General Risk Assessment Template

Directorate:
Parks and Countryside / Section/Division

All Sections

/ Person carrying out assessment

Scott Porter

/ Date of assessment 18.01.08
Brief description of task being assessed

Removal of Sharps

Hazards
List the hazards
These may include slips, trips, falls, manual handling, handling substances, fire, violence, threat etc. / Needle sticks and sharps
Uneven surfaces
Dense vegetation
Working in public places
Who might be harmed?
This may include visitors, service users, contractors, employees, etc / Employees
Members of the public
Control measures
What do you have in place already to control the risk?
These may include elimination of the process, substitution of product for a safer alternative, maintenance of equipment, safe systems of work, training, use of Personal Protective Equipment
Comment if these are still effective in practice and whether they meet legal requirements. / A pre-vaccination is only required for the following high risk groups
·  Health Care Workers who have direct contact with blood and body products
·  Care home workers
·  Laboratory Staff
·  Mortuary Staff
·  Prison Staff etc
All other groups will receive a programme of post vaccinations when necessary
All staff issued with PPE, i.e. gloves, safety boots.
All staff with access to relevant equipment, i.e. litter pickers sharps box and first aid kit
Training provided for staff on removal of sharps, risk assessments and first aid
Procedures in place for safe removal of sharps, dealing with needle stick injuries
COSHH Assessment and Risk Assessment complete and issued to staff
Level of risk
With the existing control measures, comment on the level of risk - is it high, medium or low?
See chart on right to help decide level of risk / Low - Medium / Classification / Severity / Likelihood / No of people
High / Death / Likely / >40
Medium / Serious Injury / Possible / 5-40
Low / Bruises, sprains etc / Unlikely / 1-4
Action
What else needs to be done to reduce the risk and meet legal health and safety requirements?
Include details of who is responsible for taking the action and the timescale to be met.
Also describe monitoring arrangements / Specific risk assessment for site and activity conducted by staff prior to commencing work – All involved in task
Ensure training requirements and maintain up-to-date – Managers
Training spreadsheet in place to monitor new starters and when training renewals are due.
Information on handling needles issued to all staff
Review
Record details of reviews here.
The assessment should be reviewed if an adverse incident occurs, or the nature of the work changes. Reviews at regular intervals, depending on the nature and degree of risk, should also take place.

For further help and advice, contact your Directorate Health and Safety Adviser or Occupational Health Nurse.

General Risk Assessment template Corporate Occupational Health and Safety 2006