P4 M3 D1

Risk Assessment In The Workplace

Objectives
By the end of this presentation you will know:
What risk assessment is;
Where the need for risk assessment comes
from; and
The principles behind carrying out a risk
assessment.

Risk Assessment - What Is It?

1. Identification of hazards within the
workplace.
2. Determining the likelihood that these
hazards will cause harm.
3. Prioritising prevention and control
measures.

What is a Hazard?
Something with the potential to cause
harm

Examples: Electricity, Hazardous substances,

Working at Heights, Vehicles, broken
equipment, blocked passageways.

What is Risk?
The likelihood of harm resulting from a
hazard
Risk = Severity x Probability
Harm is death, injury, illness (including
psychological) or disease that may be
suffered by a person from a hazard or a risk

Control Measures

Avoid risk
Combat risk at source
Adapt work to the individual
Substitution
PPE/Training

The Legal Position

Health & Safety At Work Etc Act 1974
General duty to ensure health, safety and
welfare at work of all employees so far as is
reasonably practicable.

COST

RISK

Management of Health & Safety

at Work Regulations 1999
Legal duty on employers to carry out risk
assessments as first step in ensuring safe
and healthy workplace
Written record (5 or more employees)
Identify preventive and protective measures
Review assessments if no longer valid
Risk assessments must be Suitable and
Sufficient

What Is Suitable & Sufficient?

Identify all hazards

Identify specific regulations
Systematic approach
Include non-routine operations
Identify who is at risk
Take existing control measures into account

Activity 1
Hazards and Risks
Terminology - fill in the gaps

Creating a safer workplace involves 3 steps:

1. Find the hazard
2. Assess the hazard
3. Fix the Hazard.

Brainstorm
What hazards are staff and students exposed
to in the college.
Think of classrooms (not just business
classrooms science labs, motor vehicle,
woodwork, electrical, communal areas,
canteen, car parks, library, equipment used ,
other people, etc.
Activity 2: group work complete hazard
table.

So we have looked at :
- Find the hazard
- Assess the hazard - (we will refer to Risk
Matrixes later in the class)
Now how do we fix the hazard?
Let us first look at the hierarchy of risk
control. Using the cards given by your tutor
put them in order of what you think would be
the most effective risk control method to the
least effective.

Hierarchy of Risk Control

This is a strategy used to identify the most
suitable control option.
Eliminate the hazards or risks
- eliminate the hazard or eliminate the risk

Change the risks to reduce them

- Substitute the risks with lesser risks

- reduce the risks through engineering changes or
changes to systems of work
- isolate people from the risks

Contd:
Change people to reduce the risks
Reduce the level of harm using administrative
actions
Use personal protective equipment to protect
people from harm.

 Remember: - although elimination is the

best solution, as it gets rid of the hazard all
together, it is not always possible.
Elimination of a hazard may mean that a
vital function can no longer be carried out
or the cost may far outweigh the benefits.
When this occurs you move down the list
until you have a fix that is practical and
reasonable, relative to the level of risk.

Risk assessment and control

Now we know how to identify hazards and
assess them we have to be able to determine
the level of risk. Not all hazards lead to
severe risk. We can identify major,
moderate and minor consequences that arise
from the likelihood of an event occuring.
A risk assessment matrix is used to assist in
determining the level of risk.

 The level of risk is determined by looking at

the likelihood that the event (risk) will
occur and how serious the consequences or
impacts are of that risk occurring.

5 Steps to Risk Assessment

1. Look for and list the hazards
2. Decide who might be harmed and how
3. Evaluate risks arising from hazards and
decide whether existing controls are
adequate
4. Record the findings
5. Review assessment when necessary
HSE 5 steps to risk assessment

Interactive Activity
Before we identify risks and hazards in the
college let us see what you can recognise in
the office situation.
HSE Office Risk assessment
Remember look at the questions asked as
these can be helpful when it comes to
assessing risks and hazards in your
assignment.

Classroom Assessment
Complete the HSE Classroom checklist.
Discuss what further action is needed
Complete a RA matrix to assess the level of
risk.

Standards for Action

Low Risk Action within 1 month
Medium Risk Action within 2 weeks
High Risk Stop job until action completed

Remember!
Risk Assessment is a means to
an end, not an end in itself!

Fun Risk Assessments!

RISK-ED
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