RISK ASSESSMENT PROCESS - University of …€¦ · RISK RISK ASSESSMENT ASSESSMENT Mechanical Engineering Engineering January 2011 Mark Mark Hoare Health and Safety Manager The University

RISKRISK ASSESSMENTASSESSMENT

Mechanical Mechanical EngineeringEngineering

January 2011January 2011

MarkMark HoareHoareHealth and Safety Health and Safety ManagerManagerThe University of BirminghamThe University of Birmingham

Course ContentCourse Content

Introduction to health and safetyIntroduction to health and safety

How heath and safety is managed at the How heath and safety is managed at the UniversityUniversity

Risk assessment in theoryRisk assessment in theory

Risk assessment in practiceRisk assessment in practice

WHAT IS HEALTH & SAFETY?WHAT IS HEALTH & SAFETY?

Health and Safety is Health and Safety is notnot the absence of the absence of accidents or ill healthaccidents or ill health

BUTBUTthe result of taking positive action to the result of taking positive action to identify identify causescauses and and implementimplement and and maintainmaintain suitable suitable preventive measurespreventive measures to eliminate risk or to eliminate risk or reduce risk to an acceptable reduce risk to an acceptable level.level.

What is an acceptable level?What is an acceptable level?

TimeTimeMoneyMoneyEffortEffort

The greater the The greater the riskrisk the more resources the more resources that need to be put into controlling the that need to be put into controlling the

riskrisk

WHY BOTHER WITH HEALTH & WHY BOTHER WITH HEALTH & SAFETY?SAFETY?

PeoplePeople

TheThe LawLaw

CostCost of of AccidentsAccidents

UniversityUniversity’’s reputations reputation

£

LAWLAW

Mainly the Health and Safety At Work ActMainly the Health and Safety At Work Act–– --and regulations made under itand regulations made under it

Also Also ‘‘Duty of careDuty of care’’

UniversityUniversity’’s Policy interperate the laws Policy interperate the law

safe plant and equipmentsafe plant and equipment

safe systems of worksafe systems of work

safe handling, transport and storagesafe handling, transport and storage

information, training and supervisioninformation, training and supervision

safe access and egresssafe access and egress

safe environmentsafe environment

safety policysafety policy

trade union consultationtrade union consultation

Employer’s duty to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare of all his employees. In particular:

HSWA Section 2

Similar responsibility towards non employees

EmployeeEmployee’’s s duty while at work:duty while at work:to take reasonable care of his own and other to take reasonable care of his own and other peoplespeoples’’ health and safetyhealth and safetycoco--operate with employersoperate with employers

No person shall interfere with or misuse anything provided for health, safety or welfare.

HSWA Sections 7 & 8

Fire at Southampton University -Cost of £millions-to deal with immediate incident-to rebuild-to relocate world class research work-reputationPlus stress on all levels of staff and students

HOW is H&S ORGANISED and HOW is H&S ORGANISED and MANAGED?MANAGED?

UNIVERSITY LEVEL‘The University’ via the VC & Senior Staff

Heads of College

Supported by:University ‘Workplace Wellbeing’ TeamUniversity Policy, Guidance and Rules

COLLEGE LEVEL

Workplace Wellbeing TeamWorkplace Wellbeing Team

DirectorDirector MrMr David HarrisonDavid Harrison

Health and Safety UnitHealth and Safety Unit

Occupational HealthOccupational Health

Staff Support ServicesStaff Support Services

[Sustainability and Environmental Advisor][Sustainability and Environmental Advisor]–– Dr Trevor ShieldsDr Trevor Shields

www.intranet.bham.ac.uk/university/hsu/advice.shtml

HEALTH & SAFETY HEALTH & SAFETY PHILOSOPHYPHILOSOPHY

H & S MUST BE MANAGEDH & S MUST BE MANAGED

the creator of the risk must control the riskthe creator of the risk must control the risk

prevent accidents, incidents, ill health before prevent accidents, incidents, ill health before they occurthey occur

assess risk and target resourcesassess risk and target resources

the greater the risk the more resources to the greater the risk the more resources to control the riskcontrol the risk

NEED TO MANAGE THE RISKNEED TO MANAGE THE RISK

IdentifyIdentify foreseeable hazardsforeseeable hazards

in orderin order

to prevent or control themto prevent or control them

toto

recognised standardsrecognised standards

and be able toand be able to

demonstrate that it is being done and the demonstrate that it is being done and the correct standards are being achievedcorrect standards are being achieved

Examples of Accidents in Mechanical EngineeringExamples of Accidents in Mechanical Engineering

