Introduction: To introduce this module, ask delegates what risks theyve taken today.

Ask delegates to call out their answers. If no one responds, ask them a specific question for example, did any of you drive into work today? or did you make a hot drink this morning?

Remember: Risk is part of everyones life we cant avoid risks but we can put things in place to manag e them effectively.

Scenario 1: Learning to drive involves a degree of risk. Because they were learning, theyd have had a qualified instructor sitting next to them, so the risk would have been well managed.

Explain to delegates that the cyclist is a hazard. If the driving instructor hadnt been there, the cyclist might have been knocked off his bike. So the risk has been well managed.Scenario 2:Imagine that they own a warehouse distribution company. The warehouse is an old building and the roof is in need of some repair. The delegates are concerned about poor weather, since this could damage the building and its contents. In these circumstances, rain would certainly be a threat to the building and its contents. A few moments of rain, sleet or snow wouldnt make any difference, but a long downpour would be much more of a problem. So the question they have to ask is: how likely is it to rain? If they decided to do nothing about the roof, and one night it did rain, the extent of the damage would depend on the contents of the warehouse and their value. The contents could be plastic garden furniture designed to be outside in all weathers, which can be easily dried off. In this case thered be little damage.

If the contents were television sets, theyd be completely ruined by the rain. Stock would have to be written off at a large cost to their company.

If the contents were television sets, theyd be completely ruined by the rain. Stock would have to be written off at a large cost to their company.

On top of that, they might conclude that the chance of a downpour happening at all is much higher in the winter than in the summer. So, if they were trying to decide whether to fix the roof or leave it in its current condition, theyd probably ask themselves two questions: what are the chances itll rain, and what could get damaged if it did?

Hazard: a hazard is anything that has the potential to cause harm. This could be something as specialized as a piece of complicated machinery, or as commonplace as a cup of coffee. If it could be harmful in any way, then its a hazard. Hazardous Event: hazardous event takes place when someone or something interacts with a hazard, and harm results. Remember: theres a hole in the ground. The hole (the hazard) by itself isnt causing any harm, but if someone tripped over it (the hazardous event), itd become harmful.Examples: A trailing cable is a hazard and tripping over the cable is a hazardous event Electricity is a hazard and a person coming into contact with a live electrical conductor is a hazardous event.

Remember: Every hazardous event has a likelihood and consequence.Likelihood: Likelihood is a measure of the chance that the hazardous event will occur.Consequences: Consequence is the outcome of the hazardous event.

Result of hazardous event: 1. Serious injury 2. No injury, with damage to the box and its contents only.

Risk: risk is the combination of the likelihood of a hazardous event occurring and the consequence of the event. Risk assessing Scenario 1: Wet floor

- Whats the hazard? - whats the hazardous event? - Whats the likelihood? - Whats the consequence? Answer: Explain to delegates that the hazard is the Wet floor. The hazardous event is slipping on the wet floor. The likelihood of this hazardous event depends on how many people are walking in the area. The wet floor is close to a main walkway and it seems to be nearly one oclock a time when people will be going to lunch. So we might consider that its likely that someone will slip. The consequence of slipping may be nothing other than damaged pride, but we might consider the probable consequence to be an injury that would need medical attention. Alternatively, if we assume that its the middle of the night and that there are fewer people around, the likelihood of the hazardous event occurring is lower.

Risk assessing scenario 2: Running workerAnswer: Explain to delegates that the hazard is rushing around. The hazardous event is stumbling. The likelihood of tripping will depend on the unevenness of the surface, the condition of the workers footwear, how hes moving and how tired he is. The consequence, as in the previous example, may range from nothing to a serious injury.

Risk assessing scenario 3: Latex GlovesAnswer: Explain to delegates that the hazard is latex gloves. The hazardous event is an allergic reaction to latex. The likelihood is dependent on whether the worker has a latex allergy. The consequences of handling latex gloves will vary. For people who arent allergic, therell be no adverse consequences. However, for those who are allergic, the consequence could be fatal.

Risk assessing scenario 4: CO BoilerAnswer: Explain to delegates that the hazard is incomplete combustion (leading to carbon monoxide emission). The hazardous event is human exposure to carbon monoxide. The likelihood of carbon monoxide exposure will depend on how well the boiler is working and particularly on how well the combustion process is working. The consequences may include tiredness, drowsiness, headaches, giddiness, nausea, vomiting, and pains in the chest, breathlessness, stomach pains, erratic behaviour and visual problems and ultimately death.

