1 Risk Assessment

1. 1Risk Assessment • Domestic Arrangements • Outline of training session • Presented by Vincent Theobald & Katherine Ramskill • University Safety Office1 Park TerraceTel. 6274

2. 2Outline of Session • Hazard and risk • What is Risk Assessment • Safety Legislation • Basic Risk Assessment Method • More details about Risk Assessment • COSHH as an example of Risk Assessment

3. 3What is Risk Assessment • Hazard is : anything that can cause harm (e.g. chemicals, electricity, working at height etc.) • Risk is : the chance, high or low, that somebody will be harmed by the hazard. • There are other definitions - but these are provided by the HSE in the book “Five steps to risk assessment” which is generally accepted as the basic fundamental guide to risk assessment.

4. 4Further definitions • Hazard is : the potential to cause harm • Risk is : the likelihood that the substance will cause harm in the actual way that it is used

5. 5Further definitions • Is this drum in a factory store room a High Hazard or a High Risk ?

6. 6Further definitions • Is this same drum in a high street a High Hazard or a High Risk ? • Has the Hazard changed ?

7. 7Hazard Spotting Exercise

8. 8What is Risk Assessment • Risk Assessment is: A Tool for the identification, elimination and control of Risk. A process for the management of Risk. A legal requirement. A generic term for many forms of assessment used in the management of workplaces.

9. 9Purpose of Risk Assessment • This varies depending on which legislation has called for the assessment to be undertaken but the primary purpose can be summarised as fulfilling the principles of prevention - in other words preventing accidents, injury and ill health. • Records need to be maintained to Make information available to others working on the project or in the same area. Provide proof the assessment was done. Provide evidence in the future of the work undertaken.

10. 10Safety Legislation (1) • Health & Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. • Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999.These replace the 1992 version.

11. 11Safety Legislation (2) • Examples of other legislation requiring specific Risk Assessments to be undertaken. Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regulations The Noise at Work Regulations Manual Handling Operations Regulations The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations The Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations The Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations

12. 12Safety Legislation (3) • Suitable and Sufficient assessment of- risks to employees at work- risks to others affected by the undertaking to ensure statutory requirements are complied with. • Review as appropriate. • Record in writing. • Risk Assessment must use the Principals of Prevention detailed which are:-

13. 13Principals of Prevention • Avoiding risks. • Evaluating the risks which cannot be avoided. • Combating the risks at source. • Adapting the work to the individual. • Adapting the technical progress. • Replacing the dangerous by the less or non-dangerous. • Developing a coherent overall prevention Policy. • Giving collective protective measures priority over individual protective measures. • Giving appropriate instructions to employees.

14. 14Stages of Risk Assessment 1 Consider tasks, activities and situations toIdentify hazards. 2 In particular identify those who may be exposed or particularly at risk. 3 Evaluate the risk and access risk levels.Consider suitable risk control measures in addition to existing controls. 4 Record the findings 5 Review the assessment and revise it If necessary.

15. 15Who is at Risk ? • The most common error in basic risk assessments is to not include all the people who may be at Risk from the operation or substance. • In particular • Contractors • Visitors • Cleaners • Maintenance

16. 16Stages of Risk Control • Undertake a Risk Assessment. • Provide training/information as necessary. This may be specified in the Risk Assessment. • Implement risk control measures, as specified in the Risk Assessment or accompanying Method Statement. • Ensure staff understand the controls. • Monitor the measures required by the Risk Assessment. • Review and introduce any corrective actions. Repeat the Risk Assessment process.

17. 17Controls available Protective measures can include all or any of the following • Engineering Controls • Protective Clothing • Instruction and Training • Method Statement for how the work is to be undertaken • Permit to work system • Signs and Information sheets • Measures to mitigate an event (e.g. special first aid)

18. 18Engineering Controls • Engineering controls are the best way to remove the person from the source of the risk. Always better than protective clothing and equipment

19. 19Basic Risk Assessment Exercise

20. 20When to do a Risk Assessment • Risk Assessments should initially be undertaken whenever a potential hazard may be present. • They should be formalised whenever a significant hazard is identified. • They need to be recorded in writing whenever a significant risk is present, and communicated to all those that are involved with the work (even peripherally). • They need to be revised when things change. (more later)

21. 21Outcomes - Risk Assessment • The Risk Assessment should result in a clear statement as to what must be done to control the risks identified. • It is common for this statement to be expressed as a Method Statement. For High Risk work a Method Statement is an essential management document. • Under some conditions the Method Statement may be replaced or supported by a Permit to Work system. This is particularly the case where the Risk can be eliminated or controlled by specific actions before work commences.

22. 22Conditions Prompting Review • For all forms of Risk Assessment there are times when the assessment needs to be reviewed. The following are specific times when a reassessment should be done. • Following an incident (or complaint) • A change in the system or methods used (e.g. introducing a new item of equipment or switching to a different cabinet. • New or changed information from the supplier. • Changed guidance or legislation (see USO for info.)

23. 23Risk Assessment example • Because Risks change through time the suitable and sufficient or adequate solutions at one time may not be adequate at another time. • On the overhead projector is a plan for the Victorian School with a playground yard. The School is given a playground on the other side of the road in 1930. • Examine the risks through time.

24. 24Special assessment techniques • Each of the additional Regulations that specify use of the Risk Assessment Tool have specific risk assessment tools that they use. • We will look at COSHH and BioCOSHH (a University specific addition) as a special case. • There are also techniques for : Noise, Manual Handling, Asbestos, Lead and others all of which differ slightly to account for special circumstances.

25. 25COSHH • The main hazards being examined for here are Health Effects from the use of chemicals. • Short Term effects include • Skin / Eye irritations • Headaches, Dizziness, Nausea, Unconsciousness • Long Term effects include • Cancers • Lung and Skin diseases • Liver / Kidney dysfunction

26. 26Primary routes of entry

27. 27“It does what it says on the tin”

28. 28“It does what it says on the tin” Data sheets exist for all potentially dangerous chemicals and most other substances (including wood dust). In the main they can be got from the suppliers. However there are also many databases some of which are availiable from the Safety Office website.

29. 29Means of Control • Eliminate the Hazard - e.g. don’t use it. • Substitute the problem chemical with a safer option • Enclose the process • Use engineering controls (such as exhaust ventilation) • Operate with a Safe System of Work (such as permit to work schemes and explicit Method Statements) • Use Personal Protective Equipment (the last resort)

30. 30Control (cont.) • Maintain the systems • Test the equipment • Monitor exposure levels • Undertake Health Surveillance

31. 31PPE Personal Protective Equipment must be: • Suitable for the Hazard • Looked after and Maintained • Suitable for the users • Used by trained people

32. 32COSHH forms • The COSHH form is therefore used to collate the information in a standard form so that is is • accessible • clear • comprehensive • The information should include the specific details of any controls needed including specialist training required • e.g. Oxygen Resuscitation training and RPE needed for working with significant quantities of Cyanide

33. 33Guidance • The USO website has links for information on MSDS, Carcinogens, selection of gloves and much more at www.ncl.ac.uk/internal/safety/chem/ • The HSE has information on COSHH at www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/index.htm