Risk Assessment
What is a risk?
A risk occurs when a person is within the vicinity of a hazard, and exposed to the possibility of harm.
A risk assessment is simply 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. Staff, students and others have a right to be protected from harm caused by a failure to take reasonable control measures.
Accidents and ill health can ruin lives and affect the University too if output is lost, machinery is damaged or insurance costs increase. It is a legal requirement that risks are assessed in the workplace and plans put in place to control the risks.
The law does not expect all risks to be eliminated, but requires that people be protected as far as ‘reasonably practicable’. This guide tells you how to achieve that with a minimum of fuss.
How to assess the risks in your workplace
Follow the five steps:
1) Identify the hazards
2) Decide who might be harmed and how
3) Evaluate the risks and decide on precaution
4) Record your findings and implement them
5) Review your assessment and update if necessary.
Risk control
Risk Control involves deciding what needs to be done to eliminate or control the risks to health and safety. Where possible, you should always try to remove or eliminate the problem from the workplace, for example by using a different process, or changing the way a job is done.
If it is not possible to eliminate the hazard, the Hierarchy of Risk Control must be used to determine the most effective measures to minimise the risks.
Hierarchy of risk control
1) Design or reorganise to eliminate the hazard from the workplace: try to ensure that hazards are designed out when new materials, equipment and work systems are being planned for the workplace
2) Remove or substitute the hazard: where possible remove the hazard or substitute with less hazardous materials, equipment or substances
3) Enclose or isolate the hazard: this can be done through the use of barriers, introducing a strict work area, enclosing a noisy process from a person
4) Minimise through engineering controls: this can be done through the use of machine guards, effective ventilation systems etc
5) Minimise the risk by adopting administrative controls: establish appropriate procedures and safe work practices such as job rotation to reduce exposure time or boredom; timing the work so that fewer employees are exposed; routine maintenance and housekeeping procedures; training on hazards and correct work methods
6) Personal Protective Equipment: provide suitable and properly maintained personal protective equipment and ensure employees are trained in its proper use (examples include gloves, earplugs etc.).
To download FKE Lab Safety Check list, Click Here.