designers risk assessment

www.veritas-consulting.co.uk

Risk Assessment for

Designers

CDM Regulations 2007

Risk Assessment for Designers


TODAY’S PROGRAMME



Risks Assessments & Remedies

1. Introduction

2. Legal Background to Risk Assessment

3. Hierarchy of Controls

4. The Risk Assessment Process Part ‘A’

5. Design Issues and Remedies

6. The Risk Assessment Process Part ‘B’

7. Communication with the Design Team

and Contractors

8. Questions and Answers



1. INTRODUCTION



1. Introduction

a)Review of previous Health & Safety

Training

b)Issues arising from other Legislation

c)Overview of Risk Assessment



1. Review of Previous Training

i. General health and safety presentation

a. Employee safety

b. Workplace safety

c. Hazards associated with site visits

ii. Update on the CDM Regulations




a. Employee safety




a. Employee safety

• Make sure you are familiar with your organisation’s health and safety policy and arrangements

• Ensure that any equipment you may use is in good safe condition

• Comply with your organisation’s safe systems of work, or ensure one is put in place

• Refuse to condone unsafe working practices by yourself or others

• Make sure your advice to clients will minimise the risk to the health and safety of others

• Make sure you are aware of any hazards which may exist

• If you are working alone, make sure you follow your organisation’s lone working procedures

Follow the dictates of “common sense”




b. Workplace safety

Contractors - anyone who comes to your building to work, or whom you put

to work, must be assessed by you to ensure they are competent,

a risk assessment has been carried out and a safe system of workhas been established.

Asbestos - everyone in control of premises must proactively locate and

manage any asbestos that exists.

Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA)

Legionnaires Disease

Welfare Facilities (where relevant):

Smokers, Rest Room, First Aid, Pregnant Mothers





Lighting levels

Loss of contact (lone working)

Possibility of fire/clarity of

escape route?

Confined spaces

Contamination or contact with

hazardous substances

Closed spaces (cold

rooms,vaults)

Vacant/unoccupied buildings

(Good Condition)





Slips, trips and falls

Falling objects

Falls from height

New build projects




Construction Design and Management Regulations

“A procedure for imposing better standards of

health and safety management by avoiding,

reducing and controlling health and safety hazards

faced by workers on construction and

maintenance sites.”




The parties under the regs – who are they?

• Clients

• Agents

• Planning supervisors

• Designers

• Principal contractors

• Contractors




•Prepare designs with adequate regard to health & safety, and to the information supplied by the client.

•Take reasonable steps to ensure that clients are aware of their duties under CDM before starting design work

The Designer’s Duties




Making clients aware of their duties:

• You should not start preparing any design work until the client is aware of their duties under the CDM Regulations.

• Reference may be made to guidance published by the HSC and the HSE e.g. Construction Information Sheet No 39.

• If considered appropriate advise the client to seek professional advice for help in complying with their duties.

The Designer’s Duties



1. Introduction


Training





Review of Previous H&S Training

i. The Health & Safety at Work Act (HASW)

ii.The Management of Health & Safety at

Work Regulations (MHSW)

iii.The CDM Regulations (CDM)



The Legal Background (HASW)

GENERAL DUTIES OF EMPLOYERS

Employers must, so far as is reasonably

practicable, safeguard the health, safety and

welfare of employees particularly with regard to:

• safe plant and safe systems of work

• safe handling, storage, maintenance and transport of (work) articles and substances

• necessary information, instruction, training and supervision

• a safe place of work, with safe access and egress

• a safe working environment with a adequate welfare facilities



The Legal Background (HASW)

Employees must:• take reasonable care of their own health and safety

• take reasonable care of the health and safety of others who may be affected by their acts or omissions

• co-operate with their employer

GENERAL DUTIES OF EMPLOYEES

and must not:

• intentionally or recklessly interfere with or misuse anything provided in the interests of health, safety or welfare (Section 2.8)



The Legal Background (MHSW)

Required an employer for the first time to specifically consider and to apply a hierarchy of

precautions to protect the health and safety of those whom they

are responsible.



The Legal Background (CDM)

“A procedure for imposing better standards of

health and safety management by avoiding,

reducing and controlling health and safety hazards

faced by workers on construction and

maintenance sites.”

• Application of the Regulations

• Parties

• Duties

• Documents

THE CDM REGS DO NOT MAKE IT MANDATORY FOR

ANYONE TO PRODUCE RISK ASSESSMENTS!



