WHS RISK ASSESSMENT FORM FOR PRACTICAL ACTIVITIES/RESEARCH

Conduct a WHS risk assessment whenever it is not immediately obvious what hazards and associated risks are associated with an aspect of the working and learning environment and/or the solutions are not straight forward.Guidance about Completing the WHS Risk Assessment1. During the WHS risk assessment process, consult with: 1) subject matter experts; 2) anyone with knowledge of the activities or

research which are being assessed; 3) anyone that will implement the treatments (risk controls) as you require their ‘buy in’. 2. Describe what is being assessed for hazard(s) and associated risk(s) in Section 1. Note: Hazards in working and learning spaces

equipment generally present because of the materials and substances used; work tasks and how they are performed, and work design and management.

3. Refer to Section 2 for guidance about some of the hazards that may be associated with the activity. Also refer to other compliance resources to help you identify these hazards.

4. In Section 3, assess the hazards and associated WHS risks which are associated with practical activities/research (Section 3). Use the Risk Rating Table (Appendix A) to assign a risk rating to the hazards that have been identified. Also, refer to the instructions in Appendix A and B.

5. The assessment should be signed off by a Nominated Supervisor/Manager (Section 4) and Head of School or Senior Manager, in many circumstances. If the assessor is a research student, a supervising academic should endorse the assessment.

Section 1: Describe What is Being Assessed Organisational or Functional Unit: Location (incl. room no.)

Assessor’s Name: ___________________________________________ Position Title _______________________________________________

Assessor’s Signature: _________________________________Assessment Date: ____ / ____ / ____

Name of Task/Experiment Process:

Description of Task/Experiment Process:

Who would be exposed to any potential risks (e.g. staff, students, visitors)?

Who was consulted during the WHS risk assessment:

Task/Experiment to be performed by: (Please tick ☐) ☐Students ☐Teaching Staff ☐ Trained Staff (Detail Specialty/Qualifications):

Section 2: Some hazards to consider <Assoc. with Laboratories and Field Trips> Prior to completing Section 3 Biological HazardsBiological Substance☐ Bacteria☐ Viruses☐ Fungi☐ Human/animal body fluids☐ Human/animal blood☐ Parasite

☐ Cell lines☐ Poisonous substance(s)☐ Genetically Modified

Organism ☐ Recombinant construct in live

agents☐ Animal/human tissue

Route of Infection☐ Inhalation☐ Needle stick☐ Skin/eye contact☐ Ingestion☐ Bites/scratches ☐ Aerosol transmission

Proposed Treatments☐ Standard Operating

Procedures (SOP) ☐ Personal Protective

Equipment (PPE)☐ Health surveillance☐ Appropriate storage☐ Spill kits☐ Decontamination protocol

☐ Safety Data Sheets for chemical agents☐ Training – staff/students☐ Emergency procedures☐ Safety equipment☐ Spill cleanup procedure☐ Vaccination☐ Waste disposal system☐ First aid☐ Other____________________

Substance/Organism Name(s): ________________________

Chemical HazardsChemical Substances☐ Solids ☐ Gases☐ Liquids☐ Chemical Waste(s)/By-Products

Ensure that you have analysed the relevant Safety Data Sheets, labels and hazard information tab within Chemwatch.Chemical Name(s):

Potential Hazards☐ Flammable☐ Toxic☐ Corrosive☐ Oxidizing☐ Harmful☐ Irritant☐ Radioactive

Proposed Treatments☐SOP☐Avoid known or suspected pregnancy/allergic

reaction(s)☐ Dry/inert atmosphere☐ Safety Data Sheets (SDS) available☐ Spill kits☐ Storage facility☐ Fire-fighting equipment☐ Fume cabinets☐ Health monitoring to confirm treatments are effective

☐ Static discharge protection☐ Placarding indicating use☐ SDS information known☐ Safety equipment☐ Emergency procedures☐ PPE/blast shield/respirator☐ Spill cleanup procedures☐ First aid☐ Corrosives Cabinet☐ Antidote available☐ Other:

Sharps/NeedlesPotential Hazards☐ Pipette☐ Scissors☐ Scalpels/blades

☐Glassware☐Syringes☐ Other:

Proposed Treatments☐ SOP ☐ First aid☐ PPE☐ Disposal bins

☐ Training☐ Sterilisation procedures☐ Cleanup procedures☐ Other:

Electrical HazardsPotential Hazards☐ 240 Volt☐ High voltage☐ Power loss☐ Other:

Potential Consequences☐ Electrical shock☐ Fire☐ Burns☐ Fatality

Proposed Treatments☐ Residual Current Device

(RCD)/Circuit breaker ☐ Circuit protection devices☐ Regular servicing/testing☐ First aid

☐ SOP☐ Shut-off switches☐ Inspect cords/tags☐ Non-sparking induction motors/air motors☐ Other

