A7.3 Explain how to assess and evaluate risk and to implement a risk assessment programme

Question 1

What are the five key steps in a risk assessment?

Answer 1

For the majority of work activities, the HSE recommends an approach based on the following five steps:

1. Identify the hazards
2. Decide who might be harmed and how
3. Evaluate the risks and decide on precautions
4. Record your significant findings and implement them
5. Regularly review your assessment and update if necessary.

Question 2

What is the difference between risk estimation and risk evaluation?

Answer 2

Risk estimation is determining the magnitude of the size of the risk. It may range from high to low.

Risk evaluation is the process of deciding whether a risk is acceptable or not

Question 3

Which two factors determine the magnitude of the Risk?

Answer 3

Risk = likelihood (possibility) X Consequence (harm)

Question 4

Which two factors influence the likelihood of an adverse event occurring?

Answer 4

• Degree of exposure to the hazard

- the likelihood that harm will occur

Question 5

When deciding on what action to take, you should always follow the hierarchy of controls, what are they?

Answer 5

• Elimination
• Substitute the hazard (eg less hazardous substance)
• Contain the risk (prevent access to it e.g guarding)
• Reduce exposure to the hazard (reduce persons exposed and reduce duration)
• PPE
• Skill/supervision - rely on competence of the individual
• Welfare arrangements

Question 6

What are generic, specific and dynamic risk assessments? and what are their uses?

Answer 6

1. Generic Risk Assessments
   apply to commonly identified hazards and set out the associated control measures and precautions for that particular hazard. They give broad controls for general hazards but do not take into account particular persons at risk.
2. Specific Risk Assessments
   apply to a particular work activity and the persons associated with it. Some workers might have particular requirements such as new and young workers, disabled, expectant mothers. The RA needs to be specifically tailored those at risk.
3. Dynamic Risk Assessments
   are needed when work activities involve changing environments and individual workers need to make quick mental assessments to manage risks. eg. police, fire-fighters, teachers and lone workers have to make decisions in high pressure environments.

Question 7

What is meant by a suitable and sufficient risk assessment?

Answer 7

Regulation 3 of MHSWR 1999 requires the risk assessment to be ‘suitable and sufficient’

• should identify the significant risks arising from, or in connection with the work. The detail in an assessment should be proportionate to the risk.
• in intermediate cases, the RA will require specialist guidance and the use of analytical techniques. eg. noise levels
• the RA will be more sophisticated at the most hazardous site
• must also consider those who might be affected by the activities, whether they are workers or others, such as members of public.
• should indicate the period of time for which is it likely to be valid. This allows management to know when short-term control measures should be reviewed and modified.

Question 8

What are the three categories of risk?

Answer 8

• Acceptable
  no further action required. These are somewhat insignificant, or trivial and adequately controlled. Low risk
• Unacceptable
  certain risks that cannot be justified despite any benefits they might bring.
• Tolerable
  risks that fall between the acceptable and unacceptable. Tolerability does not mean acceptable but means that we as a society are prepared to endure such risks because of the benefits they give and because further risk reduction is grossly out of proportion in terms of time, cost, etc.