VOLUNTARY SECTOR RISK ASSESSMENT Is yours right, wrong or just different? When is it good enough?

The Task To risk assess every hazard in your working environment that has the potential to cause harm!

Your first reaction? Wow, what a great opportunity Wow, what a great opportunityOr Help. I can’t do this Help. I can’t do this

Accidents and ill health can ruin lives and affect your business too if output is lost, machinery is damaged, insurance costs increase or you have to go to court. You are legally required to assess the risks in your workplace so that you put in place a plan to control the risks. Accidents and ill health can ruin lives and affect your business too if output is lost, machinery is damaged, insurance costs increase or you have to go to court. You are legally required to assess the risks in your workplace so that you put in place a plan to control the risks.

Where to start? Risk Assessments What is risk assessment? According to the 5 steps to Risk Assessment published by the HSE it is:- According to the 5 steps to Risk Assessment published by the HSE it is:- A risk assessment is simply a careful examination of what, in your work, could cause harm to people, so that you can weigh up whether you have taken enough precautions or should do more to prevent harm. Workers and others have a right to be protected from harm caused by a failure to take reasonable control measures. A risk assessment is simply a careful examination of what, in your work, could cause harm to people, so that you can weigh up whether you have taken enough precautions or should do more to prevent harm. Workers and others have a right to be protected from harm caused by a failure to take reasonable control measures.

REMEMBER :- 1. There are standard formats that can be tailored to the situation but you cannot rely on a text book assessment that does not reflect the situation, because:- 2. EVERY ORGANISATION IS DIFFERENT 3. ALL CIRCUMSTANCES WILL BE DIFFERENT 4. EACH RISK ASSESSMENT MUST SUIT THE EXISTING SITUATION AND ENVIRONMENT OF THE ORGANISATION

How to assess the risks in your workplace Step 1 Identify the hazards Identify the hazards Step 2 Decide who might be harmed and how Decide who might be harmed and how Step 3 Evaluate the risks and decide on precautions Evaluate the risks and decide on precautions Step 4 Record your findings and implement them Record your findings and implement them Step 5 Review your assessment and update if necessary Review your assessment and update if necessary

Step 1 - identify the hazards Establish how people could be harmed. When you work in a place every day it is easy to overlook some hazards. Establish how people could be harmed. When you work in a place every day it is easy to overlook some hazards. Walk around your workplace and look at what could reasonably be expected to cause harm. Walk around your workplace and look at what could reasonably be expected to cause harm. Ask your employees or their representatives what they think. They may have noticed things that are not immediately obvious to you. Ask your employees or their representatives what they think. They may have noticed things that are not immediately obvious to you. Check manufacturers’ instructions or data sheets for chemicals and equipment as they can be very helpful in spelling out the hazards and putting them in their true perspective. Check manufacturers’ instructions or data sheets for chemicals and equipment as they can be very helpful in spelling out the hazards and putting them in their true perspective. Have a look back at your accident and ill-health records – these often help to identify the less obvious hazards. Have a look back at your accident and ill-health records – these often help to identify the less obvious hazards. Remember to think about long-term hazards to health Remember to think about long-term hazards to health

Step 2 -Decide who might be harmed and how For each hazard you need to be clear about who might be harmed; it will help you identify the best way of managing the risk. That doesn’t mean listing everyone by name, but rather identifying groups of people (eg ‘people working in the storeroom’ or ‘passers- by’). For each hazard you need to be clear about who might be harmed; it will help you identify the best way of managing the risk. That doesn’t mean listing everyone by name, but rather identifying groups of people (eg ‘people working in the storeroom’ or ‘passers- by’). In each case, identify how they might be harmed, ie what type of injury or ill health might occur. For example, ‘carer may injure back when helping service user out of bed’ In each case, identify how they might be harmed, ie what type of injury or ill health might occur. For example, ‘carer may injure back when helping service user out of bed’ Remember: some workers have particular requirements, eg new and young workers, new or expectant mothers and people with disabilities may be at particular risk. Remember: some workers have particular requirements, eg new and young workers, new or expectant mothers and people with disabilities may be at particular risk. Extra thought will be needed for some hazards; cleaners, visitors, contractors, maintenance workers, members of the public, etc, who may not be in the workplace all the time but if they could be hurt by your activities; if you share your workplace, you will need to think about how your work affects others present, as well as how their work affects your staff – talk to them; and ask your staff if they can think of anyone you may have missed. Extra thought will be needed for some hazards; cleaners, visitors, contractors, maintenance workers, members of the public, etc, who may not be in the workplace all the time but if they could be hurt by your activities; if you share your workplace, you will need to think about how your work affects others present, as well as how their work affects your staff – talk to them; and ask your staff if they can think of anyone you may have missed.

