Why Risk Assessment Isn\’t Assurance of Safety

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Special EventsSpecial Events

Risk Assessment

What is Risk Assessment?What is a Risk?

Seeking CertaintyWhat Sort of Risks?

How I do A Risk Assessment?What’s the result?

What is Risk Assessment?What is a Risk?

Seeking CertaintyWhat Sort of Risks?

How I do A Risk Assessment?What’s the result?


Risk Assessment

• the term has come from the insurance industry• seeks to eliminate risk• assess it using a high complex set of tables, data and formula

collected over a number of years• but it doesn’t always work - asbestosis, stress, employers

liability all could not be predicted 20 years ago• relies on a few wealthy gamblers• assumption of insurance payment should not be part of your

assessment

What is risk assessment?


Risk Assessment

• anything that relies on mathematics is only for your comfort its not reality - reality is uncomfortable

• it’s a check list at it simplest• it might be a quality assurance system - but this is not

the product• people are the biggest variable but you can influence

them



Risk Assessment

Risk Management• a systematic approach to reducing financial loss, loss

of life or loss of reputation

Risk Assessment• a detailed method designed to reduce or eliminate

the likelihood of risk• one part of the risk management process



Risk Assessment

• organisations and you need to pass the test of reasonableness

• is it reasonable to expect an organisation to have employed a competent person to assess all reasonably likely risks and make plans to minimise them??

• minimise the likelihood of a public inquiry, personal and corporate liability

• reduce the likelihood of prosecution• your own feeling of a job well done

Why bother ?


Risk Assessment

• anything that interrupts your plan or• anything you do• are there degrees of risk?• are you risk adverse or a risk taker?• do you accept that risk?• how do you know that the risk is acceptable?• impossible to eliminate all risks so modify your plan

What is a risk?


Risk Assessment

statutes : health & safety legislation building regulations codes of practice HSE and design guidance briefing information quality assurance systems feedback digests fixed reference points other similar events forum for discussions : journals case law reports

Seeking certainty


Risk Assessment

• within your control• who does the risk assessment

experience temperament knowledge risk adverse or risk taker authority within the company the recipient in the client organisation

• so use your best (most competent) person available for the job

Predictable factors


Risk Assessment

the variables• environment

the built environment may be fixed, but the other variables make it a different place every minute

• people• weather• culture• politics• timing

…….….which is why you need contingencies…...

Unpredictable factors


Risk Assessment

• experience of organiserexperience of organiser• type of entertainmenttype of entertainment : community, pop, sport, commercial, private

• public relations & marketingpublic relations & marketing : capacity of organiser to reach maximum audience, media, leaflets

• crowd dynamicscrowd dynamics : capacity, overcrowding, crushing, impact or collision, pushing, surging, profile, timing

• behaviour modificationbehaviour modification : alcohol consumption

• documentation : scale plans, programmes, meetings schedule

• slips, trips, falls : cable runs, floor surface, head height obstructions

• power supplies : gas cylinder storage, electrical testing, earthing

• access : disabled persons, other sectors of the community, security

• temporary structures : structural collapse, impalement, electrocution

• public & staff welfare : first aid, toilets ,food hygiene, weather provisions, cleansing, noise

• fire : brigade response, extinguishers, gas cylinder & fuel storage, exits, materials, emergency procedures

What sort of risks ? What’s the event ?…..


Risk Assessment

• fireworks or other display : flying debris, laser lighting, gas flame, water, compressed air

• communication systems : radios, briefing, signs, lighting

• method statements• command & control systemcommand & control system : single line of command, multi-agency approach, safety co-ordinator

• inspection regimeinspection regime : pre-event, during and de-brief

• insuranceinsurance : Public Liability, Employers Liability, Event Cancellation

• location : water : less familiar river, lake, tides, rescue facilities land : more familiar

What sort of risks ? What’s the event ?…..


Risk Assessment

• the basic process• physical inspection of the site looking for slips, trips and falls• assessment of the site for crowd dynamics using previous event assessment of the site for crowd dynamics using previous event

data, personal observations or evidence from similar eventsdata, personal observations or evidence from similar events• identify who the risk is likely to affect (public, artistes, or

employees)• assess each risk with no control using severity and likelihood assess each risk with no control using severity and likelihood

ratings (based on the three preceding points)ratings (based on the three preceding points)• identify the control or statement that no control is available• re-assess the risk using the severity and likelihood ratings to re-assess the risk using the severity and likelihood ratings to

identify the priority for resolution within the overall risk identify the priority for resolution within the overall risk management processmanagement process

How do I do a risk assessment?


