HEALTH AND SAFETY RISK REGISTERS
This is a new idea. Yes, it will result in (a little) more work but hopefully there will be evident benefits.
A recommendation has been made that each School and Support Service should compile a register
of the main health and safety risks which are under its control. The register would list the main
sources of harm to staff, students and visitors and summarise the steps which are taken to manage
the risks. The register would have a number of purposes:
1) It would provide an overview of the risks which the School/Support Service is attempting to
manage to allow staff and students to see clearly what the important health and safety issues are.
2) The register could be distributed to staff and students and comments could be invited as to
whether the register is complete and accurate. Staff and students might have thoughts on risks
which they feel are not being adequately controlled and asking them to comment on the register
might be a good way of drawing out their ideas.
3) Where suggestions are made for improvements to health and safety arrangements, the register
would provide a means to capture them and make sure that they were properly considered and
then, if appropriate, translated into action.
4) Additional risks and the need for risk controls might also be identified during inspections and
during investigations into accidents. Again, these proposals could be captured by the register.
5) Finally, the register would demonstrate to outsiders (for example, and HSE inspectors or
insurance inspectors who came to visit) that we approach the management of health and safety in
a structured and disciplined manner.
The suggestions that we produce a risk register for each School/Support Service was made by the
University’s internal auditors following a review of our health and safety management arrangements.
Registers (or something akin to register but with a different name) have already been produced by
some of the support services. The internal auditors were impressed with what they saw and
suggested that others might wish to follow their leads.
Attached are a couple of examples which might help you get started.
 For a School with just offices and some field trips or relatively low risk
 For a School with laboratories
These are intended to be starting points to help you to produce your own registers. It is hoped that
over time your individual registers will develop so that they reflect accurately what it is you do, the
health and safety risks associated with your activities and how you control those risks. Please do not
slavishly copy the examples but, if you wish, use them as a starting point.
Nigel Corby
University Safety Adviser
February 2009
1
EXAMPLE – School with offices and some field activities
EXAMPLE RISK REGISTER (School with offices and some field activities)
TOPIC
School of xxxxxx
RISK CONTROLS
FURTHER WORK REQUIRED
 Arrange for more staff to receive training
in use of fire extinguishers
 Remind staff not to leave bags of waste
in the stairwells.

 Ensure ladders are inspected at least
every three months

 Review assessments every 2 years

1
Fire
 Procedures for responding to a fire and evacuation of
the building
 Fire drills and staff training
 Escape routes kept clear with no storage of materials
 Fire doors kept closed
 No overloading of electrical sockets and no obstruction
of ventilation of electrical equipment.
2
Electricity
 Inspection and testing of portable equipment by Estates
 No used equipment to be brought from home - only new
electrical equipment
3
Slips and trips
 No trailing cables
 Spillages cleared up promptly
 Defects in floor coverings reported and repaired
promptly
 Good lighting throughout
4
Falls from height
 Ladders/kick stools available to all
5
Manual handling
 Trolley available for use by staff
 Portering staff are available to move unusually heavy
items
6
Computer workstations
 Computer workstation assessments carried out for all
members of staff and postgraduate students.
Risk register – School of xxxxxx
February 2009
2
DATE
COMPLETED
EXAMPLE – School with offices and some field activities
7
TOPIC
RISK CONTROLS
Field visits
(archaeological sites and
museums)
 Minibuses with members of staff as authorised drivers
with correct driving licence categories and additional
driver training
 Hired “people carriers” with members of staff as
authorised drivers
 Hired coaches with drivers provided
 List of trip participants, trip itinerary/timetable and list of
vehicles used is left with the School office
Reviewed by:
Risk register – School of xxxxxx
February 2009
FURTHER WORK REQUIRED
Date:
3
 Confirm all minibus drivers have the
correct driving licence categories and
have received the additional driver
training.
DATE
COMPLETED
EXAMPLE – School with laboratories
EXAMPLE RISK REGISTER (School with laboratories)
TOPIC
School of xxxxxx
RISK CONTROLS
FURTHER WORK REQUIRED
 Arrange for more staff to receive training
in use of fire extinguishers
 Remind staff not to leave bags of waste
in the stairwells.