Lifting a flywheel, slipped through his fingers onto footLifting a flywheel, slipped through his fingers onto footCoolent to grinder stopped, dust extraction caught fireCoolent to grinder stopped, dust extraction caught fireSpark from a linisher hit person in the eyeSpark from a linisher hit person in the eyeCut finger on swarfCut finger on swarfDie on press failed and hit person in faceDie on press failed and hit person in faceUsing emery paper on lathe, caught hand on chuckUsing emery paper on lathe, caught hand on chuckSteel bar being moved slipped through fingersSteel bar being moved slipped through fingersPiece of hot weld went down a studentPiece of hot weld went down a student’’s backs backInjured back lifting post bagsInjured back lifting post bagsCut arm using hack sawCut arm using hack sawUsing bench drill without clamping work and cut fingerUsing bench drill without clamping work and cut finger

Risk AssessmentRisk Assessment

HEALTH & SAFETY AT WORK HEALTH & SAFETY AT WORK ACT 1974ACT 1974

Requires employers to ensure the health, Requires employers to ensure the health, safety and welfare of their employees and non safety and welfare of their employees and non employees employees

How can this be done without assessing the How can this be done without assessing the risks they face?risks they face?

MANAGEMENT OF HEALTH & MANAGEMENT OF HEALTH & SAFETY AT WORK REGS 1999SAFETY AT WORK REGS 1999

Specifically requires employers to Specifically requires employers to carry out risk assessmentscarry out risk assessments

–– Employers must make Employers must make suitablesuitable and and sufficientsufficient assessments of risks to assessments of risks to employees and other persons arising from employees and other persons arising from or in connection with their conduct or or in connection with their conduct or undertaking undertaking for the purpose of identifying for the purpose of identifying control measurescontrol measures

ProcessProcessIdentifyHazard

AssessRisk

Manage the Risk

Monitor Review Improve


DEFINITIONSDEFINITIONS

HAZARDHAZARD–– something with the something with the

potential to cause potential to cause harmharm

g\winppt\riskass\1


AssessRisk

DEFINITIONSDEFINITIONS

HAZARDHAZARD–– something with the something with the

potential to cause potential to cause harmharm

RISKRISK–– the likelihood of the likelihood of

that harm being that harm being realisedrealised

g\winppt\riskass\1

Clear identification of hazardsClear identification of hazards

What are the risks from the What are the risks from the hazards?hazards?

ProcessProcess


AssessRisk

Manage the Risks

Identify those who may be harmed and numbersIdentify those who may be harmed and numbers–– young persons/studentsyoung persons/students–– physical impairmentphysical impairment–– pregnantpregnant–– strength/height strength/height –– immunoimmuno--compromisedcompromised

Take account of Take account of –– Some may be regulars in workplace, some notSome may be regulars in workplace, some not–– Staff, students, visitors, contractors, maintenance, cleaners, pStaff, students, visitors, contractors, maintenance, cleaners, patients, public etc.atients, public etc.–– Different levels of competence, knowledge, Different levels of competence, knowledge, awareness, languageawareness, language etc.etc.–– Away from campus, travelling, fieldwork etc.Away from campus, travelling, fieldwork etc.

ExistingExisting controlcontrol measuresmeasures–– Are they Are they adequate?adequate?

What more do I have to do?What more do I have to do?

ProcessProcess Assess the RiskAssess the Risk

Evaluating the riskEvaluating the risk–– Separate significant from insignificant risksSeparate significant from insignificant risks

ProcessProcess Evaluate RiskEvaluate Risk


OutcomeOutcome–– No injury / minor / major / fatalNo injury / minor / major / fatal




Clarify why risks are significantClarify why risks are significant–– consequenceconsequence–– probabilityprobability–– frequencyfrequency–– numbers affectednumbers affected




Clarify why risks are significantClarify why risks are significant–– consequenceconsequence–– probabilityprobability–– frequencyfrequency–– numbers affectednumbers affected


Can the risk be accepted?Are existing controls Ok?Are more controls required


AssessRisk

Manage the Risks by:

Elimination/SubstitutionSeparation

Controlling to Acceptable Level by:

ProceduresSystems

Instructionsi.e.Method Statements

Personal Protective Equipment Warnings

ProcessProcess Controlling the RiskControlling the Risk

Can the hazard be removed altogether?Can the hazard be removed altogether?

If not, how can risks be controlled so that If not, how can risks be controlled so that harm is unlikely?harm is unlikely?

