Risk Assessment & Study Example

1. Risk Assessment
By
Jim McCann

2. The following slide show is for guidance only, it will
demonstrate the principles of assessing Risks within
the work place as set out in the Approved Code of
Practice (ACOP) The Five Steps to Risk Assessment,
issued by the Health and Safety Executive, and
complies with the requirements set out in the
Management of Health and Safety Regulations 1999
In the example situation, there may well be more and/or
different hazards to consider. The points raised here
are not meant to be comprehensive and have been
chosen for the purpose of illustration.

3. RISK
ASSESSMENTS
What is a risk
assessment?

4. Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 .
Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992
Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992 (PPE);
Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment Regulations 1992
Noise at Work Regulations 1989
Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 1999 (COSHH);
Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 1987
Control of Lead at Work Regulations 1998
‘The risk assessment provisions in all these regulations say that your assessment
of risks must be either 'adequate' or 'suitable and sufficient'. These mean the
same thing and tell you that you do not have to be overcomplicated. In deciding
the amount of effort you put into assessing risks, you have to judge whether the
hazards are significant and whether you have them covered by satisfactory
precautions so that the risks are small’
Five steps to risk assessment INDG163(rev)
1998

5. A risk assessment is nothing more than a careful examination
of what, in your work, could cause harm to people, so that
you can weigh up whether you have taken enough
precautions or should do more to prevent harm. The aim is to
make sure that no one gets hurt or becomes ill. Accidents and
ill health can ruin lives, and affect your business too. You are
legally required to assess the risks in your workplace.
The important things you need to decide are whether a
hazard is significant, taking into account any contributory
factors and whether you have it covered by satisfactory
precautions so that the risk is small.

6. Hazard means
anything that can
cause harm
Risk is the chance,
high or low, that
somebody will be
harmed by the
hazard.

7. EXAMPLE
Working from ladders, obviously the risks increase
with the height, however there may be other
contributory factors that will increase the risks e.g.
weather conditions wind and or rain, where the work
is being carried out, the structure onto which the
ladder is placed, the surface on which the ladders are
being used will increase or decrease the risks of
working on ladders.
Contributory factors may change rapidly and without
warning.

8. What do I
need to do
as an
employer?

9. As an employer you are legally obliged
under the Management of Health and
Safety at Work Regulations 1999 to carry
out a risk assessment of the significant
risks in your workplace. Where there are
five or more employees a record should be
kept.

10. How detailed will
your assessment be?

11. This will depend on the type of operations and tasks
performed. The assessor should look at the overall
operations or tasks that employees are required to
perform. This may involve assessing the operation or
task at different times of day and or under different
environmental conditions.
Significant findings of the assessment should be
recorded and a record kept. It may be helpful to use a
checklist to aid this process.

12. FIVE STEPS TO
RISK
ASSESSMENT

13. STEP 1
Identify the
Hazard

14. Look only for hazards which you could reasonably
expect to result in harm under all the conditions in your
workplace. Use the following examples as a guide:
• Manual Handling Operations (e.g. Gates )
• Vehicular traffic movement
• Electrical Equipment
• Chemicals, corrosive or toxic substances
• Hot or extremely cold articles or substances
• Radiological processes
• Biological processes, products or Natural
• Stress at work (e.g. System of work , lack of welfare
facilities)
• Environment (e.g. Noise, Exhaust Fumes, Climatic
conditions )

15. Slipping/tripping would not be considered as a hazard unless
as it is a consequence of e.g.
Uneven poorly maintained roads , pathways , surfaces or
where slippery substances or conditions are found.
In other words unless there is something that would
contribute too, cause or increase the risk of slipping or
tripping .
Remember only significant findings (hazards or risks) need
be recorded

16. STEP 2
Who might be
harmed?
Staff
Operators
Members of the public
Contractors

17. There is no need to list individuals by
name – just think about groups of people
doing similar work or who might be
affected by the work being done e.g.
Consideration must also be given to
Pregnant women and Young persons for
certain activities. A persons capacities,
abilities and or disabilities must also be
taken into account when assessing risks.

