Risk Assessments

1. Policy

The purpose of risk assessment is to identify hazards and evaluate any associated risks to health and safety arising from the University’s activities, enabling informed decisions to be taken to eliminate or minimise any risk of harm.

Under Regulation 3(1) of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 the University has a duty to make a suitable and sufficient assessment of the risks to the health and safety at work of employees and others (including students) who may be affected by our operations.

It is the responsibility of the Dean or Director of the Faculty or Professional Service to ensure that risk assessments are conducted by their staff (and where required by students) in respect of the activities carried out under their control. These risk assessments must be recorded and the relevant individuals need to be notified of the significant findings. Risk assessments can also assist in the identification of requirements for, and levels of, instruction, information, training and supervision that may be required for the activity.

Risk assessments do not have to be complicated; the level of detail contained in them should be

relevant to the level of the risk involved with the activity. In some cases a risk assessment may

lead to the clarification and documenting of local team/service protocols and procedures that are often already in place. The analytical process involved with risk assessment and control can also result in efficiencies to existing processes being identified.

Managers throughout the University are responsible for taking action on any points raised during the risk assessment process to eliminate any identified risks or to reduce them to an acceptable level.

Where, as a result of the risk assessment process, residual risks remain unacceptably high, then a formal written safe system of work must be compiled in order to identify and implement a higher level of control over the risks presented by the activity. Such instances should always be brought to the attention of the Dean or Director of the relevant Faculty or Professional Service.

Links to Associated Documents / Risk Assessment - Staff Intranet
BU On-Line Risk Assessment Tool
On-Line Risk Assessment Tool Guidance - [Word]
On-Line Risk Assessment Tool Guidance - [PowerPoint]
Risk Assessment - Training Dates

2. General Principles of Harm Prevention

Bournemouth University has made a commitment in section 5.2 of its Health & Safety Policy to promote a culture of health and safety practice leading to the avoidance or reduction of risk and ensure compliance with all relevant legislation. The main principles of risk management are defined in legislation as:

  • Avoiding risks.
  • Evaluating the risks which cannot be avoided.
  • Combating the risks at source (e.g. physical methods rather than signs indicating danger).
  • Adapting the work to the individual, especially as regards the design of workplaces, the choice of work equipment, the choice of working and production methods, with a view to reduce any negative effect on health.
  • Adapting or redeveloping processes to technical progress.
  • Replacing the dangerous by the non-dangerous or the less dangerous.
  • Developing a coherent overall prevention policy which covers technology, organisation of work, working conditions, social relationships and the influence of factors relating to the working environment.
  • Giving collective protective measures priority over individual protective measures
  • Giving appropriate instructions to employees.

3. Assessment Tools

The University has developed an ‘on-line Risk Assessment Tool’ for employees to use in assessing general risks. Training is available for those that need to carry out risk assessments and to assist staff who may have difficulties using the on-line tool to carry out risk assessments.

Training documents are accessible from the ‘Risk Assessment’ section of the Health, Safety & Wellbeing intranet pages.

Risk assessments for the following specific activities have their own forms and advice is available to guide employees through their use and application. These are assessed separately using specific forms and not by using the on-line tool:

  • Hazardous Substances (COSHH)
  • Manual Handling
  • Display Screen Equipment (DSE)

4. Training

As well as receiving bespoke training in the role, Health & Safety Coordinators in each Faculty/Professional Service are encouraged to attend an ‘Introduction to Risk Assessment’ session delivered by the Health, Safety & Wellbeing Team. The Health & Safety Coordinators will thereafter be able to offer support to colleagues in undertaking assessments.

In addition, it is University policy that all Academics and key staff (who are responsible for staff, students, others or in arranging events/activities) are also trained in risk assessment.

5. Risk Assessment – general points

The University has several ‘layers’ of risk assessment to facilitate for very specific assessments to be recorded as well as a wider strategic approach to the management of risk.

The on-line risk assessment tool will significantly improve the University’s position in terms of the ability to hold a central repository of all risk assessments – providing the further opportunity to capture a BU wide risk matrix, feeding into the corporate risk register.

Regular updates on the University’s position in relation to risk assessment and levels of legal compliance are submitted to the health and safety committee and on to ULT.

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