Risk Assessment for (Activity/Process Etc)

RISK ASSESSMENT FOR (ACTIVITY/PROCESS ETC)

COMPLETED BY: ASSESSMENT DATE: REVIEW DATE :

HAZARD

(something that can or has the potential or capability to cause harm)

Physical Hazards

Chemical Hazards

Biological Hazards

/ WHO MIGHT BE HARMED & HOW ?
Identify groups such as office staff, external contractors, pickers etc.
Show what harm might happen, i.e. minor injury, major injuries or fatal. / IS RISK CURRENTLY CONTROLLED?

What is the legislation or HSE Guidance covering this risk? Are there existing precautions in place and used in accordance with the HSE Guide, ACoP etc ? If so, What?

ASSESS THE RISK

(Consider the chances of the hazard happening, how often exposure is and how many people might be harmed) / WHAT FURTHER ACTION IS NECESSARY TO CONTROL RISK?
What else could be done?

List identified hazards here

/ List groups of people identified against the hazards which you have shown / List existing controls and procedures here / Show Risk Rating here against each identified hazard / List the risks which are not adequately controlled and propose reasonably practical improvements

Signed (Assessor)………………………………………………………………Signed (Manager or Head of Dept)………………………………………

Action Points Required (Manager or Head of Dept to complete as necessary)..…………………………………………………………………………….

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

2007/v1.0

RISK ASSESSMENT GUIDANCE NOTES

Step 1 / Identify the hazards. Look for the obvious but also any other items or factors that might cause an injury. List down all the items in the Hazards column, even if they appear to be adequately controlled or of minimal injury potential. Concentrate on the significant hazards that could cause injury or even death. Consider all possibilities such as:

Physical hazards e.g. any moving plant or vehicles, equipment that has moving or hot parts, fire and flammable materials in use such as thinners, materials being moved and their manual handling, noise, electricity such as damaged or old wiring or over-loaded sockets, slips or trips where the floor is in poor condition, often wet or poorly lit steps, falls from height such as ladders or upper areas without barriers, poor lighting etc. Also include servicing or fault finding/repairing, when covers etc. might be removed.
Chemical hazards e.g. fumes, dusts, gas or vapours and liquids that might be harmful. Corrosive acids or alkalis, toxic or when used produce toxic fumes or vapours. Refer to the datasheets etc and consider action.
Biological Hazards e.g. infections that persons might be exposed or allergic reactions. Include cleaning, first aid as well as animal and vegetable food handling.
Ergonomic Hazards e.g. constant repetitive movements such as twisting, kneeling or bending for prolonged periods, seating positions etc.

If in doubt, list the observation as a potential hazard and then refer to Safety Committee or Safety Manager.
Step 2 / Against each of the hazards listed, consider who might be exposed to the danger. Will it be all staff or only office staff, warehouse or printworks, kitchen or similar specialist areas, building services, IT, external contractors, cleaners, delivery drivers, visitors etc. Especially consider any person with disabilities, agency staff, young or inexperienced staff or workers such as on work experience, lone workers and visitors; they might be especially vulnerable to the hazards. When considering each group who might be exposed, also add in the rough maximum numbers that might be exposed to the hazard at any one time. Against each hazard and group, then enter what the anticipated injury consequences of the hazard occurring might be.
Step 3 / Have measures or steps already been taken to minimise or prevent the hazards observed from happening. Are there adequate warning signs? Has there been full information, instruction and training given? Is there supervision? Are there systems and procedures in place as to how to carry out the job or repairs etc? Do these precautions meet with recognised standards and are they enforced? List all precautions currently in place and taken.
Step 4 / Assess or Evaluate the Risk. Decide for each of the hazards listed, what the risk might be after taking into consideration the current precaution measures. Each hazard must be classified as Low, Medium, or High according to scale.
Step 5 / Additional Measures. Are there immediate actions that can be taken to reduce the risk level, such as instruction/training. The priority must be given as follows: Eliminate, Reduce, Isolate, Control and if none of these possible only then consider PPE and lastly Discipline. Additional measures must be reasonable and capable of being done and complied.
Step 6 / Use this completed risk assessment to write a Safe System of Work, which is a procedure for staff or contractors to follow when attempting to complete the task assessed and incorporates all the controls and additional measures

2007/v1.0