general risk assessment guidance notes - Royal Highland Show

ROYAL HIGHLANDSHOW2010RISKASSESSMENTGUIDE

GENERAL RISK ASSESSMENTGUIDANCE NOTESALL completed risk assessments must contain the following information:- Name, address and contact details for the company as well as the appointed contact.- Description of the activity you will be undertaking or the exhibit you will be displayingduring the show.- Details of all the risks, who might be harmed and your control measures associated withthe build up of the stand, the activity or display undertaken during the show and thebreak down of the stand.The following guidelines will provide you with some examples you should consider when youcomplete a risk assessment.Company Name:Address:Responsible Person:Date Assessment Undertaken:( completion date of form)Signature of Assessor:(someone in the company who decides if thereare any risks)Description of type of product/s ondisplay and processes beingassessed ie buildup, during Show,breakdownSomething Ltd.Some HouseLong StreetSomewherePX00 0PXMr Joe Bloggs12th December 2006Mr Joe BloggsAgricultural Machinery ie plough – Offloading andloading using hiab. Safe layout of machinery withoutany obvious trip hazards.HAZARD PERSONS AT RISK CONTROLS TOMINIMISE RISKSlipping/ tripping General Public, staff Covered possible trip hazardor highlighted it withVehicle movement(eg forklift, HGV)Electrical items (eg TV)General Public, staffStaff, operators, cleaners,contractorsfluorescent tapeProvided appropriate trainingof vehicle.Maintenance carried out onvehicle and where appropriatestatutory thoroughexaminations.Used a certified electrician toPAT test equipment andelectrical supply tested.

Machinery beingunloaded/loaded fromHGV/TrailerStaff, operators, contractors Trained staff used to operatemachinery. Keep area clearwhen moving machinery on tostand. Use second/thirdperson to guide vehicle – fromsafe distance.Raised Hydraulics General Public, staff Lock Hydraulic rams withangle Iron staysKeys removed and brakes lefton.Static Machinery during General Public, staffshowManual Handling Staff, operators, contractors Provided appropriate training.Heavy loads split, trolleysused or carried jointly.Working at Heights Staff, operators, contractors Provided appropriate training.Appropriate equipment used.E.g. scaffolding, cherry picker,netting, edge protection,ladders & harness (ladders tobe checked prior to use andfooted by second person,access required for short timeonly and three point contactable to maintained withladder).*Liquefied Petroleum Gas(LPG) on site. Yes/No(Please circle)Cylinder sizeAdequate training andinstructionFIRE RISK ASSESSMENTGUIDANCE NOTESThe following guidelines will provide you with some examples you should consider whenyou complete a Fire risk assessmentHAZARD PERSONS AT RISK CONTROLS TO MINIMISERISKLook only for hazards, whichcould reasonably result in a fireor injury to persons if a fire wereto start. Use the followingexamples as guidelines.There is no need to listindividuals by name – justthink about groups of peopledoing similar work or whomay be affected, forexample:For the Hazards listed, havesufficient measures already beentaken to reduce the risk, or areadditional controls required?

Ignition Sources ie. naked flame,electrical equipment, hot plates.Electrical equipment – Is it wellmaintained and are staff trainedin its use?Trailing cables/extension leadsSmokingCombustible materials ie rubbish,waste, wood, cardboard.Storage of combustible materialGas cylinder storageMembers of the public, andparticularly childrenMaintenance personnelOperatorsCleanersStaff and members of thepublic with disabilitiesPay particular attention to: Inexperienced Staff Lone WorkersAdequate Fire Escapes forbuildings and Marquees.Provision of appropriate fireextinguishers.Control measures should be‘reasonably practicable’ i.e.reduce the risk without entailingexcessive costs and time for littleor no benefit. State controlmeasures after each hazard.Do the precautions already taken: Meet the standards set bylegal requirements? Comply with recognisedindustry standard? Reduce the risk as far asreasonably practicable?Have you provided: Adequate information,instruction and training? Adequate systems orprocedures?Do staff know what to do in theevent of a fire?If so, then risks are adequatelycontrolled. The precautionstaken need to be indicated in thecontrols column.Where the risk is not adequatelycontrolled, indicate what moreyou need to doTHE ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLANDMENTOR SERVICES:RISK MANAGEMENTGUIDANCE NOTES & FACTSHEETS

