GENERAL RISK ASSESSMENT
Managing Workplace Health and Safety Risks procedure
Workplace Visited (Company/Organisation/Institute/Unit):
Name of Assessor: Assessment Date: / / Review Date: / /
What is being assessed? Describe the item, job, process, work arrangement:
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Step 1 - Form a team of assessors. Decide who else should be consulted.
Assessor(s):
Others consulted: (eg elected health and safety representative, other personnel exposed to risks)
Step 2 - Identify the hazards associated with the thing or situation being assessed
Hazards: Potential to cause harm to people, property or the environment. Tick the applicable hazards
General Work Environment Health and Security Plant and equipment
Restricted access or egress Food Vehicles
Confined spaces Poisoning or contamination Mobile and fixed plant
Air-conditioning (thermal comfort) Intoxication Powered equipment
Air quality Dehydration Non-powered equipment
Lighting Violence Elevated Work Platforms
Noise (discomfort) Working alone or in isolation Pressure vessel
Outdoors (sun exposure) Working in remote areas Laser (Class 2 or above)
Uneven walking surfaces Bites / Stings Traffic control
Working at height Electrical
Chemical Vibration
Ergonomic/manual handling Hazardous chemicals Moving parts
Workstation set up Explosives Acoustic / Noise
Poor posture Engineered nanomaterials
Lifting / Carrying Gas cylinders Temperature / Weather effects
Pushing / Pulling Heat
Reaching/overstretching Radiation Cold
Repetitive movement Ionising radiation Rain / Flood
Bending Ultraviolet (UV) radiation Wind
Eye strain Radiofrequency/microwave In or on water
Infrared radiation Pressure (Diving / Altitude)
Work design and management Lightning
Fatigue Biological Smoke
Workload Microbiological
Mental stress Animal tissue / Fluids OTHER
Organisational change Human tissue / Fluids
Work violence or bullying Allergenic
Inexperienced or new personnel Other Biological
List the hazards identified from above
1. 6.
2. 7.
3. 8.
4. 9.
5. 10.
Any specific circumstances (describe):
Persons at risk (list):
Any relevant regulation, code, standard or guideline (list):
Step 3 – Risk Assessment For each identified hazard rate the risk using the Risk Rating Matrix.
Step 4 – Risk controls Detail controls measures required to address the risks applying the Hierarchy of Controls
Details of suggested time frame found in risk assessment matrix
Controls to be considered from the following hierarchy of control
1. Elimination (is it necessary?) 5. Administration (training. SOPs,)
2. Substitution 6. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) (eg
3. Isolation (restrict access) gloves, leather apron, coveralls, respirator)
4. Engineering (guarding, redesign)
Identified Hazards Risk assessment Risk Required Controls Suggested Time
Frame
Exposure Consequences Likelihood Rating
Is the risk? Adequately controlled. No further action required - Sign off form as completed.
(Tick one) Inadequately controlled. Further Action/Investigation required. Continue with Step 5.
Step 5 – Implementation Plan (for controls not already in place)
Control Option Resources Person(s) responsible Proposed
implementation
date
Step 6 – Comments and endorsements
Name: Signature: Date:
Assessment Approval: (eg Principal researcher, Head of research group, Technical Services Manager)
I am satisfied that the risks are not significant and/or adequately controlled and that resources required will be provided.
Name: Signature: Date:
Position Title:
Risk Assessment Matrix
Novelle Center ® General Risk Assessment, V1.1 January 2013 Safety and Wellbeing Unit Page 2 of 3
PRIORITISING HAZARDS AND RISKS
C Probability
o
n Very Likely Likely Unlikely Highly Unlikely
s
e Life Threatening High High High Medium
q
u Detrimental High High Medium Medium
e
n Harmful High Medium Medium Low
c
e Negligible Medium Medium Low Low
HAZARD CONSEQUENCE RATING TABLE
Life Threatening Hazard may cause death or total loss of one or more bodily functions (eg. loss of: or use an
arm, an eye, huge financial loss).
Detrimental Hazard may cause severe injury, illness or permanent partial loss of one or more bodily
functions (eg. noise induced hearing loss), or serious property damage, loss of production
capability.
Harmful Hazard may cause a reportable incident ie. an incident that results in the employee being
unable to undertake their normal duties for 7 days or more, or significant property damage,
high financial loss.
Negligible Hazard may cause minor injury, illness or property damage, first aid treatment only or no
injury, low financial loss.
PROBABILITY RATING TABLE
Very Likely Exposure to hazard likely to occur frequently.
Likely Exposure to hazard likely to occur but not frequently.
Unlikely Exposure to hazard unlikely to occur.
Highly Unlikely Exposure to hazard so unlikely that it can be assumed that it will not happen.
RISK PRIORITY TABLE
Risk Priority Definitions Of Priority Suggested Time
Frame
High Situation critical, stop work immediately or consider cessation of work process. Now
Must be fixed today, consider short term and/or long term actions.
Medium Is very important, must be fixed this week, consider short term and/or long term This Week
actions.
Low Is still important but can be dealt with through scheduled maintenance or 1 - 3 Months
similar type programming. However, if solution is quick and easy then fix it
today.
Review and/or manage by routine procedures.
Novelle Center ® General Risk Assessment, V1.1 January 2013 Safety and Wellbeing Unit Page 3 of 3
