Unit Aim
The aim of this unit is to provide Learners with the knowledge, understanding and skills to conduct a health and safety risk assessment and health and safety audit.
Unit Content
1 Understand risk assessments
When a risk assessment must be conducted: change in staff, change in procedure, review dates, change in suppliers, change in locations, change in resources, change in machinery.
The purpose, legal implications and importance of carrying out risk assessments: insurance, lawsuits, safety of employees.
Hazard: could cause harm.
Risk: likelihood of hazard causing harm.
Workplace hazards most likely to cause harm or loss: hazardous substances, trip hazards, electricity, machinery, chemicals, unsafe work practices, condition of office, condition of building. Methods of identifying hazards and risks: observation, anecdotal, interviews, accident reports, sickness reports, industry guidance, contact trade associations, look at instruction booklets.
5 stages of a risk assessment
- Identify a hazard
- Decide who could be harmed and how
- Evaluate risks and decide on precautions
- Record and implement findings
- Review risk assessment
Resources required for risk assessments: time, funding, records, and data collection tolls.
Information sources for risk assessments: anecdotal evidence, accident reports, observations, manufactory instructions, and sickness reports.
2 Be able to conduct a risk assessment
Methods for identifying hazards and evaluating risks following best practice: anecdotal evidence, accident reports, observations, manufactory instructions.
Areas where hazards with the potential for serious harm to health are most likely to occur are: warehouse space, building sites, chemical sites, production lines, heights, hazardous material storage, x-ray rooms, and kitchen.
Hazards that have potential to cause harm and/or loss: repetitive work, manual handling, noise, vibrations, hazardous substances, air contamination, computers, animals, slips, trips and falls, heights, machinery/equipment, electricity, transport, vehicles, fire, explosives, confined spaces, pressure systems, people, stress.
Confirming appropriate precautions are in place prior to conducting the risk assessment: observing practice, interviewing staff, speaking to the most useful staff, and confidentiality.
Assessing levels of risk and record significant findings on a risk assessment document according to organisations policies: forms of record, levels of risk, data storage.
Maintaining suitable and sufficient records following standard operating procedures: data protection, data policies, data storage, and accessibility.
3 Understand how to conduct a health and safety audit
Advantages and disadvantages of in-house and bought-in audits:
- In-house audit
- Advantages: costs, trust, control and flexibility, familiarity with organisation, confidentiality.
- Disadvantages: resource constraints, lack of knowledge and skills, complacency, bias.
- Bought-in audits
- Advantages: expertise and specialisation, objectivity, access to resources, benchmarking to similar organisations.
- Disadvantages: cost, confidentiality risks, less control, lack of familiarity with organisations.
The objective of health and safety audits for a range of industries: staff safety, public safety, and contractor safety.
The process of assessing the required frequency of health and safety: level of risk in the organisation, industry standard, practicality, cost, and staff levels.
4 Be able to conduct a health and safety audit
Assessing the competency of auditors and companies offering audits: reviews (online, social media, word of mouth), trials, qualifications, certification, and knowledge of the specific industry.
Agreeing audit programmes and reporting procedures: team discussions, pitching proposals, speaking to stakeholders (different language for different groups, comminution channels).
Carrying out audits in an organisation to meet agreed specifications: collecting research (observations, interviews, surveys), collecting documentation, and inspecting the workplace.
Reviewing and evaluating health and safety documentation of an organisation: identifying important documents, reading documentation, analysing documentation, understand requirements, accessibility.
Carrying out physical inspections and behavioural observations: observations (working, accident reports), inspections, recording observations.
Keeping records of health and safety audits: written documentation, digital records, speciality programmes, data storage, data protection.
5 Understand how best to use the results from a risk assessment or health and safety audit
The process of analysing the results of risk assessments or health and safety audits: gather information, categorise findings, review findings, document hazards, evaluate level of risk, trend analysis, root cause analysis.
Importance of dealing with, or promptly reporting relevant hazards and risks: accidents, lawsuits, workplace safety, legality, organisational reputation, prevents disruption.
How to identify suitable control measures: industry websites, instruction manuals, further training.
6 Be able to act on the findings from a risk assessment
Analysing data from risk assessment or health and safety audit using a spreadsheet program: import data, clean data, prepare data, summarising data, descriptive statistics, pivot charts, filter data, sort data, conditional formatting, risk matrix, trend analysis, conclusions.
Considering and prioritising where further controls are required: acceptable risk, vulnerable workers, resources.
Designing a presentation to present results from a risk assessment or health and safety audit: program choice, font, design, text, branding, imagery, aim, presenting data, prioritising.
Presenting results and reasonably practicable recommendations of risk assessments or health and safety audits to the responsible people: writing reports, making presentations, making the point, online presentations.
Taking suitable action to control or remove imminent risks adhering to organisation’s policy and legal legislation: acceptable risk, practicality, legislation, vulnerable individuals.
Reviewing and revising risk assessments and health and safety audits: creating a review schedule, applying feedback, following legislation, following organisational policy.