Risk assessment: Risk assessment is a means of making sure that the most serious workplace risks are managed by cost-effective control measures. Assessing risks allows delegates to prioritize the action they take to control them. In this module we discuss how to assess risk. In Module 3, well look at ways of controlling risk. Or A risk assessment is a careful examination of anything in the delegates workplace that could cause people to suffer injury or ill health while theyre at work.

Benefits of carrying out risk assessment: Explain to delegates that carrying out risk assessments helps them to meet their legal requirements. All employers and self-employed people have a legal obligation to carry out risk assessments. If they dont, they could face prosecution and fines. Carrying out risk assessments helps them to demonstrate good business practice and improve business performance. Understanding the risks that face their business will help them to manage it better, with:

potential cost savings reduced insurance premiums enhanced reputation. Carrying out risk assessments helps them to tell whether theyre doing enough to protect their workforce and others from harm. Are they, for example, providing enough:

training information personal protective equipment health surveillance

Legal Requirement: The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 require that all employers and self-employed people do risk assessments on the health and safety hazards in their workplaces. If you employ five people or more, you need to record the assessments in writing. That said, it's a good idea to write them down anyway so that you have a written record. While undertaking risk assessments helps employers to meet their legal obligations, there are many other benefits to be gained, too.

How risk assessment protecting the workforce and others from harm? Risk assessment allows valuable information to be gathered to help with: changing unsafe working practices assessing current and future training needs identifying groups at risk (members of staff, contractors, visitors, customers, members of the public) identifying specific hazards that need specialist advice evaluating the effectiveness of current control measures (such as supervision, machinery guarding, personal protective equipment).

Case studies

Case study 1 A nurse, who had a long history of back complaints, was required to do work involving heavy manual handling of patients. She wasnt sent to the occupational health department to assess her fitness. The work aggravated her injuries and resulted in surgery and retirement on grounds of ill health. She claimed compensation from her employers and was awarded 16,000. The judgment recognized the failure of the employer to carry out a manual handling risk assessment.

Case study 2 A kitchen designer and manufacturer felt that he wasnt realizing the full potential of the workforce he wanted to get them more involved in all aspects of the business. Weekly meetings now cover everything, including risks! The business owner commented: Since weve been talking about risk, were more aware of potential hazards in 16 months we havent had a single injury.

Case study 3 A company providing services to the travel industry assessed the risks of its shrink-wrapping facilities. As a result, it was able to reduce the risk of manual handling injuries to employees, get staff involved with risk assessment and develop better business processes. The company is now aiming for quality management certification and also targeting bigger customers, who expect to see proof that their suppliers are taking health and safety seriously.

Remember: Accidents and ill health can have a devastating effect they can ruin lives and businesses.

Risk Assessment: First stage of carrying out a risk assessment is to make a list of the work tasks that are their responsibility. Anything in their workplace that they manage the activities that take place, the people involved in those activities, the equipment they use and the different locations they work in can be a hazard in some circumstances. Thats why its essential that they make a list of everything they manage.

Advise: The best way to do this is to walk around the workplace and see for themselves whats going on. If they dont do this, its possible that a hazard could be overlooked and therefore not included in the risk assessment.

Key stages of risk assessment: The key stages in the risk assessment process are: 1. List work tasks what do workers do and where do they do it? 2. Identify the risks what are the hazards, who might be harmed and how? 3. Estimate the risks whats the likelihood the hazardous event will happen and what might the consequences be? 4. Evaluate the risks what action do you need to take to deal with the risk? 5. Record your findings what do you need to note? 6. Review your findings when do you need to revisit your assessment?

1: Identify work tasks

where are the tasks taking place? (location) whos doing them? (people) what are they doing them with? (equipment) what are they doing? (activities)

2: Identifying the risks

This step in the risk assessment process is best carried out using multiple sources of information: observe the physical layout at each location and the activities being carried out speak to workers and their representatives (as appropriate) to find out if they consider anything in the workplace to be a hazard inspect relevant records, for example accident records, manufacturers instructions or data sheets read up on the hazards relevant to the activities taking place.

Hazard checklists are a useful way to record the hazards identified and can be used when taking regular tours or walks around the workplace. In many cases, the hazards identified in these workplace tours may not need a formal risk assessment. For example, a trip hazard from a trailing cable can be remedied immediately by taping over the cable and in the longer term by rerouting the cable. However, if you use only a walk-through tour to identify hazards, theres a possibility that a hazard may not be present at the time of the tour. Taking advantage of all the options to identify hazards gives a more complete picture.

