Quick Guide for the Use of the Risk Assessment Template

Terminology
Hazard is source (or object) of a potential condition that can cause damage or harm to people, pro
Hazard/Threat
Threat, in security term, is associated with a person who has intent to cause harm to other people,

Possible Accident / Ill-

Health/Adverse
Impact Adverse event that may result from a hazard or threat.
Likelihood Measure of the probability of an event occuring.
Severity Magnitude of the impact or consequence of an event occuring.
Risk Evaluation Assessment of existing risk controls to manage the risk (severity and/or likelihood) associated with
Risk Control Additional risk controls that are identified to reduce the risk level from "High" to "Low" or "Medium
Safety Risk Risk associated with an occurrence that can result in injury or harm to personnel or public safety.
Security Risk Risk associated with an occurrence that can result in threat to facility or public security.
Dual-use Risk Risk associated with (life sciences in this context) research that is intended to benefit, but which m

Key to Risk Prioritisation (RPN) for implementation of actions

Color RPN Risk Acceptability*

Green <5 Low Risk Acceptable

Amber 5 – 14 Medium Risk Tolerable

≥ 15 overall score or Catastrophic score

Red High Risk Not acceptable
for Severity of Consequence
 ≥ 15 overall score or Catastrophic score
Red High Risk Not acceptable
for Severity of Consequence

* Institutions may set Risk Acceptability levels that correspond to lower RPN scores and require additional risk controls to
 Definition/Description
ge or harm to people, property or the environment. Category of hazard e.g. biological, chemical, mechanical, physical, electrical, radio
use harm to other people, animals, or the institution.

ikelihood) associated with an identified hazard/threat.

High" to "Low" or "Medium" level before work is allowed to commence.
ersonnel or public safety.
public security.
ed to benefit, but which may easily be misapplied to do harm.

Recommended Action
To manage by routine procedures.
No additional risk control measures may be needed.
Interim risk control measures, such as administrative controls or PPE, may be implemented while longer term measures ar
A careful evaluation of the hazards should be carried out to ensure that the risk level is reduced to as low as reasonably pr
Work shall not start. There should not be any interim risk control measures.
 High risk level must be reduced to at least medium risk before work is allowed to start.
Management review is required before work starts.

additional risk controls to be implemented for Medium Risk, not just High Risk activities.
d.
within a defined period, for example 6 months.
 SAMPLE LABORATORY / WORK ACTIVITY RISK ASSESSMENT (RA) FOR LABORATORY HANDLING BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS

Name of Institution:

Department / Name of Laboratory: RA Leader: (RA-Competent by training) Approved By

Process / Activity: RA Member 1: RA Reference Number:
Location of Laboratory / Room: RA Member 2: Signature:
Original Assessment Date: RA Member 3: Name:
Last Review Date: RA Member 4: Designation:
Next Review Date: RA Member 5: Date:
Hazard/Threat Identification Risk (Safety/Security/Dual Use) Evaluation Risk (Safety/Security/Dual Use) Control
Possible Accident / Ill- Possible / Existing Risk Control Severity Likelihood (score RPN (severity x Severity Likelihood (score RPN (severity x Implementation
No Work Activity Location of Activity Hazard/Threat Health/Adverse Impact (list according to hierachy of risk controls) (score of 1 to 5) of 1 to 5) likelihood) Additional Risk Controls (score of 1 to 5) of 1 to 5) likelihood) Person Due Date Remarks

Legend:
1. S = Severity of consequence
2. L = Likelihood (Frequency)
3. RPN = Risk prioritization number

Risk control measures should be established according to the hierachy of controls

1.        Elimination of Hazard
2.        Substitution of Hazard
3.        Engineering Control of Hazard
4.        Administrative Control of Hazard
5.        Personal Protective Equipment to control exposure to hazard

Key to Risk Prioritisation (RPN) for implementation of actions

Color RPN Risk Acceptability Recommended Action
To manage by routine procedures
Green <5 Acceptable
No additional risk control measures may be needed
Interim risk control measures, such as administrative controls or PPE, may be implemented
while longer term measures are being established.
Amber 5 – 14 Tolerable
Amber 5 – 14 Tolerable
A careful evaluation of the hazards should be carried out to ensure that the risk level is
reduced to as low as reasonably practicable (ALARP) within a defined period, for example 6
months

≥ 15 overall score or
Red Catastrophic score for Not acceptable
Severity of Consequence
Work shall not start. There should not be any interim risk control measures.
High risk level must be reduced to at least medium risk before work is allowed to start.
Management review is required before work starts.