RISK ASSESSMENT GUIDELINE

RISK ASSESSMENT GUIDELINE

The University Health and Safety Policy requires Heads of Budget Centres to ensure that risk assessments are carried out for all activities under their control.

There is a statutory requirement ( The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1992 ) to carry out risk assessments.

If assessments have already been carried out under existing legislation (i.e. COSHH, Manual Handling assessment etc.) there is no need to repeat this assessment but it MUST be referred to under the Control Measures box.

What is a risk assessment ??

A risk assessment is nothing more than a careful examination of what, in your work, could cause harm to people

It is carried out in order to weigh up whether you have taken enough precautions or should do more to prevent harm.

The aim of a risk assesment is to make sure that no-one gets hurt or becomes ill.

The important things you need to decide are

1) Whether a hazard is significant

2) Whether you have it covered by satisfactory precautions so that the risk is small.

For instance, electricity can kill (so the hazard is significant) however in an office the risk of it doing so is remote - provided that 'live' components are insulated and metal casings are earthed.

There are 5 steps to in assessing risks in the workplace.

	1)	Look for the Hazards
	2)	Decide who might be harmed and how.
	3)	Evaluate the risks and decide whether the existing precautions are adequate or whether more should be done.{Whilst evaluating the risks you may have to carry out further risk assessments such as COSHH etc.}
	4)	Record your findings.
	5)	Review your assessment and revise it if necessary.
	6)	Don't be overcomplicated, mostly it is common sense, for instance, do you have machinery that could cause harm ?? if so have you taken reasonable precautions to avoid injury.

HAZARD means anything that can cause harm (e.g.. Electricity, chemicals, ladders, VDU's, floor surfaces, etc.
RISK is the likelihood (high or low) that someone will be harmed by the hazard.

More............................ When to carry out a risk Assesment. >>>