18. STEP 3
Is more needed to control the risk?

19. For the hazards listed, do the precautions already taken:
· Meet the standards set by a legal requirement?
· Comply with a recognized industry standard?
· Represent good practice?
· Reduce risk as far as reasonably practicable?

20. Common sense is probably the most important factor,
talk to the people who do the job they are often in the best
position to know.
You may also have to refer to the appropriate legislation ,
Regulations or Codes of Practice. To check whether the
duties are ‘in so far as reasonably practicable ‘ or ‘absolute
duties’ E.g. Guards and Emergency stops on certain
machines , prime movers and Presses are absolute duties.
Examples of Statutory Acts / Instruments;-
•The Health and Safety at Work etc Act
•The Factories Act
•Management of Health and Safety at work Regulations
•COSHH Regulations
•Manual handling Regulations
•Provision and use of work place equipment Regulations
•The Working Time Regulations

21. Have you provided
· Adequate information, instruction , training and supervision,
Plant , machines and environment that are safe ?
· Adequate systems of work or procedures? (e.g. Emergency procedures,
Defect reporting, maintenance and inspections)
Provision for the safe handling and storage of articles or substances that
may cause harm ?.
If so, then the risks are adequately controlled, but you need to indicate
the precautions you have in place. Where the risk is not adequately
controlled, indicate what more you need to do.

22. CHECK
Do your employees know where to look or who to
ask for advice and instructions. Have they been
adequately trained.
If the answer is no then go back a Step

23. STEP 4
Record your findings

24. Remember only significant findings need to be
recorded, however you still have to let people
know what is being done and what they have
to do.

25. •STEP A
Vehicular traffic entering / exiting
Mechanical / Electrically operated Gates
Manually operated Gates
List significant
hazards here:

26. The findings should be recorded and the staff
concerned informed and instructed as to their
outcome and of the safe method of work.
If you decide there are no risks to health, or the
risk is minimal this does not need to be
recorded.

27. •STEP B
•List groups of people who are
at risk from the hazards you have
identified

28. •STEP C
•List existing controls or note where the
information may be found.
•List risks which are not adequately
controlled and the action needed:

29. STEP 5 Review and revision
On review check that the precautions for
each hazard still adequately control the
risk. If not indicate the action needed.
Note the outcome. Making changes in your
workplace may introduce new hazards.
Look for them and follow the five steps.

30. EXAMPLE

31. STEP 1
HAZARDS
 MOVING VEHICLES
 ELECTRICAL / MECHANICALLY
OPERATED GATES AND BARRIERS
 MANUALLY OPERATED GATES
 PEDESTRIANS (even people can be a
hazard)

32. HAZARDS & CONTRIBUTORY
FACTORS
 ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
 ENVIRONMENT; EXPOSURE TO CLIMATIC
VARIATIONS,
 BIOLOGICAL ( Midges)
 NOISE EXPOSURE TO FUMES / EXHAUST
 VIOLENCE / ABUSE

33.  Driver fatigue, influence of alcohol / drugs, vehicle
condition and excessive speed.
 Road surface wear and tear.
 Ice , fuel / oil spills reducing road surface friction co-
efficiency
 Glare indices (Direct, Indirect and reflective) see
Handout on lighting.
 Shift working, Tiredness and Stress
 Slips & Trips

34. STEP 2
Who is at risk from the significant hazards
 Staff on Access control duties
 Staff
 Contractors
 Visitors
 General public

35. STEP 3
Assessing the risk from the
identified Hazards and
contributory factors

36. HAZARD CONTROL MEASURES
ADEQUATE TO CONTROL THE HAZARD OR TO REDUCE OR
ELIMINATE RISKS Y/N
• Extra manning at times of high volume
• Traffic control wands
• CSO directing traffic and pedestrians
• PPE HIGH VISIBILITY JACKETS AND VESTS ,
MOVING VEHICLES
• Training and supervision
• Separation of vehicles & pedestrians via pedestrian gates
• Emergency stop buffer strip on gate
• Maintenance and defect reporting systems
• Emergency stop on gate and barrier controls
ELECTRICAL /
• Flashing lights and claxon when gate moves
MECHANICALLY
OPPERATED GATES
• Training and supervision
• Manual Handling Training and supervision
• Maintenance and defect reporting systems
• i.a.w. Manual Handling Regulations
MANUALLY
OPERATED GATES