 Ensure ladders are inspected at least
every three months

 Review assessments every 2 years

1
Fire
 Procedures for responding to a fire and evacuation of
the building
 Fire drills and staff training
 Escape routes kept clear with no storage of materials
 Fire doors kept closed
 No overloading of electrical sockets and no obstruction
of ventilation of electrical equipment.
2
Electricity
 Inspection and testing of portable equipment by Estates
 No used equipment to be brought from home - only new
electrical equipment
3
Slips and trips
 No trailing cables
 Spillages cleared up promptly
 Defects in floor coverings reported and repaired
promptly
 Good lighting throughout
4
Falls from height
 Ladders/kick stools available to all
5
Manual handling
 Trolley available for use by staff
 Portering staff are available to move unusually heavy
items
6
Computer workstations
 Computer workstation assessments carried out for all
members of staff and postgraduate students.
Risk register – School of xxxxxx
February 2009
4
DATE
COMPLETED
EXAMPLE – School with laboratories
TOPIC
RISK CONTROLS
FURTHER WORK REQUIRED
7
Biological agents
 Requirements of Containment Levels 1 and 2 fully
implemented in relevant labs
 Training for those working in labs

8
Microbiological safety
cabinets
 Class II cabinets serviced by contractor every six
months.
 Operator protection factor test on those cabinets used
at CL2
 Check all operator protection factor tests
are bring carried out
9
Genetic Modification
 All projects approved by the GM Safety Committee with
three-yearly reviews

10
Autoclaves
 Trained and authorised operators
 Maintenance contract
 Pressure vessels inspected by insurance inspector

11
Centrifuges
 Trained and authorised operators
 Maintenance contract providing for regular visits

12
Chemical hazards
 Work with chemicals covered by individual risk
assessments
 Central store for stocks of chemicals

13
Highly flammable liquids
 Limited to 50 litres per room stored in designated
cabinets approved for HFL storage
 Bulk store external to the building
 Spark proofed refrigerators for cold storage

Risk register – School of xxxxxx
February 2009
5
DATE
COMPLETED

EXAMPLE – School with laboratories
TOPIC
RISK CONTROLS
FURTHER WORK REQUIRED
14
Fume cupboards and
local exhaust ventilation
 Annual examination by Estates contractors

15
Compressed gases




External secure store for stock cylinders
Unaccompanied transport in lifts
Trained and authorised staff to connect regulators
Regulator inspection and replacement programme
(replace 5 years after date of manufacture)

16
Cryogenic fluids




Low level oxygen detector fitted in cryogenic store
Unaccompanied transport in lifts
Examination scheme by BOC for pressurised vessels
Training for staff in working with cryogenic fluids
 Review arrangements for responding to
an activation of the low level oxygen
alarm – especially out of hours
17
Contractors
 All contractors under the control of Estates to obtain
permission before working in labs
 The School has its own contractor control programme
for contractors brought in by the School.

18
Lifting equipment
 Crane to be operated only by trained and authorised
operators
 Power supply isolated and locked off when not in use
 Inspection programme for crane and lifting equipment
 Maintenance contract for crane

19
Lone working
 Prohibition on lone working in labs other than low risk
work approved in advance by supervisors

Risk register – School of xxxxxx
February 2009
6
DATE
COMPLETED

EXAMPLE – School with laboratories
TOPIC
RISK CONTROLS
FURTHER WORK REQUIRED
20
Out of hours working
 No out of hours working by undergraduate students
 Supervisors to approve out of hours working by
postgraduate students
 Equipment left running unattended out of hours must be
approved and an out of hours permit displayed.

21
Ionising radiation and
lasers
 Local rules and arrangements overseen by Radiation
Protection Service for ionising radiation and lasers
 Those working with ionising radiation and lasers to be
trained and authorised

22
Laboratory accidents
 All lab workers trained in the immediate response to
fires, hot/cold burns, chemical spillages and chemical
contamination of the body.
 Spillage kits available near all labs
 Review training for lab workers on
immediate response
 Review availability of water for irrigation
following chemical contamination of the
body of burns
23
Waste
 Several designated waste streams for laboratory waste
 Lab workers trained to segregate waste for appropriate
streams

24
Fire fighters – risks when
attending an incident in
the building
 Plans of the building is box by fire alarm panel with
details of laboratory hazards
 Hazard warning notices on lab doors as appropriate
 Make sure information for fire fighters is
kept up to date
Reviewed by:
Risk register – School of xxxxxx
February 2009
Date:
7
DATE
COMPLETED

