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2.3 How Risk Assessments Are Carried Out
Almost anything can be a hazard in some circumstances. So first list every task you manage, with:
- the place where each activity happens
- the people who are involved
- the equipment that is used
- the activities that are carried out
Rough sketches or photographs of the areas can help. A risk assessment does not have to be complicated. Concentrate on the significant hazards, those that could cause serious harm or affect several people.
Step 1: Identify the hazards
Walk around the workplace and look for anything that could reasonably be expected to cause harm. Look at the location, the equipment and the activities, and at how people really do the work.
- Observe the locations you manage. Is there enough space to work comfortably? Is the environment safe for the job? Include shared areas such as corridors and stairs. Do not miss an assessment because two managers each assumed that the other was responsible for an area.
- Assess the activities. Look at each activity before and while it is done, both routine and non-routine. You are also responsible for people who visit, such as contractors, visitors, members of the public and even trespassers. Do not forget young workers, trainees and expectant mothers, who may have additional needs.
- Assess equipment and substances. Think about plant, machinery and substances, whether permanent or temporary. Are they fit for purpose? Were they installed as the maker directs, and are they used that way? When equipment such as a photocopier or lifting equipment is shared, agree with the other managers who will assess it.
Talk to your staff and their representatives. They may have noticed hazards that you have not.
Step 2: Estimate the risks
For each task and hazard, be clear about who might be harmed and how. Think about workers on site and off site, for instance sales representatives and engineers who travel and have no fixed place of work. Some people have particular needs, such as new or expectant mothers or people with disabilities. Remember visitors, contractors and the public, and young workers, who have been found to have more accidents than older workers.
Then weigh up how serious each risk is. Consider three things: who might be harmed and how, how likely it is that something goes wrong, and how serious the outcome would be.
Take window cleaners using a ladder on a three storey block of flats. How likely is a fall? It depends on the stability of the ladder, the condition of the rungs, the footwear and the lighting. Rank the likelihood on a three point scale:
| Score | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| 1 Low | It is unlikely that the event will happen. |
| 2 Medium | It is fairly likely that the event may happen. |
| 3 High | It is likely that the event will happen. |
Then consider the consequence. It depends on the height of the fall, whether anything helps to stop it and what the person lands on. Rank it on a three point scale:
| Score | Consequence |
|---|---|
| 1 Low | Minor injuries needing first aid, such as grazes or small cuts. |
| 2 Medium | An injury needing medical help, such as cuts needing stitches or broken bones. |
| 3 High | Major injuries such as amputations, dislocated bones or death. |
Now estimate the risk: low, medium or high. Remember that risk = likelihood × consequence.
If the ladder is robust and secure, the likelihood of a fall is low (1). A fall from the lowest rungs would be low in consequence (1), and a fall from the top rungs high (3). The two risk levels are 1 × 1 = 1 and 1 × 3 = 3. If the ladder is in poor condition, insecure and on uneven ground, the likelihood is high (3), and the risk levels are 3 × 1 = 3 and 3 × 3 = 9.
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