Risk assessment

A risk assessment is a careful, systematic examination of the hazards in your place of work that could cause harm to people or damage plant or property. It is to be done before the work takes place and before the work and access equipment is selected.

• A HAZARD is something that has the potential to cause harm to any person, property or animal.
• A RISK is the likelihood of that harm actually occurring.

When carrying out a risk assessment, identify the significant hazards, evaluate the level of associated risk and indicate whether existing precautions are suitable to eliminate or minimise it. Any judgement of the risk should take account of the total number of persons who could be harmed and the severity of that harm.

The five-point plan

1. Identify hazards in the workplace

• Consider the area in which the rope access team is expected to operate and identify any hazards that could reasonably be expected to cause harm to your team members.
• Look at how anything you do may create a hazard for others. Prioritise hazards that could result in major harm or affect several people.
• Consider what effects other people may have on your team's safety.

2. Identify who could be harmed and how

Identify which team members and any others who are at risk from each hazard.

3. Evaluate the risks and decide whether precautions are adequate

One method of evaluating risk uses the formula:

RISK = Frequency × Severity

Frequency of an accident occurring has the values:

1. Highly improbable
2. Remotely possible but known to occur
3. Infrequent
4. Occasional
5. Frequent and regular

Severity of the consequences has the values:

1. Minor injury, no time off
2. Injuries resulting in up to 3 days off work
3. Injury resulting in more than 3 days off work
4. Major disabling injury (loss of limb, eye etc.)
5. Fatality

Multiplying the numbers together produces a risk rating:

Risk rating	Score
Critical	15–25
Significant	8–12
Minor	1–6

Hierarchy of control measures

If further precautions are necessary, apply the following hierarchy:

1. Remove the hazard completely.
2. Try a less hazardous material or option.
3. Prevent access to the hazard.
4. Organise work to reduce exposure to the hazard.
5. Increase the level of information, training and supervision.
6. Issue PPE and provide welfare facilities (e.g. washing facilities).

4. Record your findings and inform team members & others

Write down the findings and state how you will eliminate the hazard or control it down to an acceptable level. Communicate to all team members.

They must understand and comply with the contents of the risk assessment and the measures put in place to reduce the level of risk. If other people are in or around your team's worksite, inform them about any risks your work could cause them and what precautions are being taken.

A risk assessment should include:

• A statement of the significant hazards identified.
• The control measures in place and the extent to which they control the risks, plus the options and methods available for workmate rescue (cross-referenced to other documents).
• The persons exposed to the risks.

Keep the risk assessment for future reference.

5. Review and revise

Review your risk assessment at regular intervals and revise it when the situation changes:

• Hazards may change in the same environment over time.
• New equipment, procedures or materials cause new hazards.
• Changing working environments may introduce significant new hazards.
• Young or inexperienced workers joining the team may require further actions.