IntroductionThe following guide explains the principles and practice of Occupational Health & Safetyrisk assessment and why it is necessary. Organisations will tailor the approachdescribed here to match their own needs, taking into account the nature of their workand the seriousness and complexity of their risks. Planning and implementing riskassessment and risk control programmes is covered later in this guide.Key termsThe key terms are:A hazard is a source of potential harm or damage or a situation with potential for harmor damage;A risk is the combination of the likelihood and the consequences of a specifiedhazardous event (accident or incident). A risk, then, always has two elements:the likelihood that a hazard may occur;the consequences of the hazardous event.When to use the risk assessment procedureAll employers and self employed people have a legal duty to assess the risks from theirwork activities. The risk assessment procedure described in this guide is intended to beused:for situations where hazards appear to pose a significant threat and it is uncertainwhether existing or planned controls are adequate in principle or in practice;by organisations seeking continuous improvement in their Occupational Health &Safety management systems, in excess of minimum legal requirements.The risk procedure described in this guide is NOT necessary or cost-effective when it isquite clear from preliminary study that risks are trivial, or a previous assessment hasshown that existing or planned controls:conform to well-established legal requirements or standards;are appropriate for the tasks;*are, or will be, understood and used by everyone concerned.Here no further action is required other than to ensure, where appropriate, that controlscontinueConducting Risk AssessmentsThe Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 supplements therequirements of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 by extending the employers

obligations to develop a general framework for safety management and enhance anycontrol measures provided.The main provision of the Regulations is the need for an employer to conduct riskassessments of his work activities and to identify the action needed to control the healthand safety risks in the workplace.The assessment of hazardous operations will not just be a paper exercise divertingscarce management resources from the business of managing. It will be a practicalexercise taking the opportunity to review and evaluate operations and seekimprovements.What is Risk Assessment?A hazard is something which has the potential to cause harm, e.g., a substance,machine or situation, such as working at heights. A risk is the likelihood that the harmwill occur combined with its severity (i.e., the number of people likely to be affected andwhether the hazard would cause minor or major injuries or even a fatality). Riskassessment is an evaluation of the chance that harm will occur.Conducting Risk Assessments1) Hazard spotting -Appoint a small group (usually 3 persons) to walk round theworkplace and look at what could cause harm, concentrating on significant hazardswhich could have severe consequences.During the walk round ask employees for their opinions and what they consider to besignificant. The use of accidents/ill health records and manufacturers' instruction/ datasheets can aid in your hazard spotting.2) Decide who might be harmed and how. You need to consider not only employees butalso people who may not always be present in the workplace, e.g., cleaners, visitors,delivery personnel, contractors, maintenance workers, etc.3) Decide for each hazard whether the risk is high, medium, low or not significant. Haveyou done everything that the law says you have to? Are industry standards in place?The law says that you must do what is reasonably practicable to keep your workplacesafe.Improving health and safety need not necessarily cost a lot. Some control measures arevery simply implemented with no major restraints on budget. For example, non-slipmaterial on slippery steps.Ask yourself whether you can get rid of the hazard altogether or, if not, how you cancontrol the risk so that harm is unlikely.Generally, personal protective equipment will only be used when there is nothing elsereasonably practicable.Preventive and protective measures will be implemented as a result of the assessmentand these could include such items as avoidance of a risk by elimination or reduction

(e.g., buying in dangerous substances in a lesser quantity) or combating a risk at source(e.g., removing spillages from floor areas rather than introducing warning signs).4) The legal requirement is to record the significant findings of a risk assessment. Thesewill include a list of hazards identified in the assessment, highlighting the types ofpeople who may be at risk. Existing control measures will be identified, if they are inplace.It is necessary to indicate that all risks have been assessed, but only records of thoserisks assessed as significant need to be kept.The prime objective of recording an assessment is to indicate that it was done soundly,addressed the significant issues and came to justifiable conclusions. The amount ofeffort put into recording will be related to the degree of risk and the complexity of theissues involved. The records will also serve purposes that are worthwhile, such as toenable management to identify:the basis for monitoring health and safety controlstraining programmes neededthe standards against which unusual events are judgedchanges which make re-assessment necessary.5) From time to time review your assessments and revise as necessary. Fresh hazardswill arise from the introduction of new machines, substances and procedures.Significant changes will be added to assessments to take account of new hazards.There is no need to amend your assessments for trivial changes but new hazards willbecome apparent and thus you will have a need to review your assessmentsaccordingly.The review process will be undertaken at least once every five years, or more often ifthings change or if the risks are high.6) Make sure that all employees are made aware of the risk assessments and theircommensurate control measures via training and communication. Keep a record of allsuch sessions.Key Action StepsLook for the hazards by making a workplace inspection.Decide who might be harmed and why.Consider the risks arising from the hazards and decide whether existingarrangements are adequate.Make written records of your findings.Carry out periodic reviews of your assessments and make necessary revisions.Share the findings of the assessments -and the control measures -with youremployees.

ReferencesINDG 163L Five steps to risk assessmentL21 The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 (as amended)--------------------------------------------------Useful websites:The Health and Safety Executive - www.hse.gov.uk(Or specifically the agricultural section www.hse.gov.uk/agriculture)Edinburgh Council - www.edinburgh.gov.ukRBS Mentor Services – www.rbsmentor.co.ukInfo Scotland – www.infoscotland.co.ukRoyal Highland Show; Trade section – www.royalhighlandshow.org/trade