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HSP02 – Risk assessment

1Purpose

The purpose of risk assessment is to identify the significant risks in the workplace and then control those risks at an acceptable level and to comply with the Management of Health & Safety at Work Regulations.

2Responsibility

MRF Directors and Managers are responsible for ensuring that all aspects and activities of their work are assessed. Risk assessment forms an essential part of Safety Management. Guidance and assistance with details should be sought, in the first instance, from the MRF Director /Manager responsible for policy implementation or from an external Health & Safety advisor.

3Scope

All aspects of the work activity are to be reviewed for Risk Assessment. Where hazardous chemical risks are encountered, COSHH Assessment Procedures are to be followed (HSP03) and where visual display screens are to be assessed, the Display Screen Assessment procedure HSP04 should be used.

4Risk assessment procedure

a)Identify an ‘aspect of work’. This may be a substance or piece of equipment used, work process, work activity or work organisation which has the potential to cause harm.

b)Identify hazard(s) associated with the ‘aspect of work’ and identify the potential severity on a scale 1 to 5 (5 is the most severe).

c)Having identified a hazard, assess the likelihood of the hazard potential being realised. (1 is very unlikely and 5 is highly likely).

Some risks may already have some form of control and the effectiveness of those controls must be included.

The risk assessment must take account of what actually happens. Actual practices may differ from the relevant manual (difference with the Procedures Manual must be corrected). Non routine operations must also be considered.

d)Calculate the “Risk Factor” by multiplying the severity by the likelihood. The will give a number between 1 and 25.

Points Rating /

Likelihood

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5
Hazard Severity / 1 / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5
2 / 2 / 4 / 6 / 8 / 10
3 / 3 / 6 / 9 / 12 / 15
4 / 4 / 8 / 12 / 16 / 20
5 / 5 / 10 / 15 / 20 / 25

Risk Factor Rating

e)The Risk Assessment Record is to be completed (form HSF03 – see section 7.0) and a copy kept in the master filed held by the office Health & Safety representative.

5Control of risk

Having calculated the Risk Factor control measures will be required to be put in place to reduce the risk factor to an acceptable level usually 8 or less.

If possible a risk should be avoided altogether but, as all action involves some risk, then that risk should be reduced to as low as is reasonably practicable. Risk reduction and control is to be achieved by considering in order:

  • Elimination.
  • Substitution.
  • Isolation/guarding/enclosure.
  • Improved system of work.
  • Training.
  • Personal protective equipment (PPE).
  • “Managed Exposure” this is to be a last resort where all other methods are impractical.

6The risk assessment process


7General risk assessment form

General risk assessmentNo:

Hazard Identified:

Location:

People at Risk / Exposed to Hazard:
Process:

Mechanical tools Electrical appliance Manual handling Chemical Other
(tick box as appropriate)
Control Measures:
Risk Assessment: /

Hazard Severity

(1 - 5) /

Likelihood

(1 - 5)

Risk Factor

(Hazard severity x Likelihood)
Action Required: /

Responsibility

/

Target Date

/

Complete

Manager/Director Name:
Signature:
Date: / Review Date:

1

HSP02 Risk Assessment