04. Assessing Risk

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Degree IOSH MS Flashcards on 04. Assessing Risk, created by adamharries on 27/11/2013.
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Flashcards by adamharries, updated more than 1 year ago
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Created by adamharries over 10 years ago
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Question Answer
Sensible health and safety risk management is about saving lives, and preventing injuries and illness, not about stopping business from working. In particular sensible risk management should: 5  Ensure that workers and the public are properly protected;  Provide an overall benefit to society by balancing benefits and risks, with a focus on reducing real risks, i.e. those which arise most often and those with serious consequences;  Enable innovation and learning and not stifle them;  Ensure that those who create risks manage them responsibly and understand that failure to manage real risks responsibly will lead to robust action; and  Enable individuals to understand that as well as the right to protection, they also have to exercise responsibility.
To be competent for straightforward risk assessments, risk assessors require: 9  Experience and training in hazard identification and carrying out risk assessments;  Knowledge of the processes or activities to be assessed;  Technical knowledge of the plant or equipment;  Good communication and report writing skills;  Ability to interpret legislation and guidance, and  The right attitude for the task.  An understanding of current best practice in the area of work;  An awareness of the limitations of one's own experience and knowledge; and  The willingness and ability to supplement existing experience and knowledge, when necessary by obtaining external help and advice.
Can the risk be Reduced (e.g. by switching to using a less hazardous chemical);
Can the hazard be Isolated (e.g. by guarding);
Can additional engineering or management Controls be introduced to reduce exposure to the hazard? eg... LEV
Safe Systems of Work, eg... method statements, or Permits-to-Work
If there are fewer than five employees legally the risk assessment does not need to be documented. The record is useful however in:  demonstrating the process undertaken;  in sharing information with employees; and  in facilitating review processes when things change.
Legally the risk assessment must be ‘suitable and sufficient’. This means that it should show that:- 5  a proper check has been made;  all those who might be affected have been considered;  all the significant hazards have been addressed, considering the number of people who could be involved;  the precautions are reasonable, and the remaining risk is low; and  staff or their representatives were involved in the process.
The RA review should consider: 3  Any changes to equipment, substances or procedures;  Any problems reported by the workforce; and  Any lessons learnt from accidents or near misses.
Legislation requires special consideration be given to risk assessments of work involving the following groups: 3 (1) New and expectant mothers; (2) Young Persons; and (3) Disabled persons.
A specific assessment is required for the risks to new and expectant mothers, i.e. someone who is pregnant, has given birth within the previous six months, or is breastfeeding.
The risk assessment is prompted as soon as the expectant mother... informs the employer, in writing, that she is pregnant.
If pregnancy related medical conditions such as high blood pressure are a concern the following option should be considered: 3  adjust working hours or working conditions;  offer suitable alternative work; or if that is not possible,  suspend on full pay for as long as is necessary to protect the health of the mother and child.
The Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) defines a person as disabled if... they have a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on their ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities.
Discrimination may occur when a disabled person is... treated less favourably than an able bodied person, and the only difference is the disability.
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