Risk assessment

6 steps to risk assessment
First of all we will need to understand how to identify hazards and minimise risks. This involves carrying out a risk assessment and then putting the right precautions into place.
Risk assessment is a systematic investigation and analysis of potential risks, combined with the assignment of severities of probabilities and consequences. These are used to rate risks in order to prioritize the mitigation of high risks
a simple 6 step approach to risk assessment which involves:
STEP 1. Identify the Hazard
STEP 2. Identify the Risk
STEP 3. Assess the Risk
STEP 4. Control the Risk
STEP 5. Document the Process
STEP 6. Monitor and Review
STEP 1. Identify the Hazard
Examine the work area or consider the task or process and identify any hazards or potential threats to health and safety.
Some of the examples of work place hazards are
Category Type of harm Example of hazard
Mechanical Trapping (crushing, drawing in and shearing injuries) Two moving parts or one moving part and a fixed surface Conveyor belt and drive Vee belt and pulley Power press
Electrical Shock/burn/fi re/explosion Electricity above 24O V
Extra low volt electricity
Static
Chemical Acute and chronic effects on health Acetone
Benzene
Isocyanates
Biological Heat stress, hypothermia Work in furnace Cold room

STEP 2. Identify the Risk
Risk is the potential consequence of a hazard – correlating to the possibility of injury, illness damage or loss as a result of a hazard. Identify factors that may be contributing to the risk.
STEP 3. Assess the Risk
Once a hazard has been identified, the likelihood and possible severity of injury or harm will need to be assessed before determining how best to minimize the risk.
High risk hazards will need to be addressed more urgently than low risk situations.
For this we have to use Risk assessment matrix, this risk matrix determines the likelihood something WILL happen and the impact if the incident occurs

STEP 4. Control the Risk
Control of any given risk involves may involve a number of measures drawn from various options. New work procedures may also need to be developed.
The risk control hierarchy ranks possible risk control measures in decreasing order of preference:
. • Elimination of hazard
• Substitution of hazard
• Engineering controls
• Administrative controls
• Personal protective equipment
STEP 5. Document the Process
The information to be documented should include:
• hazards identified
• assessment of the risks associated with those hazards
• decisions on control measures to manage exposure to the risks
how and when the control measures are implemented

STEP 6. Monitor and Review Continue to review and monitor the risk management processes to identify new hazards and continually review the effectiveness of controls

The risk assessment is best carried out by people who work in the area, as they know what the problems are and what dangers they face. Risk assessments must be suitable and sufficient