Step 3 -Evaluate the risks and decide on precautions Having spotted the hazards, you then have to decide what to do about them. The law requires you to do everything ‘reasonably practicable’ to protect people from harm. So first, look at what you’re already doing, think about what controls you have in place and how the work is organized. Having spotted the hazards, you then have to decide what to do about them. The law requires you to do everything ‘reasonably practicable’ to protect people from harm. So first, look at what you’re already doing, think about what controls you have in place and how the work is organized. Consider: Consider: Can I get rid of the hazard altogether? Can I get rid of the hazard altogether? If not, how can I control the risks so that harm is unlikely? If not, how can I control the risks so that harm is unlikely? Can I try a less risky option Can I try a less risky option Consider the likelihood of harm; is it Consider the likelihood of harm; is it – Very unlikely – Unlikely – Possible – Likely – Highly likely Involve staff, so that you can be sure that what you propose to do will work in practice and won’t introduce any new hazards. Involve staff, so that you can be sure that what you propose to do will work in practice and won’t introduce any new hazards.

Step 4 -Record your findings and implement them Write down the results of your risk assessment, and sharing them with your staff, Write down the results of your risk assessment, and sharing them with your staff, Keep it simple, for example ‘Tripping over rubbish: bins provided, staff instructed, weekly housekeeping checks’ Keep it simple, for example ‘Tripping over rubbish: bins provided, staff instructed, weekly housekeeping checks’ A risk assessment does not have to be perfect, but it must be suitable and sufficient. You need to be able to show that: A risk assessment does not have to be perfect, but it must be suitable and sufficient. You need to be able to show that: 1. a proper check was made; 2. you asked who might be affected; 3. you dealt with all the significant hazards, taking into account the number of people who could be involved; 4. the precautions are reasonable, and the remaining risk is low; and 5. you involved your staff or their representatives in the process.

Step 5 -Review your risk assessment and update if necessary Look at your risk assessment again. It may be necessary to review them every 3 or 6 months. It may be annually. Every situation is individual. Look at your risk assessment again. It may be necessary to review them every 3 or 6 months. It may be annually. Every situation is individual. Have there been any changes? Have there been any changes? Are there improvements you still need to make? Are there improvements you still need to make? Have your workers spotted a problem? Have your workers spotted a problem? Have you learnt anything from accidents or near misses? Have you learnt anything from accidents or near misses? Make sure your risk assessment stays up to date. Make sure your risk assessment stays up to date.

What risk assessments and procedures do I have to make? AGENCY / TEMPORARY / AGENCY / TEMPORARY / VOLUNTARY PERSONNEL ACCESS ACCESS ACCIDENTS ACCIDENTS ACCIDENTS – Accident Investigation ACCIDENTS – Accident Investigation ASBESTOS CONTROL & SAFETY ASBESTOS CONTROL & SAFETY AUDIT PROCEDURES AUDIT PROCEDURES

BUSINESS TRAVEL ABROAD BUSINESS TRAVEL ABROAD CONSTRUCTION WORK CONSTRUCTION WORK CONTRACTORS CONTRACTORS CONTRACTORS – Contractors Check List CONTRACTORS – Contractors Check List CONTRACTORS – Contractors Permits to Work CONTRACTORS – Contractors Permits to Work CONTROL OF SUBSTANCES HAZARDOUS TO HEALTH CONTROL OF SUBSTANCES HAZARDOUS TO HEALTH

