1. Byrne Brothers (Formwork) Ltd
Dynamic Risk Assessment
Chris Ellis PGDip GradIOSH MIIRSM
Senior OHSE Manager 1

2. What is a Dynamic Risk Assessment (DRA)?
Traditional Risk Assessment
The process of assessing risk for
Planned events
Routine work
Normal Activities
Dynamic Risk Assessment
The process of assessing risk
“on-the-fly”
“in the field”
“away-from-base”
for
Emergency Situations
Change
Problem solving
It isn’t always possible to ensure risk assessment is carried
out in advance of facing a problem.

3. Risk Assessment Process
1. Identify the hazards
2. Decide who might be harmed and how
3. Evaluate the risks and decide on precaution
4. Record your findings and implement them
5. Review your assessment and update if necessary
Think before you act, not act before you think

4. Who is most likely to carry out a DRA?
Police officers
Fire Brigade
Ambulance Service
Security Services
Helicopter Emergency Medical Services
Airport staff and/or security services
Construction management, engineers, operatives
Military
Airline Pilots
Oil Rigs?
Petrochem?
Manufacturing?
Shipping?

5. Competence
“Competence is the ability to undertake responsibilities and
to perform activities to a recognised standard on a regular
basis. Competence is a combination of practical and
thinking skills, experience and knowledge.”
(Developing and Maintaining Staff Competence. HSE 2002)

6. Perception of Risk
Do we all think the same?

7. Perception of Risk

8. Perception of Risk

9. Perception of Risk

10. Perception of Risk

11. Did your perception change?
Perception of Risk
9th September 2001
7th July 2005
Did your perception change?

12. Perception of Risk
In the August preceding 9/11, the airline industry experienced what was then a record high in the number of airline passengers for a given month
when 65.4 million travelers took to the air. After 9/11, that number trailed off dramatically, and it took nearly 3 years, until July 2004, for the industry
to match and finally surpass the pre 9/11 levels. But the number of available seats—an industry measure of capacity— in July 2004 was just 98.3 %
of its August 2001 peak. By July 2005, the number of airline passengers had reached 71 million.
(RITA - Research and Innovative Technology Administration - Bureau of Transportation Statistics

13. Perception of Risk

14. Perception of Risk How do we get people carrying
out DRA’s to perceive risk the same?

15. Training
Terry Tate Video

16. Application of DRA’s

17. Application of DRA’s

18. Where did Dynamic Risk Assessment come from?
An unacceptable level of fire-fighter deaths occurred during the late
1980’s and early 1990’s.
HSE served a number of improvement notices on the fire service.
HSE recommendations highlighted the need for better risk assessment
in relation to the systems of command and tactical fire-fighting.
(Flin, 1996)

19. Where did Dynamic Risk Assessment come from?
The fire service refocused its challenge on managing fire-fighter risk
during fire fighting operations.
This led to a new concept of DRA being introduced in the early 1990’s
as a means to manage operational risk in dynamic situations.
It was argued that the fire service had carried out assessments for
many years (prior to DRA) without the reference to the concept of risk.
(Edmund Jacobs, 2005

20. Fire Service Attitude to Safety
The philosophy used highlights the correct attitude towards safety:
“We may risk our lives a lot, in a highly calculated manner, to protect
saveable lives”.
“We may risk our lives a little, in a highly controlled manner, to protect
saveable property”.
“We will not risk our lives at all for lives or property that are already
lost”.
(HM Fire Inspectorate, 1998)

21. Benefits of DRA within the Fire Service
Reduction in fire-fighter deaths for many years.
Risk is managed well within the fire service.
It is believed that DRA has proved its value in promoting awareness of risk in dynamic
environments.
The link between risk and decision making also raises awareness of cognitive processes
of assessing risk in operational situations.
The model offers a basis for learning and a structure for debriefing of incidents and
exercises where there is now a common language of risk.
(HM Fire Inspectorate, 1998)

