1. What is a Risk Assessment?
 Believe it or not you do them everyday!
 This training module has been created
by:
 Mary N Harris ~Senior Security Specialist

2. Risk Assessment
 Risk Assessment Decision Matrix provides guidance on
establishing hazard categories as a starting point for evaluating
risk. This framework can be used in any situation where death,
system loss, or property, equipment or environmental damage is a
concern. These categories require understanding the particular
product or process being evaluated, and what the terms mean to an
individual operation. Consider the following definitions of
categories of hazard severity.
Created by Mary Harris ~ Security Specialist December 2011

3. What Is Risk?
 Risk: A combination of the probability of the occurrence of
harm and the severity of that harm.
 Harm: Physical injury or damage to health of people.
Note: This may be a result of direct interaction with the
[machine] or indirectly as a result of damage to property
or to the environment
 Hazard: A potential source of harm.

4. What is risk?
 Residual risk: Risk remaining after protective measures have been
taken
 Risk assessment: The process by which the intended use of the
machine, tasks and hazards, and the level of risk are determined. (see
matrix)
 Protective measures: Design, safeguards and complementary
protective devices, administrative controls, warnings, work
procedures, training or personal protective equipment used to
eliminate hazards or reduce risks.

5. Performing risk assessments
 This training module will help you understand the
steps needed to take in order to perform a proper risk
assessment.
 Created by mnh 12/8/11

6. Decision matrix on risk assessment
 Catastrophic (1)~ Death, system loss, devastating property
damage or environmental damage
 Severe (2)injury or occupational illness, major system or
environmental damage
 Marginal (3) Minor injury, minor occupational illness, or
minor system or environmental damage
 Negligible (4) Less than minor injury or occupational illness,
or less than minor system or environmental damage

7. Probability Level Category
Parameters
 Frequent (A) Likely to occur frequently
 Probable (B) Will occur several times during a product’s life cycle or person’s life span.
 Occasional (C) Likely to occur some time during a product’s life cycle or a person’s life span.
 Remote (D) Unlikely, but possible to occur during a product’s life cycle or person’s life span.
 Improbable (E) So unlikely it can be assumed the occurrence may not be experienced.

8. Occurrence Probability
Occurrence Catastrophic Critical Marginal Negligible
probability
A~ Frequent
B~ Probable
C~ Occasional
D~ Remote
E ~ Improbable

10. 5 Simple Steps to Conduct a Risk Assessment
 Identify the hazards ~ Take a walk around, talk to employee’s
 Decide who could be harmed and in what way ~ Establish groups that are affected
by the risks and hazards you identified in your search. People that are not in the
workplace everyday- contractors, cleaners, visitors, etc. Various types of employees- new
employees, expectant mothers, those with disabilities all face different types of risks in
the workplace.
 Establish Control Measures ~ Identify how you manage the risks at present and what
further steps might be required to reduce the risks further as noted by law.
 Record the findings of your assessment and inform those at risk of the
controls.~ What is your course of action, as some hazards can be easily fixed
immediately, whereas some require more time to correct? A timeline is also
useful to help establish temporary solutions for dealing with the hazards that
will take longer to correct in full. Identify, assign and put a date on the
responsibilities of those involved carrying out any of the changes Review the Risk
Assessment on a regular basis

11. 5 Simple Steps to Conduct a Risk Assessment
 Review the Risk Assessment on a regular basis: Changes are always occurring in the
workplace in order to remain current with policies and procedures. As these changes
take place, it is important asses these areas when implemented into your workplace to
reduce risk. Remain up to date on incidents that take place at work. Handle incidents
immediately and record the actions taken to reduce the risk from occurring again- this
allows you to remember to check up on this area during your formal risk assessment.
Make your risk assessment an annual event.

12. Occurrence Probability
Blank worksheet
Occurrence Catastrophic Critical Marginal Negligible
probability
A~ Frequent
B~ Probable
C~ Occasional
D~ Remote
E ~ Improbable