Health and Safety Risk (Hazard) Register- Example

All risks (hazards) are to be minimized (controlled) or eliminated (removed)

Risks (hazards) to be added to register when identified and managed and closed when risk eliminated.

N.B. Risk Rating is managed by determining the Likelihood and the Consequence and the effectiveness of the Controls in place

Likelihood / Consequence
severe / major / moderate / minor / minimal
almost certain / 1 / 1 / 2 / 3 / 3
Likely / 1 / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4
Possible / 1 / 2 / 2 / 3 / 4
Unlikely / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 4
Rare / 2 / 3 / 3 / 4 / 4

Risk Assessment Matrix

Risk No. / Date
risk identified / Risk Category / Brief description of risk (hazard) / Area
of risk (hazard) / Consequences if risk occurs / Cause / Contributing Factors / Existing Controls
(add additional controls if required if risk changes) / Risk Rating
Controlled
(use number) / Date Risk is to be reviewed / Review Comment/ Date
Injury / Storage of boxes and goods on top of cupboards / Storage area / Strain/sprain injuries, impact injuries from falling objects / Unsafe storage of items including:
  • Heavy items stored on top of the cupboards and high shelves,
  • Lack of step/ladder to reach items
  • Staff not maintaining own safety
/
  • Storage arranged in a safe manner when unpacking supplies into smaller easily managed units
  • Heavy items are stored low.
  • Step ladder provided for higher areas to reduce straining/reaching
  • Staff take personal responsibility for injury prevention, i.e. work within limits

Fall/Slip / Slippery surfaces when wet- steps and ramp / Entrances to building / Falls and slips from slippery surfaces
Injury to patients and/or staff /
  • Anti-slip mats not in place,
  • Debris, moss on surfaces
  • Obstacles
  • Poor lighting
  • Wet floor sign not available
/
  • Non-slip rubber mat at front entrance
  • Maintain clean, moss free surface
  • Keep clear of obstacles
  • Provide adequate lighting

Environmental Safety / Exposed power points on low level / Waiting room / Potential harm if child plays with the socket /
  • Electricity socket exposed at low level in the waiting room
/
  • Plug protector in place
  • Reception staff are assigned task to check outlet each day

Occupational Health / Contamination due to patients vomiting / Entire practice / Hygiene issue and possible spread of infectious disease /
  • Infants and children seasonal vomiting and diarrheoa
/
  • Vomiting receptacle in place during the seasonal vomiting and diarrheoa period
  • Clean spill in place with antiseptic, gloves
  • Steam clean process in place after incident

Injury / Injury/ burn / electric shock from electrical equipment / Electrical Equipment / Potential electric shock /
  • Faulty electrical equipment
  • Lack of servicing and electrical safety checks
/
  • RCD 10mA in all consulting rooms
  • 30mA in mains board for all electrical equipment
  • Electrical equipment and servicing register

Safety / Aggressive patients / Reception
and consultation rooms / Stress to staff and other clients /
  • Training not provided for staff,
  • Staff have no experience of de-escalating situations
  • Debrief not provided following incidents
/
  • In house education for staff on their role in de-escalation of situations
  • Debriefing session if an event occurs

Risk No. / Date
risk identified / Risk Category / Brief description of risk (hazard) / Area
of risk (hazard) / Consequences if risk occurs / Cause / Contributing Factors / Existing Controls
(add additional controls if required if risk changes) / Risk Rating
Controlled
(use number) / Date Risk is to be reviewed / Review Comment/ Date
Injury / Pain, discomfort and injury (DPI) caused by poor workspace set up / Reception and workstations in consult room / Pain, discomfort and injury (DPI) /
  • Poor workspace set up
  • Not taking breaks
/
  • Induction for all new staff/ updates to existing staff on the use of work stations
  • All new and high standard workstations in place
  • Staff to report any issues with discomfort in working environment related to workstations

Injury / Fire related injury to staff and property / Kitchen / Injury to staff and property /
  • Lack of emergency evacuation systems
  • No fire evacuation drills undertaken in the practice
  • No induction of new staff to fire safety or health and safety
/
  • Smoke alarms installed in the building
  • Smoke alarms tested six monthly (in house)
  • Fire evacuation drills undertaken six monthly
  • Fire Service Evacuation Scheme approved
  • Fire warden appointed
  • Evacuation and Fire Action Plan displayed
  • Assembly point(s) identified
  • Induction of new / updates to existing staff as required