3: Estimate the risk This involves the estimation of the Likelihood Consequence

Factors affecting likelihood When were assessing likelihood, we need to consider any factors that may influence the chance that the hazardous event may occur. For example, in the case of the window cleaner falling from the ladder, we need to consider a number of factors, for given weather conditions, including: the stability of the ladder the condition of the rungs the type of footwear the lighting levels.

More generally, factors that can be useful in estimating likelihood are: the number of people doing the task, how often they do it and for how long any work pressures, such as productivity bonuses the competence of the workers whether current risk controls are adequate environmental conditions, such as the weather.

Factors affecting consequence When were assessing consequence, we need to consider any factors that may influence the seriousness of a hazardous event. For example, in the case of the window cleaner falling from the ladder, we need to consider: the height of the fall whether theres anything to help stop the fall what the person falls onto. However, remember the comments made about considering consequence as a distribution of probable outcomes. Low falls can lead to very serious injuries, especially if people land on their heads; conversely, people have been known to fall more than 6 metres and land on their feet, suffering only slight injury. More generally, information sources that are helpful in deciding consequences include: potential for harm (toxicity data, dimensions) potential magnitude of the harm history of the harm potential population at risk.

4: Evaluate the risksRisk rating Action

1-2 Acceptable no further action but ensure controls are maintained

3-4 Tolerable look to improve

6-9 Unacceptable take immediate action

Designed 5 matrix by delegate The consequences could be ranked as: Insignificant no injury Minor minor injuries Moderate up to three days absence Major more than three days absence Catastrophic death.

Risk rating Action

1-4 Acceptable no further action but ensure controls are maintained

5-9 Adequate but look to improve at review

10-16 Tolerable but look to improve within specified timescale

17-25 Unacceptable stop activity and make immediate improvements

5: Recording your findings

Now theyve completed the risk assessment, theyll need to record their significant findings, either electronically or as a paper copy. This is not only good practice but its also a legal requirement if they employ five or more people.

It doesnt matter what form they use to record their findings it could be a risk assessment form similar to the one on page 40 of their workbooks, or one of their own. What matters is that the information they record about the activity for example, the hazard, the likelihood and consequence of the hazard, and the risk level is all there. In general, its helpful to record: Details of the person carrying out the risk assessment The date and time of the assessment Details of the location, equipment and activity theyre assessing The hazards theyve identified, together with the risk level Existing control measures and how well they work The date for review of the assessment. 6: Review your findings Its good practice to review assessments annually or sooner, especially if changes occur or new information comes to light. Some examples are:

after new legislation after an accident after new equipment or procedures are introduced.

Where risk ratings are low, regular reviewing is still necessary in order to ensure that the risk rating stays low.

Work activity/equipment/location Hazard

1 Passing a pen to a colleague Throwing the pen across the office

2 Electrically powered equipment Overloaded sockets electric shock, power failure or fire

3 Carrying a heavy computer Musculoskeletal problems

4 Working under pressure Anxiety and stress

5 Working at a workstation Musculoskeletal problems

6 Computer screen position Glare from the sun

7 Carrying drinks Slip and trip

8 Storing bags Slip and trip

9 Accessing files Standing on chair

10 Reading while walking Slip and trip

11 Handling broken toner cartridge Hazardous substance

12 Boxes holding open fire door Fire

Work activity/equipment/location Hazard

1 Working without gloves Food contamination

2 Manager shouting at employee about the time Bullying

3 Using forklift while smoking Fire

4 Boxes stacked high on a pallet Forklift driver cant see where hes going

5 Stacking boxes Twisting while stacking boxes

6 Working without a hat Food contamination

7 Eating and drinking Food contamination

8 Leaking machine Slip and trip

9 Working under pressure Anxiety and Stress

10 Leaning over machine Poor posture

11 Potatoes on the floor Slip and trip

12 Walking across a non-pedestrian area Transport

13 Carrying boxes Size and shape of load

14 Visitors not wearing PPE Food contamination

Work activity/equipment/location Hazard

1 Working on scaffold Falling from height

2 Pallet of bricks Bricks falling

3 Working with no hard hat Being hit by a falling brick

4 Carrying bricks Straining

5 Using a mitre saw Flying debris/trailing cable

6 Lifting gravel with shovel Damaged hands

7 Manual handling twisting while digging Musculoskeletal problems

8 Looking at site plans Falling down nearby hole

9 Using pneumatic drill Noise and vibration exposure

10 Working near heavy vehicles Being run over

11 Trailing cable Trip and slip

12 Pedestrians walking by Exposure to work activities

13 Metal plate under scaffold Trip and slip/scaffold stability

14 Open hole Someone could fall down it

15 Scaffolding It could collapse and injure someone