1.
Risk Assessment
Disbudding
Author: Gemma May
Date:11/01/2023
Review date: 6 months or when the need for review occurs

2.
Risk is an unavoidable part of everyday life, in our job
as vet techs there are even more, however the jobs still
need to be done, a risk assessment will aid us in doing
this as safely as possible!
Risk assessments are a legal requirement under the
Management of Health and Safety at work Regulations
1999.
The process of a Risk Assessment, identifies the
hazards, what risks are presented from that hazard,
who/ what is at risk. It also rates the risk for purposes
of management prioritisation and puts measures in
place to reduce the risk.

3.
There are multiple risks in the task of disbudding, however I
have chosen a select few to demonstrate how the risks would be
assessed.
Risk Assessment - Disbudding
Hazards
Identified
Risk identified Who/ what is at risk Likelihood Severity Risk rating Control measures
Unpredicta
ble
behaviour
of the
animal(s)
 Injury to person by kicking,
crushing, butting, being trodden
on.
 Injury to animal by faulty
equipment, mishandling, sudden
movement causing incorrect
placement of the needle or
disbudding iron, slipping, and
running into things in a panic.
 Person carrying out the
task,
 The animal,
 Farm staff,
 Contractors,
 Visitors,
 Public.
Likely low -
High
Moderate  Ensure the person carrying
out the task has received
training in animal handling
and is competent and
confident to carry out the
task.
 Ensure handling facilities are
in place and fit for purpose.
 The person carrying out the
task should be wearing steel
toe cap footwear
appropriate for the task.
 The person carrying out the
task should be fit and able.

4.
Fail to prepare, Prepare to fail

5.
Forgive me I ran out of time!
Risk Assessment - Disbudding
Hazards
Identified
Risk identified Who/ what is at risk Likelihood Severity Risk rating Control measures
Use of a
flame.
 Burns to person and or
animal (s)
 Flammable straw bedding
catching alight
 Burning iron being knocked
over.
 Person carrying out
the task,
 The animal,
 Farm staff,
 Contractors,
 Visitors,
 Public.
Likely Low -
High
Moderate  The person carrying out the
task to be trained,
competent and confident in
the use of the disbudding
iron.
 When not in use the iron
should be either off or on a
stable base/table that is out
of reach of the animals or
other that can knock it over.