RISK ASSESSMENT

® Before completing your risk assessment, please read the guidelines and definitions below. The Risk assessment Form is enclosed at the end of this document.

GUIDELINES

What is a risk assessment?

A risk assessment is a practical organisational tool looking at work activities in a systematic way. Its purpose is to identify any hazard and quantify any significant risk in order to eliminate these risks or control them.

Procedure

Once clearly identified, the findings – but more importantly the control measures introduced - are then recorded in writing, and must be communicated to the persons who may be affected.

Persons at risk

The persons at risk may be the following:

- Employees

- Visitors

- New or expectant mothers

- Young persons

- Contractors

- Persons who share the premises

- Members of the public

Definition of a hazard

The main definition of a hazard is “something with the potential to cause harm”.

The hazards may be one of the following list:

- Ergonomic: physical stress, poor work station layout

- Psychological: workload, work pressure, trauma.

- Physical: machinery, electricity, heat, noise, gravity

- Chemical: water, acid, gas, oil

- Biological: hepatitis virus, HIV virus, legionella

What is a risk?

First of all, the risk must be proportionate to the type of activity.

You will need to detail the likelihood of it happening, and if it does happen, the severity, consequences, harm and damages done.

For a risk assessment to be recognized as “suitable and sufficient” it must do all of the following:

- Identify the significant hazards

- Be appropriate to the nature of the work

- Identify and prioritise the significant risks

- Enable identification of the appropriate control measures

- Be valid for a reasonable time

- Contain details proportionate to the level of risk (a high risk classification would necessitate many details obviously).

In some circumstances, the risk may be “reasonably practicable”. This means that everything that is reasonably practicable has been done, on the condition that an assessment was made taking into account the difficulties, risks and costs.

COST: It is important here to emphasize that an action must be taken whatever the cost if it contributes directly to lowering the risks.

Finally, the risk assessment must be made for a determined amount of time and be reviewed regularly (at least annually).

SUMMARY

1. Define the risks

2. Remember that the risk assessment must be proportionate to the type of activity

3. Assess the chances of the risks happening

4. Involve employees, colleagues (a control measure may generate the identification of another hazard)

5. Identify who might be harmed and how

6. Evaluate the risks

7. Seek professional assistance if in doubt (or in the case of a high risk level)

8. Decide if the existing precautions and control measures are sufficient

9. Record the significant findings

10. Record all the control measures

11. Review the assessment on a regular basis.

Finally: it is absolutely necessary to inform all the relevant persons who may be involved in your activities of the risks’ contents. It is even more important that these persons be aware of the control measures in place.

RISK ASSESSMENT FORM

GENERAL RISK ASSESSMENT
Hazard	Who might be harmed?	Level of risk Low/medium/high	Actions to minimize risk

FIRE ASSESSMENT
Hazard	Person at risk	Level of risk Low/medium/high	Actions to minimize risk

ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT RISK ASSESSMENT
Hazard	Person at risk	Level of risk Low/medium/high	Actions to minimize risk

DECLARATION
Risk assessment carried out by:	Name: Service: Telephone:
I, …………………….., certify that I have carried out the above risk assessment, identifying that the risk assessment is “suitable and sufficient”. Signature of the above person: Date: