Health & Sciences HSAFE 1101 Unit 3: Health, Safety & Security in Health & Social care Grade 11 Risk Assessment

Health & SciencesHSAFE 1101Unit 3: Health, Safety & Security in Health & Social careGrade 11

Risk Assessment

Types of Hazards3 Be Able To Implement a Risk Assessment

Steps of Risk Assessment

3.1Risk Likelihood and Severity Scale

3.2 Calculating the Degree of a Risk

Types of Hazards3.3 Controlling Risk

3.4 Monitoring how the Risk is being

controlled

3.5 Reappraising the Risk

3 Be Able To

Implement a

Risk

Assessment

A risk assessment is simply a careful examination of what, in your work, could cause harm to people, so that you can weigh up whether you have taken enough precautions or should do more to prevent harm. Workers and others have a right to be protected from harm caused by a failure to take reasonable control measures.

What is a Risk Assessment?

What are the 5 steps in Risk Assessment?

Steps in Risk Assessment

3.1 Risk Assessment

Step 1: Hazard Identification:This requires you to “think the unthinkable”.You have to find hazards in:0 physical environment0 equipment0 infectious substances0 working conditions & practices0Security systems

3.1 Risk Assessment

Step 2: Identify Who Can be Harmed:For each hazard you need to be clear about who might be harmed; it will help you identify the best way of managing the risk. That doesn’t mean listing everyone by name, but rather identifying groups of people (eg ‘people working in the storeroom’ or ‘passers-by’)

3.1 Risk Assessment

Step 3: Evaluate the Risks and Decide on Precautions:Having spotted the hazards, you then have to decide what to do about them. The law requires you to do everything to protect people from harm. You can work this out for yourself, but the easiest way is to compare what you are doing with good practice.

When controlling risks, apply the principles below, if possible in the following order:try a less risky option (eg switch to using a less hazardous chemical);prevent access to the hazard (eg by guarding); organize work to reduce exposure to the hazard (eg put barriers between pedestrians and traffic);

3.1 Risk Assessment

issue personal protective equipment (eg clothing, footwear, goggles etc); andprovide welfare facilities (eg first aid and washing facilities for removal of contamination).

3.1 Risk Assessment

Step 4: Record Findings and Communicate to those Risks:Putting the results of your risk assessment into practice will make a difference when looking after people and your business.Writing down the results of your risk assessment, and sharing them with your staff, encourages you to do this. If you have fewer than five employees you do not have to write anything down.

3.1 Risk Assessment

When writing down your results, keep it simple, for example ‘Tripping over rubbish: bins provided, staff instructed, weekly housekeeping checks’, or ‘Fume from welding: local exhaust ventilation used and regularly checked’.

3.1 Risk Assessment

Step 5: Review Assessment:

Few workplaces stay the same. Sooner or later, you will bring in new equipment, substances and procedures that could lead to new hazards. It makes sense therefore, to review what you are doing on an ongoing basis.

3.1 Risk Assessment

Look at your risk assessment and think about whether there have been any changes? Are there improvements you still need to make? Have your workers spotted a problem? Have you learnt anything from accidents or near misses? Make sure your risk assessment stays up to date.

3.1 Risk Assessment

Likelihood Severity

1 Not very likely to happen

1 If it did not happen the harm would be minimal and could be dealt with by an untrained person (ex. might just need a plaster)

2 1 in 4 (25%) chance

2 Might need to visit a professional for advice or treatment (ex. might need stitches)

3 2 in 4 (25 5) chance

3 Would take a few weeks to sort out, but not a serious injury (ex. Could result in a broken arm)

4 3 in 4 (75 %) chance

4 Could cause serious injury or damage, but would eventually be resolved (ex. Could result in a broken leg)

5 Very likely to happen

5 The result could be permanent disability of a building or death

3.1Risk Likelihood and Severity Scale

When you consider how likely it is that something will go wrong and, if it did, how serious it would be, you should use a scale to grade your decision. The harm does not necessarily have to be physical injury; it could be psychological damage or harm to property.

3.2 Calculating the Degree of a Risk

Calculating Risks for Different Individuals

One factor that will impact on the likelihood and severity of harm is the type of individuals you are dealing with.

a)Older people: - If you are taking older people out, you need to be aware of their physical and cognitive(mental) abilities. - Outside paths may be uneven or slippery, or the path may be narrow for an accompanying carer to be able to walk alongside.


- Older people are more likely to be affected by extremes of temperature, so make sure they are wrapped well in cold weather, with a hat to reduce heat loss.In warm weather hats should be worn to protect from sunburn. You should take drinks with you. Consider the availability of toilet facilities including disabled.


b) Cognitive Impairment:Some older people develop Alzheimer’s disease or either forms of dementia. This affects their ability to remember recent events , communication skills, reasoning and understanding the world. There should be the enough number of staff to supervise them.


c) Learning Disability:People with learning disabilities needs a lot of time and practices to process the information. The information should be broken down for them. They can understand more than they express. Some have unclear speech, and some use sign language, such as Makaton instead of spoken language which is a hazard in case of emergency.


d) Sensory Impairment:People with sensory impairment such as hearing loss or poor vision present potential hazards. Special arrangements should be done in case of fire for ex if a person is Deaf.


e) Physical Impairment:Wheelchair users need to follow different instructions in case of fire. You need to consider their pathways to be clear in cases of emergency.


f) Children:young: Children have poor awareness of danger and need supervision . You need to consider if the child requires any special care as learning disability or physical impairment or chronic illness.


This involves what can be done to reduce a risk. There are several ways to do this such as :- Removing the hazard- Separating the hazard from people- Use safety equipment to reduce the risks

3.3 Controlling Risk

Sample hazard control measure

Hazard identified Control measures Examples

Play equipment Removing the hazard. Broken or faulty play equipment should be

removed.

Traffic on road Separating the hazard from people.

You should make sure the gate is closed and bolted so children cannot escape onto

the road.

Climbing frame Using safety equipment. Place soft mats underneath the climbing frame.

Sun Using safety strategies. Put sunscreen on children in hot weather.

Small climbing frame Using safety strategies. Restrict number of children using the climbing frame to

three at any one time.

Once a risk assessment has been completed, someone needs to recheck the measures suggested. This will mainly fall to the manager or senior staff responsible to get the approval.

3.4 Monitoring how the Risk is being controlled

Risk assessments only work if people read them and follow them. You need to appreciate them rather than regarding them as unnecessary work.

3.5 Reappraising the Risk

Risk assessment form

Identified hazard Risk Control Monitoring

Food poisoning from uncooked turkey

Likelihood=2Severity=5Risk=2*5=10

Food hygiene training.Supervision to ensure hands are washed all times and surfaces exposed to turkey are disinfected.

Staff to be in kitchen should be monitored step by step to ensure safety.

Reappraisal of risk following activity

Documents

Health & Sciences HSAFE 1101 Unit 3: Health, Safety & Security in Health & Social care Grade 11 Risk Assessment