible.

Planned maintenance programme for machinery and LEV systems.

Suitable hearing protectors or disposable ear plugs (for students) provided. Staff and student trained in how to use them. Check and maintain hearing protectors according to supplier.

Staff trained in risks of noise exposure.

Staff trained in system of work to reduce noise exposure e.g. feed rates for certain jobs.

Contact Occupational Health and Safety Service (OHSS) for advice and further monitoring if concerned about noise levels in workshop.
Risks
Implemented Date
Hazard 4 Deliveries

Staff may suffer serious, possibly fatal injuries if struck by a vehicle such as a delivery lorry.

Roadways controlled by Estates Support Service. Discuss improvements
Control
Measures to difficult or congested delivery areas to segregate vehicles from pedestrians as far as possible.

Minimise need for delivery vehicles to reverse as much as possible.

Arrange deliveries to coincide with quiet times on campus as far as possible.

No lift trucks to be used associated with delivery vehicle.

Items not to be lifted over walkways or pedestrians using Hi-Ab arm.
Hazard 5
Risks
Slips, trips and falls
Implemented Date

Staff or students could suffer injuries such as bruising or fractures if they trip over objects, or slip e.g. on spillages or wood dust/ metal fluid.

Generally good housekeeping – off cuts/ waste cleared away promptly,
Control
Measures dust or fluids collected and spillages cleaned immediately.

Students encouraged to clean work area after they have finished.

Regular inspections by technicians.
Risk Assessment v3 Page 2 of 6


Staff wear strong safety shoes that have a good grip.

Good lighting in all areas.
Implemented Date
Hazard 6 Electrical

Staff or students could get electrical shocks or burns from using faulty
Risks electrical equipment e.g. machinery or a faulty installation. Electrical
Control
Measures faults can also lead to fires.

Residual current device (RCD) built into main switchboard.

Main electrical system tested by Estates Support Service.

Portable appliance testing (PAT) testing carried out in accordance with
Health and Safety Executive guidance .

Any portable appliances belonging to students must be PAT tested before use on University premises.
Hazard 7 Work at Height
Risks
Implemented

Falls from any height can cause bruising and fractures
Control
Measures
Date

Limited work at height in workshops.

Window cleaning carried out by outside contractors.

Changing light bulbs done by ESS.

Strong stepladder, in good condition provided. Follow Health and Safety
Executive guidance on ladder safety .
Hazard 8 Fire
Risks
Implemented Date

If trapped staff and students could suffer fatal injuries from smoke inhalation/ burns.
Control
Measures

Fire risk assessment completed by University Fire Officer.
Risks
Implemented Date
Hazard 9 Use of Hand Tools

Staff or student at risk of serious or minor injuries caused by using hand tools.

All tools should be inspected regularly by technicians and students prior to use. All defective tools must be taken out of use until repairs or discarded and replaced.

Any hand tools with blades should be sheathed when stored. Tools must be stored in such a manner that they do not present a risk when selecting
Control
Measures or picking up.

All staff are experienced and may be formally trained in safe use of hand tools by a competent person.

Students are provided with safety inductions and monitored by staff to ensure they follow best practice in the use of hand tools. If deemed necessary by supervising technician students will be required to redo safety induction.

Ensure any personal protective equipment identified in the COSHH or general risk assessment is available and worn.
Risk Assessment v3 Page 3 of 6


Students may bring their own hand tools into the workshop. Technicians will monitor the adequacy of any ‘students own’ hand tools and have the right to request that any defective tools are removed immediately. A full range of University supplied hand tools is available in the workshop and students will be encouraged not to use their own tools in the workshop.
Hazard
10
Use of:

Jigsaws

Reciprocating saw

Circular saw

Band saw

Cross cut saw

Hand router

Spindle Moulder
Implemented Date

Pedestal Drill/ Cordless Drills

Planer/ Thicknesser
Risks
Control
Measures

Staff or students at risk serious and possibly fatal cut injuries following contact with moving parts or machinery.

Inhalation of fumes and dust- see separate COSHH assessment

All machines guarded and used according to manufacturer’s instructions or local work procedures. Local procedures are attached to each machine.

All machines are braked and fitted with necessary safety features e.g. chip limited tooling.

Guards inspected regularly and maintained as necessary to ensure their good condition.

Staff and students have sufficient space at machines to work safely.
Maximum occupancy levels are set for each workshop which are enforced by technicians.

Staff are aware that some tasks can be completed using more than one machine. Staff will consider and choose the most suitable i.e. safest machine to complete work tasks and advise students on machine selection.

Technicians are present at all times when the workshop is open.

All staff are trained in safe use of machines by a competent person. Any additional training needs are identified through individual personal development reviews (PDR’S)

Students are not allowed to use certain machinery. Machinery is clearly marked ‘ not for student use ’ and may be isolated.

Students are provided with safety inductions and monitored by staff to ensure they follow best practice and in particular use guards correctly. If deemed necessary by supervising technician students will be required to
Risk Assessment v3 Page 4 of 6

redo safety induction.

Maintenance only carried out by trained staff with machine isolated.
Students are instructed to report any defect or problems to technicians.

Ensure any personal protective equipment identified in the COSHH is available and worn. Gloves and eye protection will be needed for any machine where there is a risk of ejection of material.
Add additional hazards here e.g.
Hazard
11 Use of laser cutter/ 3D printer/ forge/ welding equipment etc

Risks
Control
Measures

Name Signature
[ENTER HERE] [ENTER HERE]
Responsible Person / Manager
Implemente d
Date
Date
[ENTER HERE]
Name
[ENTER HERE]
Signature
[ENTER HERE]
Please see manual handling analysis form on the next page.
Date
[ENTER HERE]
N/A
Risk Assessment v3 Page 5 of 6

This checklist for detailed analysis of manual handling activities is not in itself a full manual handling risk assessment. A full risk assessment should be completed on the manual handling risk assessment form and this form appended to it.
Name………………………………………….. Position………………………………………….
Date…………………………………………… School…………………………………………..
Description
When
Raising or
Lowering
When
Carrying
When
Pushing or Pulling
When
Seated
1 Holding the load at a distance from the body?
2 An awkward posture?
3 Awkward twisting?
4 Awkward stooping?
5 Reaching upwards?
6 Handling the load over excessive distances?
7 Stabilising an unstable load?
8 Prolonged physical effort?
9 Repetitive handling?
10 Insufficient rest period?
11 Any unsatisfactory combination of several tasks?
1 Heavy?
2 Bulky or unwieldy?
3 Difficult to grasp?
4 Unstable?
5 Potentially damaging (e.g. sharp edge)?
1 Lack of space?
2 Uneven/slippery/unstable floors
3 Extremes of temperature, humidity or air movement?
4 Variation of levels of floor and work surface?
5 Poor lighting?
1 Require above average physical capabilities irrespective of sex?
2 Involve risk to pregnant workers or those with health problems?
3 Require Manual Handling instruction?
Risk Assessment v3 Page 6 of 6