RadiationPotential Hazards☐ Laser☐ Ionising (e.g. gamma)☐ Non-ionising (e.g. infrared, microwave)☐ Other:

Proposed Treatments☐ Spill kits☐ First aid☐ Appropriate storage☐ Appropriate signage

☐ SOP ☐ Decontamination protocol☐ Codes of Practice followed☐ Training of staff/students☐ Waste disposal procedures☐ Other:

ThermalPotential Hazards☐ Hot☐ Cryogenic

☐ Cold☐ Other:

Proposed Treatments☐ Heat mats☐ Insulated gloves☐ PPE☐ Other:

☐ Emergency Procedures☐ SOP☐ Tongs☐ First Aid

Field TripsPotential Hazards☐ Unserviceable vehicles☐ Noise☐ Road/traffic conditions☐ Climatic conditions (e.g. hot, dry, wet, cold)☐ Terrain (rivers, desert, rough, mountainous,

forest, jungle)☐ Remote locality☐ Bites/stings☐ Working alone☐ Wildlife (e.g. poisonous snakes)☐ Fencing (barbed wire, electric)☐ Contaminated soil/water

☐ Security ☐ Pandemic disease (overseas)

☐ Poisonous plants☐ Weather conditions☐ Hypothermia/Frostbite

☐ Fatigue☐ Manual Handling☐ Hazardous chemicals☐ Firearms/explosives☐ Faulty equipment☐ Bush fires☐ Floods☐ Falls (e.g. from

heights, into mine shafts)

☐ Working in water☐ Other:

Proposed Treatments☐ Survival training☐ Training – equipment☐ Sunscreen ☐ PPE and suitable clothing☐ Students/staff briefed☐ First aid kit☐ Mobile phone☐ Communication and

check-in procedures☐Staff/student medical

information checked ☐ Maps/compass☐ Adequate water/food supplies☐ Other:

☐ Serviceable vehicles☐ Driver safety briefings ☐ Servicing and testing of equipment ☐ Back-up batteries☐ Instructions and safety materials for experiments and

activities☐ Contact overhead and/or underground power lines☐ Staff/student ratio – duty of care☐ Emergency procedures☐ Fire extinguishers ☐ Safe work practices

Machinery/Equipment Potential Hazards☐ Rotational motion☐ Linear motion☐ Vibration

☐ Noise☐ Fumes☐ Moving parts ☐ Other:

Proposed Treatments☐ Manufactures’ manuals☐ Regular servicing☐ Guarding☐ Emergency shutdown☐ PPE☐ Other:

☐ SOP’s☐ Training in equipment use☐ Appropriate licenses☐ First aid☐ Fire extinguishers

Section 3: Assess Hazards and RisksRisk Analysis Risk Treatment (Future)

Describe the process, activity, facility or event that may lead to hazard exposures.

Hazard(s)Outline the situation or thing that has the potential to harm a person e.g. chemicals, high voltage, flammable chemical substances.

Risk Describe the nature of the potential harm in terms of injuries and/or environmental or property damage. For example, the hazard exposure could result in back injuries or contamination of water supplies.

Existing Treatments (risk controls)Identify any existing treatments that are applied to minimise or eliminate hazard exposures and the risk(s).

Risk RatingCalculate the risk rating (Appendix A) associated with applying any existing treatments.

Future Treatments Place a higher priority on immediately actioning higher level risks. Also refer to the Hierarchy of Risk Control when making decisions about treatment options.

Action OwnerPerson(s) responsible for actioning treatments.

New Risk Rating(Based on applying existing and future treatments. Also account for risks associated with actioning treatments).

Likelihood:(Insert rating)Consequence: (insert rating) Risk Rating: (insert rating)

Likelihood:(Insert rating)Consequence: (insert rating) Risk Rating: (insert rating)

Likelihood:(Insert rating)Consequence: (insert rating) Risk Rating: (insert rating)

Likelihood:(Insert rating)Consequence: (insert rating) Risk Rating: (insert rating)

Likelihood:(Insert rating)Consequence: (insert rating) Risk Rating: (insert rating)

Likelihood:(Insert rating)Consequence: (insert rating) Risk Rating: (insert rating)

Section 4: Endorsement of the Risk Assessment

I am satisfied that the risks are rated at Low/Moderate and or appropriately treated.

Nominated Supervisor’s/Managers Name: _____________________________________ Position Title: __________________________________

Signature: _____________Date: ____ / ____ / ____

HIGH risks (or proposed treatments) that require expenditure approvals from senior managers within the school or organisational unit, including Heads of School, should be authorised by this senior manager or the Executive Planning Group (non-academic organisational units). High level risks should be accompanied by a detailed risk management plan which will reduce risks down to an appropriate level (ideally, reduced down to a low rating or no higher than MODERATE [3]).

