The Professional Training Year – Risk Assessment (adapted from The Professional Training Orientation Programme by Lindy Blair, University of Surrey, 2010) Neil Chapman Faculty Safety Adviser, FHMS

During this session we address the following issues: What’s important? How can I make sure I’m ‘as safe as possible’? What do I need to do about my risk assessment?

‘Safe’ ….means different things to different people.

Legal situation UK placements You will be an Employee Health and Safety at Work Act, 1974 (HASWA) applies Responsibility lies with employer Overseas placements Legislation varies, and is therefore more complicated! EU similar to UK Standards and expectations (yours and theirs!) may vary Safety equipment and procedures may be different too

Terminology: What is a hazard? A hazard is anything with the potential to cause harm e.g. scaffolding with no guard rails or volatile toxic chemicals What is risk? A risk is the likelihood that a hazard will cause harm e.g. if there are no guard rails on the scaffolding it is likely that a construction worker will fall off and if there are no safety measures then it is likely you will breathe the chemicals in Definitions from 8 th March 2010http://

Risk Profiling High Medium Low Work Travel and Transportatio n Location General /Environmental General /Environmental Student Taken from: UCEA Health and Safety Guidance for the placement of Higher Education students, August 2009

Working with materials that are highly hazardous or in very hazardous situations or locations Working with materials that are moderately hazardous or in situations where risks are controlled by statute Low hazard environment Work High Medium Low Some Examples: Construction site Machinery High risk clients Flying (yourself) Most laboratories, R&D sites and manufacturing facilities Administration, teaching and non-laboratory based research

Travel and Transportation

High Medium Low Significant travel to reach placement Demanding travel during placement Night travel Long daily commute Comfortable daily commute Some Examples: Flying to NZ, Florida Required to drive others Lower local transport standards, roads, vehicles Business travel in familiar car No business driving Most placements here

Location

High Medium Low Sig. risk of civil disorder, crime, etc. Medical & Rescue services remote Difficult communication Communication delays Few local risks Some Examples: FCO advises against travel Lone/remote or working near significant risk FCO low risk No adverse information known Most UK placements here

General /Environmental General /Environmental High Medium Low Regional health risks Very Hot Very Cold Some environmental health risks No sig environmental health risks Some Examples: Immunisations required Manual work in the sun Cold storage facilities Some health measures advisable Work in the UK or EU Most of you will be here

Student High Medium Low Health, disability, linguistic or cultural issues leading to increased risk of illness or accident Issues that may require adjustments, support No long-term medical conditions or disability Some Examples: Limited language ability Pregnancy Regular need for hospital intervention Religious observance Dietary requirements Allergies Most of you here, probably

Thanks and I hope that helped… Any questions?