37. • One way system in operation during in musters,
• extra manning,
• Reduced opening, traffic wands, CSO controlling traffic
movement,
• Training and instruction
Traffic
management • I.a.w. Standing orders and Post Instructions
• Emergency stop, controlled / separation from a distance
• Defect reporting
• Instruction and training
Electrically
operated barrier • Maintenance i.a.w. The Factories Act, Electrical Regulations
• To reduce speed of vehicles entering /exiting the car park
• Speed restrictions
• i.a.w Standing orders
Traffic calming

38. •Speed restrictions approaching check points
•Traffic control wands
•Warning signs
•Defect reporting systems
•Training and instruction
•Traffic cones
•All signage In accordance with Signs and
Signs and signals / road signals Regulations
markings

39. • Systems of work that allow adequate breaks
and reduce exposure times
• Provision of rest & toilet facilities
• Drying room and dryer
• Management training recognising Stress
• Supervision
• Alcohol / drug policies
Welfare • Violence / harassment policies
• WELFARE at Work REGULATIONS

40. •Defect reporting
• CSO required to keep post tidy
• Electrical equipment tested
• Electrical Regulations, PUWER
•Roads and paths swept, sanded/ gritted as required
Good house
keeping
• Systems of work to reduce exposure times
• Issue of foul weather clothing
•Heaters
• Insect repellent and Gas operated insect trap
• Defect reporting
• Sun block
•Dip Headlights warning notices
• Maintenance and defect reporting
• Lighting
ENVIRONMENT

41. • Emergency reporting procedures as set down in
standing orders
• Defect reporting
• Training and supervision
• Airwaves radio training
• Telephone
EMERGENCY • Report of Injuries Dangerous Occurrence
Regulations, Accident reporting & Major Accident
PROCEEDURES & Hazard Regulations
COMMUNICATIONS • Training and supervision

42. • High visibility Jackets and Vests
• Boots to provide toe and ankle protection ,
Thermal and water resistant qualities
PPE • Uniform foul weather clothing
• PPE Regulations, Standing Orders
&
Uniform

43. • The Slope, is reported as contributing to
back pain by staff. Also increases stopping
distance for traffic entering the gates
• The shelter is draughty , cramped, with no
installed heating and poor lighting,
seating is unsuitable.
ERGONOMICS
Contributory factors in the • No access to toilet facilities, exacerbated
during nightshift when there is no one
layout of the New North Gate
available to act as a relief

44. REVISE
For the hazards · Meet the · Comply with a
listed, do the standards set by a recognized
precautions legal requirement? industry standard?
already taken: y/n y/n
· Reduce risk in so
· Represent good
far as is reasonably
practice? y/n
practicable? y/n
ARE THE INSTRUCTIONS AND TRAINING ADEQUATE y/n

45. IF THE ANSWER IS NO TO ANY OF THE PREVIOUS
THEN GO BACK TO STEP 3. REVISE AND RECORD
WHAT MEASURES NEED TO BE TAKEN TO
CONTROL THE RISKS
IF THE ANSWERS ARE
YES THEN YOU ARE
CONTROLING THE RISKS

46. Moving Vehicle Hazard
Pedestrian Access / Egress
 Due to the FASLANE 360 Protests the pavement
outside the North Gate is fenced off requiring
Pedestrians who wish to gain access to enter via the
Main Gate.
 This presents an increased hazard to pedestrians
 A higher level of vigilance and control of Vehicles is
required by Gate Staff on Traffic Control Duties in
order to allow safe access to pedestrians.

47. PPE and Uniform
 Issues are being looked into by the Clothing
Committee and will be revised

48. ERGONOMICS
 Speed restrictions and warning signs maybe required,
staff awareness / training
 Rotations in place to limit exposure times.
 Portable heaters supplied

49. AFTER AN ACCIDENT OR NEAR MISS
IF ANYTHING
CHANGES
SET A DATE / TIME FOR
A REVIEW
INVOLVE THE TRADE
UNIONS SAFETY REPS
AND EMPLOYEES
DO NOT JUST FILE AND
FORGET