Series editors' preface - Wood Tools

outes of entry to the body; risk phrases; safety
phrases; first aid information; storage requirements;
spillage information. Some of these are
further explained below.
Risk assessments should be kept in clearly
labelled folders in a convenient place where
everyone can easily consult them. It may be
helpful to separate assessments for different
classes of risk, for example chemical separate
from manual handling and other physical risks.
Any organization employing more than a
few people would be well advised to develop
a simple manual explaining company health
and safety policy and giving instructions on
how to carry out the required procedures. A
copy should be available in each work area.
The purpose of a log book is to keep a complete
record of health and safety plans and
transactions for the business. It is useful in
monitoring and improving health and safety
performance and can be produced if required
to demonstrate compliance with health and
safety legislation. Typically, the log would
include the following components: an action
plan; record of accidents and incidents; a
record of independent health and safety audits;
communications log (containing memos, minutes
of meetings and a record of reports);
health surveillance records; a list of improvements
made; a record of regular inspections
carried out in the workplace; maintenance
record of machinery and equipment, including
that required for provision of a safe working
environment; training record; work place monitoring
records.
The personal health and safety folder could
be one folder subdivided into: record of exposure
to risks having potential long-term consequences
(e.g. substances used); personal
training record; accident record; incident
record; health record. This information can be
used for epidemiological studies, analysis of
specific adverse reactions, usage levels (purchasing)
and for monitoring to provide feedback
on the effectiveness of controls.
9.7.4 Risk assessment
Risk assessment is a vital element in health and
safety provision to make sure that no one gets
hurt or becomes ill. However it need not be
overcomplicated. Assessment of risk is nothing
more than a careful examination of what, in
Conservation preliminaries 423
your work, could cause harm to people, so that
you can decide whether you have taken
enough precautions or should do more to prevent
harm.
Hazard and risk are two important terms
used in making risk assessments. A hazard is a
source of possible harm. A risk is the likelihood
of that harm being realized. The important
things to decide are first whether a hazard
is significant and secondly whether it is covered
by satisfactory precautions so that the risk
is small. For example, electricity can kill but
the risk of it doing so in the office is very small
provided that live components are insulated
and metal casings are properly earthed.
To make an assessment of risk that is ‘suitable
and sufficient’ and complies with legal
requirements, Stranks (1994) advises that you
must:
• Identify all hazards associated with the
business and evaluate the risks arising from
them taking into account current legal
requirements
• Identify any employee, or group(s) of
employees who are especially at risk (e.g.
asthmatics, pregnant women)
• Identify others who may be specially at risk
(e.g. visitors, contractors, members of the
public)
• Evaluate existing controls, stating whether
or not they are satisfactory and, if not, what
action should be taken
• Record the significant findings (electronic
methods may be used)
• Evaluate the need for information, instruction,
training and supervision
• Judge and record the likelihood of an accident
occurring as a result of uncontrolled
risk, including the worst case likely outcome
• Record any circumstances arising from the
assessment where serious and imminent
danger could arise
• Provide an action plan giving information
on implementation of additional controls, in
order of priority and with realistic time
scales.
However, this should not be overcomplicated.
Assessments need to be suitable and sufficient
not perfect. The real points are: first, are the
precautions reasonable? and second, is there