Risk Assessment

06 March 2021
 The Instructions
Please read all the instructions before starting work on your project.

The risk assessment project is broken down into a number of stages, which should flow from start to finish, telling a complete story of your work area and the hazards, risks and their required
controls within it.

First4Safety has supplied you with either the pdf or excel file risk assessment form to use for this process.

For this risk assessment project, it is important that you only choose hazards that are not currently, adequately controlled.

Your risk assessment must show the following about your work area:

Column 1 - What is the hazard? Be specific with your descriptions

Good Examples: Poor Examples:
• Working on a ladder at a height of 3 metres • Working at height
• Using faulty or broken office devices, such as servers/desktop computers • Electrocution

Column 2 - Who might be harmed? There can be many different groups affected so think about who these may be.
Good Examples: Operators, Managers, Cleaning staff, Contractors, Members of the public, Engineering staff, Admin staff
Poor Examples: Everyone, Dave in Engineering

Column 3 - How might people be harmed? This is the Hazardous Event connected to the Hazard.
It is important here to think about the worst-case scenario in terms of the consequence.
Good Examples: Poor Examples:
• Worker falls from unstable ladder resulting in a fatal accident • Worker falls
• Equipment dropped from a height resulting in a fatal accident • Equiment dropped

Column 4 - Existing Risk Control Measures Be honest about the current measures so that necessary changes can be made if required.
It is crucial to think about what controls actually exist and to not shortcut the risk assessment to save time.
Good Examples: Verbal instructions only from management; Safe working procedure in place; Management inspections
Poor Examples: No controls in place (this is a common response, which will score zero points.)

Column 5 - Current risk rating Rating = Likelihood x Consequence

• How likely is the event? Score between 1 and 5
• How bad could the consequence be? Score between 1 and 5

Considerations: Do not underestimate the consequence

If death is possible, however unlikely. Give these a consequence score of 5
Slips, trips and falls account for 20% of all RIDDOR's. Give these a consequence score of 4
Manual Handling hazards also account for 20% of all RIDDOR's. Give these a consequence score of 4

Column 6 - Additional controls Use course knowledge to add relevant controls

Don't forget the course title 'Managing Safely'. Think of effective controls that can be implemented.
Good Examples: Toolbox Talks, On-site Inspections, Refresher Training, Engineering solution to either eliminate or reduce the hazard, Substitute product to reduce risk.
*Add at least two additional controls which will be longer-term reportable and repeatable actions.

Column 7 - Action monitored by whom Assign individuals responsible for the additional controls in Column 6
This field must not be blank, there must be a "monitored by" for each additional control
Good Examples: Do not add yourself or a manager for every control.
• The Training Manager (for Refresher Training)
• The Safety Manager (for on-site inspections)

Column 8 - Action monitored by when Assign the frequency / date of action to be completed
This field must not be blank, there must be a "monitored by" for each additional control
Good Examples: Considerations:
• Weekly (On-site inspections) • Do not use "ongoing"
• Monthly (Toolbox Talks) • Only use "daily" if appropriate
• Annual (Refresher Training) • These frequencies can be part of a broader H&S plan

Column 9 - New risk rating Refresh the scores based on the new controls
It is more likely you will have dropped the likelihood score than the consequence, but controls that do both are excellent
Good Example:
If we cannot eliminate forklift trucks in a warehouse then the consequence score will remain 5 (potentially fatal) but the likelihood of an accident can be reduced
by redesigning the warehouse and pedestrian segregated walkways. e.g. 3x5=15 reducing to 1x5=5

Basic Requirements These fields must be populated for each assessment

• Your name
• Date and time of the risk assessment
• The risk assessment review date
• Your training provider’s name
• Your signature
 The Risk Matrix

5 5 10 15 20 25
Consequence

4 4 8 12 16 20

3 3 6 9 12 15

2 2 4 6 8 10

1 1 2 3 4 5

1 2 3 4 5

Likelihood
Use a 5 point scale (5x5 Matrix) to estimate likelihood and consequence with five descriptions for likelihood and five for
consequence.

Consequence Likelihood
1) Insignificant- no injury 1) Very unlikely
2) Minor- injuries needing first aid 2) Unlikely
3) Moderate- absence upto three days 3) Fairly likely
4) Major- more than three days absence 4) Likely
5) Catastrophic- death 5) Very likely
 Telephone Number First4safety
Name of Assessor (you) Auditor may contact you for Date of assessment Time of assessment
feedback if required.

Description of the work area

being assessed:

Description of the tasks

involved

Column 1 Column 2 Column 3 Column 4 Column 5 Column 6 Column 7 Column 8 Column 9

Action Action
Describe the Identified Hazard Existing Existing Existing Risk Proposed Additional Measures Residual Residual Residual Risk
monitored by whom monitored by when
How might the people be Existing Measures Likelihood Consequence Rating Likelihood Consequence Rating
Who might be harmed
( Must be specific example harmed? in Place ( Detail at least 2 or 3 additional controls
( Match names / departments to ( Match dates / frequencies to
NOT GENERIC ) (1-5) (1-5) (1-25) ) (1-5) (1-5) (1-25)
proposed new controls) the proposed new controls )

Future Review date Consequence Likelihood

Name/ signature of person

1) Insignificant- no injury 1) Very unlikely
completing this assessment

Email form to info@first4safety.co.uk

Training Provider 2) Minor- injuries needing first aid 2) Unlikely
or upload into the system.

3) Moderate- absence upto three days 3) Fairly likely

4) Major- more than three days absence 4) Likely

5) Catastrophic- death 5) Very likely