What is a hazard & What is risk?

The difference between Risk & Hazard and Steps to Risk Assessment.

What is a Hazard?

A hazard is anything which can cause you harm. For example: Oven cleaning chemicals, electricity, working on ladders, etc.

What is a Risk?

Risk is the chance, great or small, that someone will be harmed by the Hazard. For example: If you are cleaning the oven with corrosive cleaner without gloves and apron there is a great risk of being harmed, whereas if you wear all the protective clothing and gloves and adhere to all safety precautions the risk is low. If you change the chemical to a safer type and adhere to all precautions the risk will be even lower.

Risk Assessment

Five Steps to Risk Assessment

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
4. Record your findings
5. Review your assessment and revise it if necessary.

1. Look for Hazards:

Walk around the workplace and look afresh at what could reasonably be expected to cause harm, ask a colleague or someone from another section or department to accompany you and encourage him to question your viewpoint. Ask those who work in the area, what they think, they may have noticed things which are not immediately obvious. Involves the identification of hazards arising from the tasks or activities being undertaken:
1. Work at heights, and access to/egress from it. (e.g. roof-works, ladders, steps)
2. Work below ground level and in confined spaces (e.g. tanks, ducts, trenches).
3. Rider-operated and pedestrian-controlled vehicles.
4. Manual handling of loads.
5. Work with electricity (portable tools, extension leads).
6. Substances hazardous to health.
7. Display Screen Equipment (VDUs).
8. Pressure vessels/vacuum works.
9. Flammable liquids and gases.
10. Machinery and plants (machinery requiring guarding).
11. Grinding/milling machines, woodworking machines.
12. Portable power tools.
13. Reversing vehicles.
14. Noise.
15. Disposal of special waste.
A draft list of all significant hazards must be produced before proceeding any further.

2. Decide Who Might be Harmed:

Requires the assessor to decide who might be harmed and how. Generally it will be staff and workers occupying the workplace but attention must also paid to:
- Contractors.
- Inexperienced staff.
- Visitors.

3- Risk Assessment

Involves assessment for risk rating, for example high, medium or low. There are different methods for doing this; a popular method establishes a risk rating for each hazard by multiplying a "probable frequency rating" by a "severity rating".

Risk = Probability X Consequence

Consequences:

If harm was to occur due to the hazards identified, how serious it would be, e.g. minor, major, fatality etc. How many people could be affected? Could any of the people be from more vulnerable groups’ e.g. young people, lone workers, disabled etc. Example- Working at Height: If these three workers fell down from these heights, the consequences will be different.







Probability:

How likely it is that in reality the hazards would cause harm e.g. highly unlikely, unlikely, likely. Example – working at height The probability of falling off an edge is more likely the closer you are working to it.






Risk:

For each hazard identified, evaluate the consequence and probability to gauge the level of risk. From there, action to reduce the risk can be planned.




Control:

Any risks identified in your assessment should be eliminated or reduced “as far as reasonably practicable” and certainly must meet legal requirements, comply with industry standards and be in line with “best practice”.
If the assessment finds that there are unacceptable levels of risk, controls must be implemented. Certain control measures are considered to be more effective than others – consider the following options in order of priority:

o Elimination - Don’t do the task/use the chemical etc.
o Substitution - use a different method/chemical etc.
o Engineering Controls - enclose the area to avoid human contact, guard machinery, ventilation, etc.
o Work Organization - reduce number affected/duration of exposure set safe systems of work etc.
o PPE - use as a last resort as it relies on correct use, timely replacement etc.
Note: Combinations of measures can of course be used.

The implementation of control measures should be planned. A timescale for completion should be agreed and a person should be assigned responsibility for ensuring implementation. To help interpret risk and to help priorities control measures, the following table should be used:

4- Recording of Findings:

Is the recording of the assessment, which must be a formal written record. Each significant finding must be recorded, this means:
 Write down the most significant hazards.
 Note the people affected by the hazard.
 Record the most important conclusions, for example:

1. Electricity - Insulation and earthing found sound, no further action required. All items of electrical equipment inspected and tested regularly and found in good working order.
2. Fumes from Welding - Local exhaust extraction provided, used and checked and found sound, no further action, required.
3. Slippery Steps - No existing precautions. Non-slip paint, or a similar product, to be applied to steps. Steps to be regularly cleaned and inspected for condition.

 Inform all employees, and other affected, of your findings during the risk assessment. This should be done through Sectional meetings, staff meetings, notice boards or given directly to individuals.
 Keep the risk assessment form for future reference and pass a copy to the head of section for action.

5- Review

Review the assessment from time to time and revise if necessary. If there is a significant change to the workplace (e.g. adding new machinery, substances and procedures) you should reassess to take into account the additional hazards and risks.