Introduction


Training





Issues Arising From Other H&S Legislation

1. A statement of the company’s intent to abide by all relevant

legislation

2. Various policies dealing with such issues as equal opportunities,

quality issues and the environment

3. The duties and responsibilities of their various levels of staff

Companies’ Health & Safety Policies are often characterised by: -

Implementation is often delegated to inadequately trained and/or unqualified junior/clerical staff



Introduction


Training





The Legal Background

i. The new Work at Height Regulations

ii.Re-examine the legal basis for risk

assessment

iii.The Risk Assessment Process



i. Falls from Height

ii. Why new Regulations?

iii.HSE Intervention Strategy

iv.The Work at Height Regulations 2005

1. Review of Previous Training and Update



2. LEGAL BACKGROUND TO RISK ASSESSMENT




The Management Regulations require an employer to now specifically consider and to apply a hierarchy of precautions which includes:

•Avoiding risks

•Evaluating risks which cannot be avoided

•Combating risks at source

•Adapting work to the individual, especially:

the design of the workplace

the choice of work equipment and

the choice of working and production methods

with a view to alleviating monotonous work and work at a predetermined work rate in order to reduce their effect on health




•Adapting to technical progress

•Replacing the dangerous with the non-dangerous or the less dangerous.

•Developing a coherent overall prevention policy which covers: technologyorganisation of workworking conditionssocial relationships andthe influence of factors relating to the working

environment

•Giving collective protective measure priority over individual protective measures

•Giving appropriate instructions to employees

The Management Regulations require an employer to now specifically consider and to apply a hierarchy of precautions which includes:




THE CDM REGS DO NOT MAKE IT MANDATORY FOR ANYONE TO PRODUCE RISK ASSESSMENTS!

Designers must:

•Prepare designs with adequate regard to health and safety

•Provide adequate information in or with the design

Since the introduction of the CDM Regulations many designers have seen the production of risk assessments as the only

vehicle for doing this!




Risk assessment is not the Holy Grail

Generic risk assessments must not be relied upon

THE HSE HAS SUCCESSFULLY PROSECUTED A PRACTITIONER FOR PRODUCING AN INADEQUATE AND IMPROPERLY

CONCEIVED RISK ASSESSMENT

Risk assessments should be specific to the project and properly considered by an experienced practitioner.




Designers do NOT have to do:

•Take into account or provide information about unforeseeable hazards and risks

•Specify construction methods, except where the design assumes or requires a particular construction or erection sequence, or where a competent contractor might need this information

•Exercise any health and safety management function over contractors or others: or

•Review and report on contractors’ health and safety performance (although, like anyone else, they should point out unsafe practices that they notice to an appropriate person, suchas the on-site manager)



3. HIERARCHY OF CONTROL



Hierarchy of Control Measures

The principles of prevention and protection are:

a) If possible, avoid the risk completely, by using alternative methods or materials.

b) Combat risks at source, rather than by measures which leave the risk in place but attempt to prevent contact with the risk.

c) Wherever possible adapt work to the individual, particularly in the choice of work equipment and methods of use.

d) Take advantage of technological progress, which often offers opportunities for safer and more efficient working methods.




The principles of prevention and protection are:e) Incorporate the prevention measures into a coherent plan to

reduce progressively those risks which cannot altogether be avoided and which takes into account working conditions, organisational factors, the working environment and social factors.

f) Give priority to those measures which protect the whole workforce or activity, and so yield the greatest benefit, i.e. give collective protective measures over individual measures.

g) Employees and the self-employed need to understand what they need to do, e.g.by training, instruction and communication of plans and risk assessments.

h) The existence of an active safety culture affecting the organisations responsible for developing and executing the project needs to be assured.



The Risk Assessment Process

a. Re-designing the works

b. Using alternative construction methods

c. Using alternative construction materials


1. Avoid by:





2. Prevent or control:




a. Using an existing workplace :-

A flat roof with permanent edge protection.

b. Using collective work equipment :-

Access equipment with guard rails (e.g. MEWPs,

scissor lifts, mast climbers, cradles, tower scaffolds,

independent scaffolds).

c. Using personal work equipment :-

PPE used so it is impossible to fall (e.g. work restraint).


2. Prevent or control by:




a. Using collective work equipment to minimise

“distance and consequences” :-

Nets and soft landing systems, such as air bags close

under work surface.

b. Using personal work equipment to minimise

“distance and consequences” :-

Fall-arrest system with anchorage points above head

(zero fall factor), at sternum (fall factor 1), or at feet (fall

factor 2); rope access, work positioning system.


3. Mitigate by:




c. Using personal work equipment to minimise

“consequences” :-

Personal injury systems such as life jackets when next

to unguarded water.

d. Training, instruction and other means :-

Ladders, stilts.


3. Mitigate by:

NB. PPE is a last resort not the first Port of call !!




Despite the overall improvement, poor practices which continued to figure in field work findings

this year were:

• production of vast quantities of paperwork with no useful purpose;

• ineffective communication of information about residual risks,

• lack of understanding of the needs of the contractor during construction and maintenance;

• and the use of running lines as the main control for work at height.

This indicates that both HSE and others should continue to develop guidance in these key

areas. It is hoped that the current consultation on the revision of CDM will help designers A...

move from the false comfort of producing vast quantities of untargeted and generic paperwork

where key messages are hidden.

The poor practices identified provide a useful guide to where further work and guidance

should be developed. The current consultation on the revision of CDM and the ‘less is more’

message should help particularly with the paperwork and communication issues.

Designer initiative 2005



4. THE RISK ASSESSMENT PROCESS PART ‘A’



The Risk Assessment Process Part ‘A’

I. Principles of risk assessment

II. Some definitions

III.Who prepares them and when?

IV.The HSE ‘5 step’ approach to risk assessment

V. E.R.I.C.

VI.Alternative evaluation approaches




1. The implementation of a systematic procedure to assist employers and self employed persons in identifying what measures should be taken in order to comply with:

– HSW etc 74 Act

– MHSW Regulations 92

2. To plan and organise work activities and make effective

arrangements for health and safety.

3. To enable control measures to be devised.

4. To provide a vehicle for monitoring and review.

The Principles Of Risk Assessment




• Provide a formal means of identifying the risks inherent in the works

and of communicating them to other members of the design team,

the Planning Supervisor and Principal Contractor.

• Identify the possible need for a safety method statements due to the

risks involved not otherwise being capable of being reduced to an

acceptable level.

• Provide formal documented information for the Principal Contractor

to use in site induction and pre-work briefings identifying the hazards

that operatives will be exposed to and the measures to be taken to

minimise the risks maintain their health and safety.

The Principles Of Risk Assessment





II.Some definitions



V. E.R.I.C.





• Hazard

Anything that has the potential to result in personal injury or

damage to property

• Risk

A measure of the likelihood and severity of injury/damage

• Population

The number of people likely to be affected by a hazard

Some definitions: -



The Risk Assessment Process Part ‘A’Risk assessments are carried out on daily basis, often unconsciously, by

everyone in their day-to-day activities - this may be considered to be a

qualitative assessment.

• For low risk, straightforward activities these assessments are a

relatively simple and straightforward process being based upon

the managers knowledge, skill and judgement and adequate for

their purposes.

For unusual, complicated or high risk activities where the consequences

of an accident may be particularly severe or widespread a quantitative

assessment must be undertaken.

• This type produces an objective probability estimate based upon

known risk information applied to the activities under consideration .




• there is a similarity of :

– activities– hazards– risks

‘Generic’ or ‘Model’ risk assessments (often included within organisations’

Health & safety Policies) are acceptable and can be useful where: -

• asbestos or asbestos containing materials

• ‘poor’ environments e.g. brownfield sites and refurbishment works

• installation of bulky/heavy plant or pre-fabricated equipment

and often relate to changing environmental conditions or locations

‘Specific’ risk assessments must be prepared on such occasions when these

will not be sufficiently detailed or address the particular circumstances e.g.

• there is constancy across:

– workplaces– sites– activities








V. E.R.I.C.




WHO PREPARES THEM AND WHEN?

Designers

•At every stage of the design process in order to comply with

Regulation 13 of the CDM Regulations 1994

Principal Contractors

•Prior to commencement of Construction Phase

•During the course of the contract due to changes in scope of

works, unforeseen circumstances etc.

Contractors

•Prior to commencing works on site. Generic assessments may be

adequate for some trades or activities









V. E.R.I.C.




• Step 2

Identify who might be harmed and how


THE HSE ‘5 STEP’ APPROACH TO RISK ASSESSMENT

• Step 1

Look for the hazards

• Step 3

Value the risks and decide whether the

existing precautions are adequate or

whether more should be done

• Step 4

Enter and record your findings

• Step 5

Review your assessment and revise it

if necessary




Step 1: Look for the hazards




Step 1: Look for the hazards

• Do they arise from?

– the location?

– the work itself?

– the plant or machinery?

– the process?

– the environment?

– the season or geographical

location?




Step 2: Identify the population

Who will be affected:

– the operative?

– occupants of the building?

– persons accessing the

building?

– maintenance personnel?

– the general public?




Step 2: Identify the population

Who will be affected:

Special categories:

– Visitors?

– Young workers?

– Expectant mothers?

– Physically disabled?

– Mentally disturbed?




Step 3: Value the risks

There are however main two factors that any risk analysis should take into

account:

• severity of the injury in the event of an event occurring

• likelihood of the event occurring

There are many different approaches:

•relatively frequent, straightforward tasks may simply be categorised as

being high, medium or low (the qualitative or descriptive approach)

•at the other extreme complicated mathematical matrices may be

utilised whereby elements are scored within a given range and the

scores added, multiplied or factored using advanced statistical

techniques (the quantitative or analytical approach)

Each of these must be weighted on the same basis to give a meaningful

evaluation - it is not possible to mix a descriptive measure of severity with an

analytical (mathematical) measure of likelihood.




Step 4: Entering the results




Step 5: Review and Revision

• Set a date for reviewing the assessment:

– this is best done at least annually

– or otherwise as deemed necessary

• When conducting the review take into account:

– whether the precautions for each hazard still adequately control the risk

– if not indicate the action needed

– note the outcome of the review

– if necessary amend the assessment or carry out a new assessment




Step 5: Review and Revision

Consider events that might make an earlier review necessary:

• Changes in the working environment

– new factory or site location

– identification of new health hazards

– introduction of new PPE

• Changes in working practices:

– factory prefabrication of components and building elements

– lone working or shift working

– introduction of new regulations

• Changes in technology:

– new processes

– new materials

– new machinery








V. E.R.I.C.





Eliminate the hazard/combat risks at source.

Reduce the risk.

Inform constructors and users of the remaining hazards and risks.

Control the remaining hazards and risks.








V. E.R.I.C.





As previously seen a major aspect of risk assessment is evaluating the risks by using a function of both severity and likelihood.

The evaluation of the risks enables actions for risk reduction to

be determined. A simple subjective method of conducting this

exercise that takes account of both of these elements would

be to rate each element Low, Medium or High in terms of their

increasing severity or likelihood.

Alternative evaluation approaches




A SIMPLE THREE-FACTOR APPROACH

High Fatality, majorinjury or illness

causing long termdisability

Medium Injury or illnesscausing shortterm disability

Low Other injury orillness

Severity






High Certain or nearcertain to occur

Medium Reasonably likelyto occur

Low Very seldom ornever occurs

Likelihood





This plot results in a rating ranging

fromLow/Low to High/High with other

action levels within the range.LIKELIHOOD

LOW MEDIUM HIGH

S

E L L/L L/M L/H

V

E

R M M/L M/M M/H

I

T

Y H H/L H/M H/H

Whilst a Low/Low rating may be confidently

ignored clearly a High/High rating has to be

addressed by redesign of the activity or

process to reduce the level of risk.

The ratings in between these extremes

though present great difficulty (due to the

narrative nature) in determining how the

activity or process may be modified to

reduce the risks to the lowest possible

level.






High Fatality, majorinjury or illness

causing long termdisability

Medium Injury or illnesscausing shortterm disability

Low Other injury orillness

3

2

1

Severity






High Certain or nearcertain to occur

Medium Reasonably likelyto occur

Low Very seldom ornever occurs

3

2

1

Likelihood






Replacing the descriptive Low/Medium/High terms with numerical values 1-3 enables the risk

evaluation to be quantified. A simple quantitative version of the previous subjective exercise

again taking account of the severity/likelihood elements scores each from 1 - 3 in terms of

their increasing severity or likelihood.

This plot results in a rating from ranging from

1 - 9 with 6 different action levels. LIKELIHOODSEVERITY

1 2 3

2 4 6

3 6 9

As before whilst a score of 1 may be confidently

ignored clearly a score of 9 has to be addressed by

redesign of the activity or process to reduce the level

of risk.

The majority of scores however lie between these

extremes though in this quantitative exercise a

pattern can be seen developing across the diagonal

from bottom left to top right!



5. DESIGN ISSUES AND REMEDIES



Design Issues and Remedies

Some typical design issues

The design must consider:-

• The health and safety of those who are going to maintain, repair and clean the building.




•The safe demolition of the building.

The design must also consider:-

Some typical design issues




Typical design issues to be addressed

•Plant Replacement Strategy

•Marking Drawings

•Access Around Plant

•Plant Room Floors

•Clear Walkways

•Reaching High Level Plant

•Steps and Walkways

•Door Thresholds

•Guarding/Signage on Equipment

•Soft Spots in Floors/Walls




•Crane Access/Hard standing for Future Plant Replacement

•Positioning of Luminaires

•Service Ducts

•Future Escalators

•Epoxy Resin Floors

•Emergency Battery Packs

•Drainage Materials

•Bunds

•Positioning of Traps

•Fire Dampers/Smoke Outlets

•Services Above Ceilings

•Motorised Shades/Blinds/Shutters

Typical design issues to be addressed



Design Issues and RemediesDESIGNING OUT HAZARDS

To design out hazards successfully designers must assess critically their design

proposals at an early stage and throughout the design process. The following section

identifies some areas over which the designer has direct influence. The areas cover

construction as well as future maintenance and cleaning requirements, but are not

exhaustive.

Understand how the design can be built and erected safely:

(a) take full account of the hazards that can arise from the proposed construction

processes; and give particular attention to new or unfamiliar processes, and to those

that may place large numbers of people at risk;

(b) where stability of partially erected structures is an issue , or the design is complex,

detail one method showing how temporary stability can be achieved during

construction; when refurbishing buildings consider the effect of the proposed work on

the integrity of the existing structure; and




Design out hazards including:

(a) fragile roofing materials; and

(b) deep excavations.

Consider prefabrication to minimise the amount of work at height, or to allow it to be

carried out in more controlled conditions on site including:

Where work at height cannot be avoided, design in:-

(a) edge protection or other features that expedite safe access and erection;

(b) anchorage points, etc. for nets or harnesses; and early installation of permanent

access.




Design to simplify safe construction including:

(a) avoiding conflict between processes;

(b) providing lifting points and marking the weight and centre of gravity of heavy or

awkward items requiring slinging;

(c) making allowance for temporary works required during construction;

(d) marking the weights of structural elements that require lifting on drawings;

(e) designing joints in vertical structural steel members so that bolting up can easily be

done by someone standing on a permanent floor;

(f) designing connections that can only be made in an unique manner to avoid erection

errors; and

(g) sequencing the work to ensure hard standings are available to aid steel erection.




Design to minimise health risks e.g.:-

(g) specify low solvent or solvent free adhesive and water based paints;

(h) design the length and weight of reinforcing bars to ease handling;

(i) specify lighter weight building blocks that are easy to handle; and

(j) avoid processes that create dust, noise or vibration, such as forming chases in

brickwork and concrete;




Design to simplify future maintenance and cleaning work, e.g.:-

(a) make provision for safe permanent access;

(b) specify windows that can be cleaned from the inside;

(c) design plant rooms to allow appropriate access and for the removal and

replacement

of plant;

(d) design safe access for roof mounted plant and roof maintenance; and

(e) make provision for safe temporary access.




Identify demolition hazards for inclusion in the health and safety file, e.g.:

(a) post-tensioned members;

(b) unusual stability concepts; and

(c) alterations that have changed the structure.

Designers have to provide adequate health and safety information about hazards that

remain after the design has been completed. Designers need to make clear to planning

supervisors (and to any one else working on the pre-tender plan) the assumptions about

work methods and the precautions so that they can be described in the pre-tender plan.

Designers also need to ensure that information is sent forward with their design

drawings,

etc. to inform those carrying out the construction work.




Designers do not need to mention every hazard or assumption as this can obscure thesignificant issues. They do need to point out significant hazards which are not obvious to a competent contractor or other designers, and those hazards that are likely to be difficult to manage effectively. To do this designers must know how the design can be built.

Examples of significant hazards that designers ought to point out include:-

(a) temporary bracing required to ensure stability during construction of steel or concrete

frame buildings;

(b) sequences of assembly or disassembly that are crucial to safe erection or demolition;

(c) specific problems and solutions, e.g. how to remove a large item of plant from the

basement of a building;

(d) hazardous or flammable substances specified in the design, e.g. fungicidal paints, or

those containing isocyanates;

(e) structures that create particular access problems, e.g. domed glass structures;

(f) heavy or awkward prefabricated elements likely to create risks in handling; and

(g) areas needing access where normal methods of tying scaffolds may not be feasible,




“since the last visit they [the design practice] have started having discussions with the

client at an early stage, developed greater awareness of risks on site, arranged more

targeted training, and moved from just looking at generic risks to concentrating on site-

specific risks. They believe that the initial visit had an impact on the practice and how

they deal with risks on site and train their staff”

Overall there has been a continuing improvement in designer performance over the last 3

years. Particularly noteworthy good practices identified by inspectors were:

• clients, planning supervisors and principal contractors proactively engaging designers;

• an increased number of designers who had identified sources of training to gain practical

knowledge on health and safety;

• health and safety being seen by many as part and parcel of design and not an add-on;

• an increase in team approaches to design; and

• greater success in reducing risk through the design process.

Designer initiative 2005



6. THE RISK ASSESSMENT PROCESS PART ‘B’



The Risk Assessment Process Part ‘B’

A FOUR-FACTOR APPROACH

Catostrophic

Critical

Marginal

Negligible

4

3

2

1

Imminent danger – capable of causing death and illness on a

wide scale

Serious illness or severe injury

Illness or injury – not expected to be serious

No serious injury – remote possibility beyond minor first-

aid case

Severity





A FOUR-FACTOR APPROACH

Certain

Probable

Unlikely

Remote

Likely to occur immediately or

very shortly

Probably will occur in time

May occur in time

Unlikely to occur

4

3

2

1

Likelihood





A SUGGESTED FIVE-FACTOR APPROACH


1. Identify the hazards



DESIGNERS HAZARD CHECKLIST

ACTIVITY

(Delete non-applicable activities) RESPONSIBLE DESIGNER

Falls

fro

m h

eig

ht

Bein

g s

truck b

y m

obile

pla

nt

Trippin

g

Colla

pse

Manual handlin

g

Movin

g o

bje

cts

Ele

ctr

icity

Conta

ct

with m

ovin

g m

achin

ery

Fire

Harm

ful substa

nces

Nois

e a

nd v

ibra

tion

Work

in c

onfined s

paces

Chem

ical or

meta

l spla

sh

Explo

sio

n

SITE SET UP

Site access

Site deliveries

Site compound

Temporary works

Pedestrian routes

Temporary screens etc

Works by public bodies

Works by nominated subs

Works by client's direct sub-ctrs

DEMS, ALTS & RENOVAT IONS

Asbestos removal

Other mineral fibres

Petrol/diesel tanks

Demolition of structures

Removing fixtures and fittings

Cutting openings

Building up openings

Shoring

Future demolition

SITE PREPARAT ION

Removing deleterious materials

Taking down trees and hedges

Site Preparation

SUBSTRUCTURES

EXCAVATION & EARTHWORK

Exc basements, trenches & pits

Pumpg/excvn below water table

Breaking out obstructions

Disposal of excavated materials

Surface treatments

Earthwork support

Filling & making up levels

Entry: confined spaces

PILING

Bored piles

Driven piles

Sheet piling

HAZARDS (Tick normal hazards but put a cross against unusual hazards)

DESIGNERS HAZARD CHECKLIST

(Delete non-applicable activities) RESPONSIBLE DESIGNER

Falls

fro

m h

eig

ht

Bein

g s

truck b

y m

obile

pla

nt

Trippin

g

Colla

pse

Manual handlin

g

Movin

g o

bje

cts

Ele

ctric

ity

Conta

ct with m

ovin

g m

achin

ery

Fire

Harm

ful substa

nces

Nois

e a

nd v

ibra

tion

Work

in c

onfined s

paces

Chem

ical or m

eta

l spla

sh

Explo

sio

n

Transformers

Power factor correctn equipment

UPS equipment

Cable installation

Cable support system

Cable chambers

Cable trenches

Testing/commissioning

LIGHTING INSTALLATION

Luminaires & lamps

Remote control gear

External lighting

Illuminated signage

COMMUNICATIONS/SECURITY

Signage

Equipment

Data cabling installations

Security alarm installations

DRAINAGE AND EXTERNAL WORKS

DRAINAGE

Surface water drainage

Foul water drainage

M/holes & inspection chambers

Sewer connections & dropshafts

Drain connections/diversions

EXTERNAL WORKS

Walls & fencing

Works to car parks

Works to roads & footpaths

Kerbs & edgings

Paving

Planting

Site furniture

Incoming mains services

Services diversions (pls specify)