Risk Assessment


Risk Assessment

• simple


Risk Assessment

• more complex


Risk AssessmentRisk Assessment Checklist

This list is not exclusive and is included for guidance purposes onlyYes No

1 Has the risk assessment exercise been conducted in acomprehensive manner by looking at all significant hazards?

2 Is the date of each assessment recorded?

3 Are the names and positions of the assessors given?

4 Does the risk assessment detail the following: location of work activity covered? the hazard(s) being assessed? the persons and total numbers likely to be affected by the

hazard? any persons who are especially at risk (e.g. young or

inexperienced staff, disabled, infirm or elderly)? the relevant legislation, ACOP or official guidance?

5 Does the hazard actually record the degree of risk associated withthe hazard(s)?

6 Is the risk recorded in terms of high/low/medium?

7 Is the risk calculated by reference to the likelihood of the hazardbeing realised in practice, the potential severity of outcome (i.e. theseriousness of possible injuries), together with the number of personslikely to affected by the hazard?

8 Is the actual risk calculated likely to be correct, bearing in mind yourknowledge of the organisations and conditions found on site?

9 Does the format of the assessment encourage an evaluation of thepotential for eliminating the hazard altogether?

10 Does the format of the risk assessment encourage an evaluation ofthe potential for significant risk reduction by changing operationalarrangements, or re-organising the work place or by some othermeans?

• what to do


Risk Assessment


Risk Assessment

• full documents from www.westminster.gov.uk/events


Risk Assessment

You should end up with the following:• priorities for attention• actions to resolve the outstanding items• assigned roles & responsibilities• clarity around who is responsible for what• a path for further resolution• assessment should result in an event safety manual or plan for use

during the event• a multi-agency/organisation approach• its only a complete risk assessment when the event is finished

What’s the result?


Risk Assessment

• gathered information• identified the risks• evaluated the risks• developed plans• reviewed and de-briefed

What have you done?


Risk Assessment


Risk Assessment

What do we do to minimise our risks and seek certainty?

• Planning Structures


Risk Assessment

Our Responsibilities

• to take measures to plan for the health & safety of the public

• to obtain a robust risk assessment for the event areas from the organiser

• to integrate our event risk management systems to ensure continuity for the rest of our services to our community


Risk Assessment

• scaffold and hoarding licenses• building works• street furniture, paving and highway condition• street cleansing and refuse collection regime• permanent and temporary public convenience provisions• parking enforcement• co-ordination of major utility works• street decoration

Our Planning


Risk Assessment

• controlling and defining boundaries to ‘event areas’• agreeing appropriate licenses :

• temporary structures

• street trading

• raising no objection to obstructing the highway• targeted crowd profile making behaviour more predictable• organisers have a budget to employ experienced organisations,

crowd management systems and manage the production

Predictable Factors


Risk Assessment

• weather• crowd numbers • communications fail• nominated staff fail to arrive for shifts• public transport around our staff bases fail• international or national disaster• other transport failure• Royal death

Unpredictable Events


Risk Assessment

• information late • no overall picture of the event• no one turns up• not enough resource to manage crowds• pinch points creating crushing• resources cannot move between outer limits or cross the City• looks unclean and untidy • major service failures locally

Potential Planning Failures


Risk Assessment

• Special Events chair an Operational Planning & Safety Group• London wide risk management for the large events• integrated policing plan led by Metropolitan Police

(BTP, MOD, City, Royal Parks Constabulary)

• integrated transport planning led by LUL(TfL, Railtrack, London Buses, DLR, River Bus,

Tramlink, ATOC)

• traffic management using Commissioner’s Directions and Temporary Traffic Orders

• first aid provision led by London Ambulance Service(St. John, Red Cross)

• health service contingency planning for hospital trusts

• ‘Event Liaison Team’ on site

Planning Process


Risk Assessment

• Metropolitan Police have New Scotland Yard ‘GT’ control open during the week to co-ordinate all public order issues

• City Council have representatives in an ‘Event Liaison Team’

On Site Planning


Risk Assessment

The ‘ELT’ and City Hall

GT

New Scotland Yard

LUL/TfL

55 Broadway

City

Hall

LAS

LFEPAAlbert Embankment

Royal Parks Agency

ELT

WCC LAS MPSLFEPA LUL GJO RHMilitary USRPA BTPLB WRVS

Production Management

Technology

Why Risk Assessment Isn\’t Assurance of Safety