1. © Imperial College LondonPage 1 Risk Assessments Dr. Ann Maconnachie Departmental Safety Officer

2. © Imperial College LondonPage 2 Risk Assessments Required by the following regulations: –Management of Health & Safety at Work –Control of Substances Hazardous to Health –Display Screen Equipment –Manual Handling

3. © Imperial College LondonPage 3 Risk Assessments What is a Risk Assessment? –The process in which the hazards associated with an activity are identified, and the likelihood that these will cause harm is estimate Two basic definitions –RISK = HAZARD x LIKELIHOOOD OF OCCURRENCE OR –RISK = SEVERITY x PROBABILITY

4. © Imperial College LondonPage 4 Risk Assessments Stage 1 –IDENTIFY the hazards ( inherent properties that could cause harm) –ASSESS the risk (the likelihood of actually causing harm when in use) Stage 2 –IDENTIFY methods to eliminate, reduce or control hazards and risks

5. © Imperial College LondonPage 5 C.O.S.H.H. Risk Assessments Hazardous substances covered by C.O.S.H.H –Substances classified as: Very Toxic, Toxic, Harmful, Corrosive or Irritant –Substances with a Workplace Exposure Limit (WEL) –Micro-organisms –Dust of any kind –Any substance not included above which is considered hazardous to health THE HAZARD CATEGORY DEPENDS ON THE SUBSTANCE NOT THE ACTIVITY Hazard categories: Low, Medium, High, Extreme

6. © Imperial College LondonPage 6 C.O.S.H.H. Risk Assessments - EXPOSURE Exposure depends on: –The physical state of the substance eg gas, liquid or solid –The activity or method of containment eg distillation, using a beaker or working with a sealed reactor –The amount of the substance eg 1 kilogram or 1 microgram THE EXPOSURE POTENTIAL IS A COMBINATION OF ALL THE ABOVE FACTORS Exposure potential: Low, Medium, High

7. © Imperial College LondonPage 7 C.O.S.H.H. Risk Assessments A combination of exposure potential and the hazard category gives the RISK The risk defines the correct control regime 1. no special arrangements eg bench top 2. Local Exhaust Ventilation eg fume-cupboard 3. special arrangements needed All this is explained in the notes on the web-site

8. © Imperial College LondonPage 8 C.O.S.H.H. Risk Assessments Methods for controlling exposure and thus reducing the risk –Remove the hazard –Substitute the hazard, use a less hazardous substance e.g. ethanol instead of methanol –Local exhaust ventilation e.g. a fume-cupboard –Personal protective clothing

9. © Imperial College LondonPage 9 C.O.S.H.H. Risk Assessments Assessments should be made BEFORE the work begins and reviewed regularly Forms available on the departmental web-site C.O.S.H.H. notes also on the web Completed forms must be signed by the supervisor and by the DSO SEE THE DSO BEFORE YOU FILL IN YOUR FIRST ASSESSMENT