22. Benefits of DRA within the Fire Service
HSE satisfied with approach to safety
DRA integrated within risk management model
Levels of risk management model measurable against HSG65
Other occupations can benefit from the fire service experience and the
utilisation of the DRA model offers “a learning and a structure for the
Debriefing of incidents”
(HM Fire Inspectorate, 1998)

23. HSE View on DRA
It is recognised that the nature of policing necessitates police officers to
respond to the demands of unpredictable and rapidly changing
situations and reliance solely on systematic risk assessment and set
procedures is unrealistic. In order for the police service to effectively
manage operational risk appropriate training should be provided.
(HSE, 2005)

24. Wider adoption of DRA
Many other forces including the Police, Ambulance service (inc. Helicopter) and
the armed forces along with many businesses have adopted the principles of
Dynamic Risk Assessments within their culture.
Training is given to individuals on the perception of risk, more importantly
the control measures required to mitigate the risk and the affect of those
controls on persons and property.
The ability to “think on one’s feet” is crucial to effective implementation
Of DRA’s to protect individual lives.

25. The Shard

26. The Shard
Set to be the tallest building in Western Europe “The Shard”, designed by renowned architect Renzo Piano, is a 1,016ft / 310m mixed use high rise or more accurately a “vertical city”.
The building consists of 28 stories of office space, 12 floors of residential, 6 mid levels of public space and the Shangri-La has taken 18 stories for its flagship European hotel.
The tower will also have a naturally ventilated radiator at its tip and on the 72nd floor a public viewing gallery offering 360° views of London.
“The Shard” will be a sharp and light presence on the London skyline welcoming more than 8 thousand workers, residents and hotel guests a day and more than 2 million public visitors a year.

27. The Shard Working up to the 74th floor provided some
unique challenges:
Protection of people falling
Protection of materials falling
Weather
Lifting materials
Climbing screen adaptation and removal
Emergency Rescue

28. London 2012 Athletes Village

29. London 2012 Athletes Village
Video

30. London 2012 Athletes Village
During the Games
During the Games, the Athletes Village will comprise residential apartments for around 17,000
athletes and officials, along with shops, restaurants, medical, media and leisure facilities and large
areas of open space. 
During the Games, the Village will include ‘back of house’ operations, and services for athletes such
as catering and transport. The majority of these will be accommodated in temporary structures on sites
that can be cleared for development immediately after the Games.
After the Games
After the Games, the Athletes Village will be a lasting legacy of essential new housing for east London.
It will be transformed into 2,800 new homes, including 1,379 affordable homes.
The communities that develop in the area after the Games will be supported by new parks, open
space, transport links, and community facilities including Chobham Academy – a world-class new
education campus with 1,800 places for students aged 3-19.

31. London 2012 Athletes Village
Given the location of the offices in relation to the plots and
Infrastructure, the need for individuals to carry out DRA’s if a change
on-site happens is a must.
However that DRA must be recorded and reviewed by the supervisor
to ensure lessons learnt can be passed around the Village.
Regular reviews of the DRA must take place to ensure control
measures are current and effective.

32. Summary DRA has been widely adopted by forces and business.
DRA gives greater flexibility for “in-the-field” decisions.
Competence of the individual carrying out the assessment is key.
Perception of risk is different for everyone.
Exceptional circumstances can alter your perception 9/11 7/7.
Training must be given to assess unique events, such as riots and
terrorism.
You must know what you have at your disposal for control measures.
Review Review Review!!!

33. Competence is key Would you trust this man to carry out your DRA?
Pencil video

34. Dynamic Risk Assessment

35. Further Reading
Edmund Jacobs - An insight into the application of Dynamic Risk Assessment
Metropolitan Police Freedom of information request – Dynamic Risk Assessment

36. Contact Information
Chris Ellis
Senior OHSE Manager
Byrne Bros (Formwork) Ltd
38-42 Hampton Road
Teddington
TW11 0JE