Executive Planning Group Member’s Name: _________________________________

Executive Planning Group Member’s Signature: ____________________________________

Date: ____ / ____ / ____

Please retain a copy of this WHS risk assessment and submit a copy to Service Central using the general enquiry form.

APPENDIX A: RISK RATING TABLE

Calculate a Risk Score, Using the Table (Below): 1. Choose a Likelihood Rating, from the table below, based on your assessment of the likelihood of exposure(s) to the hazard(s) (ranges from

insignificant to catastrophic). 2. Choose a Consequence Rating, from the table below, which reflects your assessment of the consequences of people

(staff/students/volunteers/visitors/general public) being exposed to the hazard(s). 3. Line up the intersection point between the Consequence and Likelihood Rating to determine the risk rating e.g. If you assessed the

consequence to be Moderate and the likelihood rating to be Almost Certain, the risk rating is High (30). 4. Refer to the Hierarchy of Risk Control, Appendix B, to assist you to choose risk controls to manage hazards, which should be documented

in Section 3. It is an expectation that higher-level controls will be chosen to manage higher level risks. Likelihood Ratings Consequence Ratings

Almost Certain: Is expected to occur in most circumstances per month)Likely: Will probably occur at least once (between once per month and once per year)Moderate: Might occur at some time (between once per year and once in 5 years)Unlikely: Could occur at some time (between once in 5 years and once in 20 years)Rare: May occur in exceptional circumstances (once in more than 20 years)

Catastrophic: Could result in death, permanent total disabilities or severe injuries affecting multiple personsMajor: Could result in permanent partial disabilities or injuries or illness resulting in hospitalisation of multiple personsModerate: Could result in injury or illness resulting in Lost Time Injury (LTI)Minor: Minor injury or illness not resulting in lost work dayInsignificant: Unlikely to result in an injury

LikelihoodRating

Consequence Rating

Insignificant(1)

Minor(3)

Moderate(10)

Major(30)

Catastrophic(100)

Almost Certain (3) Moderate3

Moderate9

High30

High90

High300

Likely (1) Moderate1

Moderate3

Moderate10

High30

High100

Moderate (0.3) Low0.3

Moderate0.9

Moderate3

Moderate9

High30

Unlikely (0.1) Low0.1

Low0.3

Moderate1

Moderate3

Moderate10

Rare (0.03) Low0.03

Low0.09

Low0.3

Moderate0.9

Moderate3

APPENDIX B: HIERARCHY OF RISK CONTROLS

Guidance about Developing WHS Treatments (Risk Controls) 1. Use higher level treatments (a legal requirement) to manage higher level risks. 2. Refer to Figure 1 Hierarchy of Risk Control when you are assessing which treatments (risk controls) should be used to manage risks.

How to Monitor and Review WHS Risk Controls 1. Provide verbal (including training) and/or written instructions, including Safe Work Procedures, to ensure that the endorsed treatments

(risk controls) are applied to manage the risk(s). 2. Confirm that anyone that applies the treatments is committed to applying them and understands the controls. 3. Enter risks, which need to be treated on an ongoing basis, to your Organisational Unit Risk Register and submit a copy of this assessment

to Service Central using the general enquiry form.4. Regularly review the risk controls, at least annually, to ensure that they are being applied and reduce the risks to an acceptable level

(preferably Low).

Figure 1: Hierarchy of Risk Control

APPENDIX C: ORGANISATIONAL UNIT RISK REGISTERRefer to the black boxes below, to support your organisational unit to place treated WHS risks on your organisational unit’s Risk Register.

Risk Identification Risk Analysis Risk Treatment (Future)

Risk Event Risk Owner Causes Impacts Existing Treatments

Risk Rating

Future Treatments

Action Owner

Resolution/Review Date

Likelihood (insert) Consequence (insert)Risk Rating (insert)Likelihood (insert) Consequence (insert)Risk Rating (insert)Likelihood (insert) Consequence (insert) Risk Rating (insert)Likelihood (insert) Consequence (insert)Risk Rating (insert)

Insert the name and position title of the Risk Owner (usually the Executive who was nominated in Section 3 of this completed WHS risk assessment).

Provide a ‘high level’ summary (refer to Section 2) of the Risk(s) of the risk to people, property and/or the environment and the location or extent of these potential exposure to hazards and risks.

Summarise the activities (refer to Section 2) or processes that could result in hazard exposures e.g. walking down the North Sydney Library stairs with books could present with trip and falling objects hazards.

Provide more details about the risk to people, property and/or the environment.

Copy the risk ratings into this column (Section 2).

Enter information that you entered into the Future Treatments column (Section 3).

Insert information about Existing Treatments (detailed in Section 2).

Insert the name of the Action Owner (and their position title), nominated in Section 3 of the completed WHS risk assessment.

Enter the target completion date into this column.