Risks and Hazards

Hazard

Hazard is anything with the potential to cause harm. For example, uneven or wet floors or cables stretched across walkways.

Risk

Risk is the likelihood and consequences of that harm occurring.

Significant risk

As the term suggests, significant risk is not trivial in nature and is capable of posing a real risk to health and safety. Action needs to be taken to control the risk if reasonable. Reasonable in the context of health and safety is where the cost of action to control the risk is proportionate to the reduction in the risk. Cost includes time and effort as well as money.

Safe

Safe is about being protected from, or not exposed to, danger or risk.

Risk Assessment

There are five steps to carrying out a risk assessment.

Step 1

Identify the hazards.

Step 2

Decide who might be harmed and how.

Step 3

Evaluate the risks and decide on precautions.

Step 4

Record your findings and implement them.

Step 5

Review your assessment and update if necessary

A risk assessment involves identifying hazards that have the potential to cause harm and ensuring that the associated risks are well controlled. You must:

· Know about the hazards and risks in your workplace
· Control the risks where necessary and practicable
· Make sure the risks stay controlled

Risk is a part of everyday life. You must:

· Identify the significant risks that affect you
· Know what to do to manage those risks responsibly
· Be mindful that you can’t eliminate all risk

Slips, Trips and Falls

Slips, trips and falls can happen anywhere. They are the biggest cause of serious injuries to healthcare workers, service users and others.

Prevent slips, trips and falls by:

Conducting appropriate risk assessment
Being conscientious about your own personal behaviour
Wearing sensible, suitable footwear
Cleaning up and reporting spillages
Removing and reporting obstructions
Keeping walkways and work areas clear and well lit
Planning cleaning schedules appropriately

Incidents and near misses should be reported:

To prevent/minimise risks and incidents by learning and implementing appropriate change
For patient safety and a safer working environment
To comply with legislation (RIDDOR)
To comply with the organisation’s policies
To maintain a record of events and actions
To identify trends
To encourage openness and fairness

Refer to your local policies and procedures for reporting procedures.

Session Summary

Key Points

· Your organisation's policies, guidelines and procedures in relation to health, safety and welfare should be readily available on your organisation's website or intranet

· You should find out who your health, safety and welfare leads and advisors are

· To keep the workplace safe, employees must:

o Work safely

o Wear any PPE that is required

o Follow policies and procedures

o Report unsafe activities

o Report unsafe situations or conditions - make them safe if you can without putting yourself at risk

· Employers have a legal duty to consult with employees on health and safety matters

· Employers have legal responsibility under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 to ensure the health, safety and welfare at work of their employees

· There is health and safety legislation that relates to different workplaces. It's important to know how workplace legislation applies to you

Next Steps

Continue to the Health, Safety and Welfare eAssessment. This should be completed to demonstrate the required knowledge and understanding and to complete the training. Remember to also familiarise yourself with local procedures.

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