DISPLAY SCREEN EQUIPMENT DISPLAY SCREEN EQUIPMENT DISPLAY SCREEN EQUIPMENT – DSE risk self assessment DISPLAY SCREEN EQUIPMENT – DSE risk self assessment DISPLAY SCREEN EQUIPMENT – Computer User Guide DISPLAY SCREEN EQUIPMENT – Computer User Guide ELECTRICITY AT WORK ELECTRICITY AT WORK ELECTRICITY AT WORK – Portable Electrical Equipment ELECTRICITY AT WORK – Portable Electrical Equipment ELECTRICITY AT WORK – Equipment & user training record ELECTRICITY AT WORK – Equipment & user training record ELECTRICITY AT WORK – Electrical Safety Information sheet ELECTRICITY AT WORK – Electrical Safety Information sheet

EMERGENCY PROCEDURES EMERGENCY PROCEDURES ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY EVENTS EVENTS FIRE SAFETY FIRE SAFETY FIRE SAFETY – Prevention FIRE SAFETY – Prevention FIRE SAFETY – Procedures FIRE SAFETY – Procedures FIRE SAFETY - Record FIRE SAFETY - Record FIRE SAFETY - Training FIRE SAFETY - Training FIRST AID FIRST AID FOOD & HYGIENE FOOD & HYGIENE

GAS SAFETY GAS SAFETY HOME WORKING HOME WORKING HOME WORKING – Self assessment HOME WORKING – Self assessment HOME WORKING – Risk assessment record/summary sheet HOME WORKING – Risk assessment record/summary sheet LONE WORKING LONE WORKING LIFT MAINTENANCE LIFT MAINTENANCE MANUAL HANDLING MANUAL HANDLING MOBILE PHONES/PERSONAL DIGITAL ASSISTANT (PDA) MOBILE PHONES/PERSONAL DIGITAL ASSISTANT (PDA)

NEW OR EXPECTANT MOTHERS OFFICE ENVIRONMENT OFFICE ENVIRONMENT - Cleanliness - Cleanliness - Doors - Doors - Drinking Water - Drinking Water - Floors - Floors - Floor Area & Room Space - Floor Area & Room Space - Housekeeping - Housekeeping - Lighting - Lighting - RSI/WRULD - RSI/WRULD

- Sanitary Conveniences - Sanitary Conveniences - Staircases, Stairwells - Staircases, Stairwells - Storage - Storage - Temperature & Ventilation - Temperature & Ventilation - Welfare Facilities - Welfare Facilities - Windows & Doors - Windows & Doors - Workstations - Workstations - Workspace - Workspace PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE) PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE) POLICY STATEMENT POLICY STATEMENT

RISK ASSESSMENT – Risk Assessment flow chart RISK ASSESSMENT – Risk Assessment flow chart RISK ASSESSMENT – Workplace self assessment RISK ASSESSMENT – Workplace self assessment RISK ASSESSMENT – Risk compliance certificate RISK ASSESSMENT – Risk compliance certificate RISK ASSESSMENT – Record & Summary sheet RISK ASSESSMENT – Record & Summary sheet RISK ASSESSMENT – Safety Risk Assessment Matrix RISK ASSESSMENT – Safety Risk Assessment Matrix

SAFE SYSTEMS OF WORK SAFE SYSTEMS OF WORK SAFETY COMMITTEE SAFETY COMMITTEE SHOPS SHOPS SMOKING AT WORK SMOKING AT WORK STRESS PREVENTION STRESS PREVENTION VISITORS VISITORS VEHICLE & DRIVER SAFETY VEHICLE & DRIVER SAFETY

WORKING AT HEIGHT WORKING AT HEIGHT WORKING AT HEIGHT – Equipment Maintenance WORKING AT HEIGHT – Equipment Maintenance WORK EQUIPMENT WORK EQUIPMENT WORK EQUIPMENT – Equipment & training record sheet WORK EQUIPMENT – Equipment & training record sheet WORKING OUTDOORS WORKING OUTDOORS WORK RELATED VIOLENCE WORK RELATED VIOLENCE WAREHOUSE SAFETY WAREHOUSE SAFETY YOUNG PERSONS AT WORK YOUNG PERSONS AT WORK

Don’t panic – Help is at hand! Where can you get help from? Where can you get help from? Charities Safety Group Charities Safety Group Health and Safety Executive Health and Safety Executive Professional Bodies Professional Bodies Training – NEBOSH etc Training – NEBOSH etc Internet Internet Benchmarking Benchmarking

Review risk assessments Review risk assessments Any questions? Any questions?