Other (please specify)

HAZARDS (Tick normal hazards but put a cross against unusual hazards)





Likelihood Ranking

• Very Unlikely 1

• Unlikely 2

• Possible/May Happen 3

• Likely 4

• Very Likely/Certain 5

A SUGGESTED 5 FACTOR RISK ASSESSMENT MATRIX

2. ANALYSE THE MAGNITUDE OF RISK




Severity Ranking

• No Injury/Damage 1

• Minor Injury 2

• 3 Day Absence 3

• Major injury/Long Term Absence 4

• Death/Permanent Disability 5


A SUGGESTED 5 FACTOR RISK ASSESSMENT MATRIX






LIKELIHOOD 1 2 3 4 5

Very Unlikely 1 1 2 3 4 5

Unlikely 2 2 4 6 8 10

Possible/May Happen 3 3 6 9 12 15

Likely 4 4 8 12 16 20

Very Likely/Certain 5 5 10 15 20 25

SEVERITY

No I

nju

ry/D

am

ag

e

Min

or

Inju

ry

3 D

ay A

bsence

Majo

r In

jury

/

Long T

erm

Absence

Death

/Perm

anen

t S

evere

Dis

able

ment

A FIVE FACTOR RISK ASSESSMENT MATRIX




The Risk Assessment Process Part ‘B’Many other similar approaches have been advanced including rating the two criteria from

1-10 giving a range from 1-100 and introducing weightings for other considerations e.g. the

populations likely to be affected, resulting in complex (and very expensive) statistical

quantified risk assessment procedures.

Consider how an increase to a 5 X 5 matrix

increases the potential ratings giving a range

from 1-25 and 14 different scores!

6 8

6 9 12

8 12 16

1 2 3 4 5

2 4 10

3 15

4 20

5 10 15 20 25

Again the extremes are obvious and the pattern

developing across the diagonal from bottom left to

top right can also be seen.

Expressed in the range of scores from the example

opposite these are from low to high: -

1-2, 3-5, 6-9, 10-16, 20-25

Almost irrespective of the range of ratings the

increasing trend across the diagonals is a

predominating feature giving rise to an almost

universal five level approach to risk reduction!




From the previous example we might advance the following action profile: -

Score range 20 – 25 1st Rank Action Avoid, by re-designing if necessary

Score range 10 -16 2nd Rank Action Combat at source, by changing methods/materials

Score range 6 - 9 3rd Rank Action Control/manage the risk e.g. communal protection

Score range 3 - 5 4th Rank Action Minimise the risk e.g. PPE, safety harnesses etc

Score range 1 - 2 5th Rank Action Ignore, there is in reality virtually no risk

The objective must be to continually drive-down the risk throughout all stages of

design. Just because an assessed risk does not fall under the 1st or 2nd Rank

Actions should not be interpreted as being acceptable. No risk can be considered

acceptable until it has been reduced to the absolute minimum and then only if it can

be adequately controlled.

IF AT ALL POSSIBLE THE OBJECTIVE MUST ALWAYS

BE TO REDUCE THE RISK TO A 5TH RANK ACTION





A SUGGESTED FIVE-FACTOR APPROACH


3. Carry out the Risk Assessment, Review and Revise



ACTIVITY RISK ASSESSMENT

PROJECT: SHEET No:

JOB No: ANALYSIS BY:

DRWG REFS: DATE:

ACTIVITY/DESIGN ELEMENT POPULATIONS AFFECTED

Construction workers

Maintenance operatives

Staff

Patients/Visitors

Public at large

IDENTIFY HAZARDS TYPICAL HAZARDS

Falls from height (over 2m) Being struck by mobile plant

Trips and falls Collapse of structure or temporary works

Manual handling Being struck by falling objects

Contact with live electrical apparatus Contact with moving machinery

Fire Contact with harmful substances

Noise and/or vibration Working in confined spaces

Chemical or metal splash Explosion

INITIAL RISK ASSESSMENT WITHOUT ANY CONTROLS

INSTRUCTIONS Severity

Plot your assessment of the severity resulting from a failure incident against the likelihood of it happening by carefully considering the descriptive terms. Circle the corresponding square within the matrix and take action according to the indicated ranking level exercising the hierarchy of risk control described below. N

o inju

ry/d

am

age

Min

or

inju

ry

3 D

ay a

bsence

Majo

r in

jury

/long-

term

absence

Death

/perm

ane

nt

severe

dis

able

me

nt

Likelihood 1 2 3 4 5

Very unlikely 1 5th

Rank 5

th

Rank 4

th

Rank 4

th

Rank 4

th

Rank

Unlikely 2 5th Rank

4th Rank

4th Rank

3rd Rank

3rd Rank

Possible/May happen 3 4th Rank

4th Rank

3rd Rank

2nd Rank

2nd Rank

Likely 4 4th Rank

3rd Rank

2nd Rank

2nd Rank

1st Rank

Very likely/certain 5 4th Rank

3rd Rank

2nd Rank

1st Rank

1st Rank

5th Rank The risks are insignificant and can be ignored.

4th Rank Minimise the risk e.g. by providing personal protection.

3rd Rank Control the risk e.g. by providing communal protection.

2nd Rank Combat the risks at source.

Description of action rankings and risk control to

be exercised

1st Rank Avoid, re-design the works, use alternative methods or materials.

CONSIDERATIONS RESULTING FROM INITIAL ASSESSMENT OF RISKS

Design element or activity creating hazard or increasing risk Possible counter measures Y/N

PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE) CONSIDERED ESSENTIAL FOR THIS ACTIVITY

Hard hat Dust mask Miners helmet

Safety footwear Full face mask Buoyancy aid/life jacket

Gloves Respirator Air monitoring equipment

Overalls Ear defenders Two-way radio

Safety glasses Safety harness Personal Alarm

Goggles Lifeline Emergency air supply

REVISED RISK ASSESSMENT FOLLOWING RE-APPRAISAL OF DESIGN/WORK ACTIVITY AND WITH CONTROLS IN PLACE

INSTRUCTIONS Severity

Plot your revised assessment of the severity resulting from a

failure incident against the likelihood of it happening by carefully considering the descriptive terms. Circle the corresponding square within the matrix and if necessary repeat according to the indicated ranking level exercising the hierarchy of risk control described above. N

o in

jury

/da

ma

ge

Min

or

inju

ry

3 D

ay a

bsen

ce

Majo

r in

jury

/lo

ng

-

term

absen

ce

De

ath

/pe

rman

ent

seve

re d

isa

ble

me

nt

Likelihood 1 2 3 4 5

Very unlikely 1 5th

Rank 5

th

Rank 4

th

Rank 4

th

Rank 4

th

Rank

Unlikely 2 5th

Rank 4

th

Rank 4

th

Rank 3

rd

Rank 3

rd

Rank

Possible/May happen 3 4th

Rank 4

th

Rank 3

rd

Rank 2

nd

Rank 2

nd

Rank

Likely 4 4th

Rank 3

rd

Rank 2

nd

Rank 2

nd

Rank 1

st

Rank

Very likely/certain 5 4th

Rank 3

rd

Rank 2

nd

Rank 1

st

Rank 1

st

Rank

MAIN FEATURES OF DESIGN/WORK ACTIVITY DOCUMENTATION/ADVICE

Site safety file

Safety method

statement by PC

Incl. in Health & Safety File



7. COMMUNICATION WITH THE DESIGN TEAM AND CONTRACTORS



Communication With the TeamDesigners must include adequate health and safety information with the design:-

Information can be in the form of:-

• Notes on drawings (e.g. features requiring a particular sequenceof assembly)

• Registers or lists of significant hazards and control measures.

• Suggested construction sequences where not obvious (e.g. temporary works – specific bracing of an existing structure or item of plant).

• Strategy Documents for cleaning, maintenance, plant replacement.

• Residual risk assessment registers



Communication With the TeamContractors must pass on information to operatives at site level:-

Information can be in the form of:-

• Site inductions.

• Method statements.

• Safety briefings

• ‘Tool box’ talks.

• Site safety tours

• Safety reward schemes

• Improvement and prohibition notices



8. ANY QUESTIONS?


Risk Assessment for

Designers

CDM Regulations 2007

designers risk assessment

Education