Risk Assessment

Index

Introduction
Action by Heads
Perceived Risk
Guidance Documents

Appendix 1 - General Risk Assessment Form. A copy of a General Risk assessment form can be downloaded from the following site - General Risk Assessment Form (RTF, 12 KB)

Introduction

Under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations Schools/Units are required to:

assess risks to the health and safety of staff and anyone who may be affected (e.g. students and visitors) in order to identify the measures needed to be taken to comply with relevant health and safety legislation. A record should be kept of the significant findings of the risk assessment;

make arrangements for implementing the health and safety measures identified as being required by the risk assessment. Arrangements for planning, organisation, control, monitoring and review will need to be covered;

The purpose of risk assessment is to help to determine what measures should be taken to comply with duties under the "relevant statutory provisions". Trivial risks can usually be ignored as can risks arising from routine activities associated with life in general, unless work actively compounds those risks.

The University Health and Safety Policy, together with local School/Unit health and safety rules and guidance, identifies hazards common to much of the University's work activities and the foreseeable associated risks. These publications identify the University/School/Unit rules and procedures for controlling many of the common risks, and, as such can be considered to comprise a generic assessment of risks to health and safety for the activities considered.

In many cases, it will be appropriate for a written risk assessment to refer to existing local codes of practice on health and safety. The changing face of work may however result in new transient risks associated with novel activities. In such cases risk assessment becomes the responsibility of the immediate supervisor of the work in question. While risk assessments may be compiled by other employees and students the supervisor must always approve the assessment and the risk control measures prior to the commencement of the work.

A risk assessment involves identifying the hazards present in the workplace whether arising from the work activity or from other factors (e.g. the layout of the premises) and the risks arising therefrom, the persons at risk and the appropriate control measures. Particular attention should be paid to any risks which might be encountered by young inexperienced workers, particularly students, or those who may work alone.

The Head of School/Unit must be satisfied that risk assessments are being competently completed, that they relate to the actual working practices and that they are reviewed when necessary.

Action by Heads

Heads are expected to ensure that their School/Unit takes the initiative and carries out a systematic survey of all work places/work activity in order to identify significant hazards to make suitable and sufficient risk assessments and to keep appropriate records.

Perceived Risk

Staff and/or Students should be advised that, with respect to written risk assessments, should they have a major concern regarding their perception of the risks/risk management they should, in the first instance, raise the matter direct with the Supervisor of the project.

Guidance Documents

Approved Code of Practice and Guidance "Management of health and safety at work" (2000) HSC

Guidance on Risk Assessment (1994) University of St. Andrews

Five Steps to Risk Assessment INDG163(rev1)1998 HSE

A copy of a General Risk assessment form can be downloaded from the following site -

General Risk Assessment Form (RTF, 12 KB)

Appendix 1

UNIVERSITY OF ST. ANDREWS

GENERAL RISK ASSESSMENT

School/Unit/Residence .......................................................................................

Title of work activity ..........................................................................................

Description of work activity: ...............................................................................

...........................................................................................................................

Description of significant hazards: (e.g. Slipping/tripping; Stress; Fire; Work at Height; Pressure Systems; Electricity; Dust; Fumes; Manual Handling; Noise; Poor Lighting; Low temperatures; Vehicles; Moving parts of machinery)

............................................................................................................................

Groups who may be at risk: Staff with disabilities Inexperienced Staff
Academic Staff Office Staff Maintenance Staff Technicians

Cleaning Staff Postgraduates Undergraduates Lone Workers

Contractors Visitors Members of the Public

Others (Please specify) ......................................................................................

List existing controls and decide whether these precautions are adequate or more are required.

Has adequate information, instruction and training been given?

Are adequate systems or procedures in place?

Check that - Standards set by legal requirements are being met

- Generally accepted industrial standards are in place

- Precautions represent good practice

- Precautions reduce risk as far as reasonably practicable

.............................................................................................................................

List outstanding risks and the action to be taken where it is reasonably practicable to do more:

Give priority to those risks which affect large numbers of people and/or could result in serious harm. Apply the following principles, if possible, in the following order:

* Remove the risk completely;

* Try a less risky option;

* Prevent access to the hazard (e.g. guarding);

* Organise work to reduce exposure to the hazard;

* Issue personal protective equipment;

* Provide welfare facilities (e.g. washing facilities for removal of contamination

and first-aid);

Risks not adequately controlled Further action to be taken

..............................................................................................................................

Signature of Assessor.................................................Date................................

Name of Assessor......................................................Review Date.....................

Note:

1) The completed risk assessment form must be kept by the assessor and a copy given to the School/Unit/Residence Safety Officer.

2) This assessment must be reviewed and where appropriate revised if there is reason to suspect it is no longer valid or there has been a significant change to the task procedure.

3) This assessment must be made available to and discussed with all staff engaged on activities to which it relates.