Hierarchy of controlsHierarchy of controls–– eliminate or substituteeliminate or substitute–– engineering controlsengineering controls–– administrative controlsadministrative controls–– personal protective equipmentpersonal protective equipment–– information and instructioninformation and instruction

ControlsControls–– consider competenceconsider competence–– consider emergencies etc.consider emergencies etc.–– must be maintained and monitored for effectiveness must be maintained and monitored for effectiveness

Controlling the riskControlling the risk–– Is there University policy/guidance?Is there University policy/guidance?–– Is there HSE guidance?Is there HSE guidance?–– Is there an industry/research standard?Is there an industry/research standard?–– Apply hierarchy of controlsApply hierarchy of controls–– Consider competencyConsider competency–– Identify emergency proceduresIdentify emergency procedures–– Health surveillance may be requiredHealth surveillance may be required

ProcessProcess Controlling the RiskControlling the Risk

Management Guidance

Manual HandlingElectrical TestingFire LaddersBiological SafetyIonising RadiationPressure SystemsCarcinogensEtc….

Risk AssessmentSupervisionWork EquipmentConfined SpacesLaboratory WorkWork Station DesignOfficesYoung PersonsEtc…...

Local plans/organisation

University Health & Safety Policy & Strategy

Specific Policies Specific Guidance

http://www.hsu.bham.ac.uk

www.intranet.bham.ac.uk/university/hsu/

ProcessProcess Using the Assessment Using the Assessment

UseUse the assessment outcomethe assessment outcome–– proceduresprocedures (including emergency)(including emergency)–– instructionsinstructions–– methods of workmethods of work

Communicate to those who need to know Communicate to those who need to know –– studentsstudents–– shared premisesshared premises–– contractorscontractors–– visitor etc.visitor etc.

Record of the assessmentRecord of the assessment–– SignedSigned–– DatedDated–– Specify review dateSpecify review date

ProcessProcess RecordingRecording

Laboratory Worker Severely BurnedLab worker sustained severe chemical burns when she was splashed with a hot beaker of perchloric acid. She was moving a beaker of the liquid which was at 200 degrees C when it slipped from her grasp, spilled onto her clothes and burst into flames. Her leg also caught fire. She had five operations and will have permanent scarring. She was not wearing any personal protective clothing.

Company fined £25,000. Judge said “they had no proper procedure in terms of safety procedure, equipment and training…….the company fell lamentably short of the standards required.”

East Anglian Daily Times

Risk Assessment?Risk Assessment?

One accident canlead to another

A Student modified a TV to take headphones.

He did not know that the set was a live chassis type.

The phones were live at 350vwhen he used them.

He received severe shock and burnsand was rendered unconscious.

Also, as he fell he pulled the TV setdown on him and his shoulder wasbroken.

Specific Risk Assessments Specific Risk Assessments Required ForRequired For

Display Screen Assessment Display Screen Assessment

Manual HandlingManual Handling

Hazardous Substances (COSHH)Hazardous Substances (COSHH)

DSE Checklist http://www.hsu.bham.ac.uk/univ/pdfs/dsechkl.pdf


AssessRisk

Manage Risks by

Elimination/Control to

Acceptable Level

Monitor Review

ProceduresSystems

InstructionsWarnings

i.e.Method Statement

REVIEW & REVISEREVIEW & REVISESignificant changes, revise assessmentSignificant changes, revise assessment

–– workplace changes, new substances, procedures, workplace changes, new substances, procedures, equipment etc.equipment etc.

Good practice to review anywayGood practice to review anyway

Some assessments (COSHH) must be Some assessments (COSHH) must be reviewed at specific periodsreviewed at specific periods

DonDon’’t amend for trivial changest amend for trivial changes

Walk round, look, ask people, look at accident Walk round, look, ask people, look at accident statistics, manufacturerstatistics, manufacturer’’s instructions, data s instructions, data sheets etc.sheets etc.

Case Study

Working at height

Hazard –working at heights –falls, well known

Risk –high, well known

Eliminate

Control •Work at height regulations•University guidance on work at heights

•Competent Contractors•Selection of equipment•Training of operatives•Supervision•Inspection arrangements•Monitoring arrangements

Case Study

Storage of flammable and hazardous materials

Risks knownFollow University’s Hazardous Substances Policy-particularly storage section.

Inspect against this plus housekeeping issue

Risk assessment may consider:

Are loose gas cylinders required?-pipe in direct from a permanent installation

Is such a large quantity of oil required?

Inspection may consider:

Who is responsible/why such a mess?

Why was the rubbish not cleared away?-supervision

SummarySummary

Understand activityUnderstand activityIdentify hazardsIdentify hazardsIdentify those who might be harmedIdentify those who might be harmedEvaluate the riskEvaluate the riskControl the riskControl the riskRecord the assessmentRecord the assessmentReview and reviseReview and revise

Use the assessment to formulate procedures etc.Use the assessment to formulate procedures etc.

RISK ASSESSMENT PROCESS - University of …€¦ · RISK RISK ASSESSMENT ASSESSMENT Mechanical Engineering Engineering January 2011 Mark Mark Hoare Health and Safety Manager The University

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