Injury / Liquid Nitrogen, injury from cannister or unexpected spill / Treatment room / Contusion from cannister
Eye injury /
  • Cylinder un secured, risk of falling
  • Safety data sheet not available for staff
/
  • Cylinder stored securely
  • Safety data sheet available
  • Added to the practice hazardous substances inventory

Injury / Oxygen, injury from cylinder as a projectile, flammable incident / Treatment room / Injury from projectile Explosion from gas / Cylinder un secured, risk of falling
Safety data sheet not available for staff /
  • Cylinder stored securely
  • Safety data sheet available
  • Added to the practice hazardous substances inventory

Safety / Biological waste/body fluid spill / Consult and treatment rooms / Contamination from biological waste/body fluid spill /
  • Not following procedures
  • Not having approved waste
  • management process
  • Not having adequate personal protection equipment (PPE) in place
/
  • Procedures in place for dealing with body fluids and biological waste as outlined in Infection Control policy
  • PPE equipment in place
  • Correct waste management processes in place

Occupational Health / Chemical spill / exposure / All areas of the practice / Poisoning and/or skin irritation / Chemicals not stored safely out of reach of children
Safety data sheet not available for staff /
  • Chemicals are stored out of reach of children
  • Chemicals in kiddiesafelocked cupboard
  • Added to the practice hazardous substances inventory
  • Safety data sheet (SDS) available for chemicals stored in SDS Folder

Risk No. / Date
risk identified / Risk Category / Brief description of risk (hazard) / Area
of risk (hazard) / Consequences if risk occurs / Cause / Contributing Factors / Existing Controls
(add additional controls if required if risk changes) / Risk Rating
Controlled
(use number) / Date Risk is to be reviewed / Review Comment/ Date
Patient safety / Unauthorized persons accessing drugs/medicines resulting in misuse of and/or accidental consumption of medicines / Clinical areas / Adverse reaction and/or clinical event resulting in a misuse of drugs /
  • Medicines stored in open shelving in room that is easily assessable by the public
  • Door not locked
/
  • Drugs /medicines stored out of reach of children
  • Drugs / medicines stored in area/ cupboards in staff only area
  • All Controlled Drugs in a locked safe

Occupational Health / Contracting infectious diseases / Practice staff / Contracting disease /
  • Un-immunised staff
  • Staff not aware of outbreak or risk,
  • Staff not fully informed of risk of contracting disease
/
  • Staff are offered vaccination
  • Staff made aware of risks and procedures to minimize exposure
  • Staff made aware of risks of each vaccine preventable disease and the benefits of immunisation.
  • Staff shall make an informed choice to consent or decline any immunisation.
  • Guidelines to work restrictions and management of staff with an infectious illness.

Occupational Health / Needle stick injury / Clinical rooms / Contracting infection/disease resulting in contaminate from a needle stick injury /
  • Sharps containers not in each clinical/treatment room
  • Sharps containers overfull
  • Staff recapping needles
  • Trays not used for minor surgery to hold needles when used
/
  • No recapping of needle procedures in place
  • Compulsory safe disposal of sharps and contaminated waste in place and by all clinical staff

Injury / Accident/ injury due to moving cars / Car park / Injury to staff/visitors /
  • Poor lighting and poor visibility in the car parking area
/
  • Adequate car parking spaces
  • Open area with good views / access
  • Good lighting

Occupational health / Stress in the workplace / Workplace / Workplace burnout, stress, poor health
Loss of work days
High stress levels lead to other health issues /
  • Long working hours
  • Very busy
  • Not taking breaks
  • Not taking annual leave
/
  • Stress identified by the GP owners and discussed with staff
  • Strategies discussed as a team
  • Allocated lunch breaks
  • Clinical staff have allocated paper work time

Mercury spill / Mercury spill causes inhalation of vapors – heath issues / Clinical areas / Inhalation of mercury vapor causing serious health issues /
  • Equipment containing mercury not stored safely, not used with care
/
  • Mercury Spill procedure in place. Mercury Spill kit available Safety data sheet available
  • Added to the practice hazardous substances inventory
  • Safety data sheet available for chemicals and readily available in SDS Folder

Risk (Hazard) Register Page 1 of 3