Risk Assessments

[LurkyTheHatMan]

Does the hackspace have any formal risk assessments? If so, would I be able to have a look at them?

[Jake Howe]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/nottinghack/6027319472/

[Michael Erskine]

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1WAh-Mjk0vlh4iUWw48Hm2-GACyqFhXJGYyZdw3x_EPM/edit

[Greg Milway]

:p
But seriously, I'm looking into this sort of thing for our little group (unfortunately we have to had over risk assessments to the powers that be, or otherwise no dice).

[Dominic Morrow]

Our little group? No dice?

Sent from my iPhone

[James Hayward]

The Loughborough uni group. No, we haven't done anything except a standard fire thing. All that meant was we got some fire extinguishers!

[Wendy]

i just looked at the links... made me chuckle proper :)

[Michael Erskine]

We employ common sense and expect others to do the same.

[James Hayward]

Are you claiming we've got common sense Michael?

[Wendy]

I used to work in a factory and had the pleasure of doing some of the auditing... basically if you are part of the uni, they should be able to tell you what you need to do and have a manual with the basics some where within it... but most of it will however, be common sense, they could make you write something up, i.e keeping walk ways clear of cables, safety goggles to be worn when using equipment and signs stating this near machinery etc

[James Hayward]

We should probably do 'proper' risk assessments soon.

[Michael Erskine]

Well, start with the Hackspace Manual and go from there.  Does the Uni require a risk assessment before allowing students to leave the building, cross the road and catch a bus? What level of insanity are we looking at here?

On Aug 30, 2012 10:58 PM, "Wendy" <missge...@gmail.com> wrote:

[Wendy]

I think It all comes under the Health and Safetly act... you can get a general idea from here

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/HealthAndSafetyAtWork/DG_4016686

when these people get picky they really do, the way we have all seen things change is comical to say the least... and you definitely can't cross roads ;)

[Michael Erskine]

Well, we're not an employer so that won't apply.

[Gent]

yeah your right, but the risk assessment would still be similar and like you said the common sense stuff :)

[Martin Raynsford]

I did a laser risk assessment for DMMF its a good place to start for that

[Dominic Morrow]

I've done a number of RAs for events. I've also done a butt tonne for work 

Sent from my iPhone

<Laser Risk Assessment.doc>

[Greg Milway]

We're fine for "general" use of the lab that we've been promised, but we'll need our own risk assessments for soldering, power tools, etc, so we can papercraft to our hearts content, but the moment we want to make some pretty LED stuff, gotta have the paperwork :/

[Michael Erskine]

Ok, so you need to do risk assessments for soldering. Doesn't sound too difficult. First google hit gives you exactly what you need. Who'd, have thought it? :-)

[Greg Milway]

I'd already found that. I was just hoping that you guys would be able to provide examples geared more towards a less formal situation that you might find in a hackspace.

[Nev]

Risk Assessment can be quite straighforward and doesn't necessarily need heaps of documentation.  The main thing is to document it so that you can prove you acted reasonably (should an accident occur!).  There's no law that lays down the method so here is one way to skin this particular cat:

 

Make a list of the hazards.  Could include fire, explosion, burns, entrapment of body parts, crushing, etc.

 

For each hazard:

- Decide the potential harm on some scale. Typically you could use abstract values of intensity (low/medium/high) or numeric scale (say 1 to 5).

- Decide the possibility (chance) of it occurring.  Again, can be low/medium/high or a numeric scale.

Now multiply the numbers or use a matrix for the abstract values to reach an overall risk level.  If you are working in numbers the result might be in the range 1 to 25.  In abstracts it could be insignificant/very low/low/medium/high/very high, etc.

 

Now decide what (if anything) you need to do.  This stage is called 'control measures'.  If the result was insignificant or a low number, you might say 'no further action'.  If it is medium level you probably need to do something.  If it is high/very high, you'll definiely need to do something.

 

If you need to take action, you select one or more control measures from a hierarchical list.  The acronym ERICPD is commonly used.  Start at the top and work down until you reach a practicable solution.  Here's some idea how this works, using 'road traffic accident' as the hazard.

 

E = Eliminate - turn the road into a pedestrianised area.

R = Reduce - Introduce a speed limit. Might still be a collision but death is less likely.

I = Isolate - Use barriers, subways, pedestrian bridges, etc. to ensure separation/isolation.

C = Control - Traffic lights.

P = Personal Protective Equipment - Pedestrians wear something light/bright, motorists wear seatbelts, cyclists wear helmets.

D = Discipline - Education, training (driver training, cycling proficiency) and we all learned to look both ways before crossing didn't we?

 

I spend a lot of time telling people not to go straight for PPE or discipline - start at the top.  Remember it's a hierarchy.

 

Last step: Re-run the assessment of overall risk to check that your control measures have (or will) indeed reduced the risk.

Make sure all this is documented.

Job done (though you should also review periodically)

 

There is more information on the websites of HSE, IOSH and NEBOSH.

[Adrian Godwin]

The thing that always puzzles me about risk assessments is : what
happens if you don't identify a risk ? Are you liable for for lack of
knowledge ?

[Mat Burnham]

Assess the risk that you'll miss a risk, and if it's low enough you're okay.

[Ken Boak]

I once went to a prestigious barbeque, part of the events at a Henley boating rally.

There was a risk assessment sellotaped to the marquee wall - most comprehensive, went into all the common risks and some of the less likely ones.

However it didn't foresee the half-wit who was running the barbeque, who collected up all the styrofoam food containers and plastic drinks glasses in a black bin liner at the end of the evening, then proceeded to burn them on the barbeque.

The black acrid smoke was unbearable and we had to evacuate the area.

Never saw that one coming.  Never able to predict human stupidity.

So - I am now somewhat cynical about risk assessments. ;-)

Ken

[Adrian Godwin]

What's the risk of missing a risk ?

It's risks all the way down ...

[Matthew Gates]

This story makes me think that risk assessments have something in
common with increasingly pervasive and detailed time recording systems
which rarely have a way of recording the hours spent trying to record
the time spent [wasted] using the damn time recording system.

hah!

Mouse

[Dominic Morrow]

I work in a government agency where Risk Assessment is king. In fairness there are several very real risks on a river bank working with an excavator or chain saw in high water to clear a flood sluice or even in working in a lab.

Nev had it correct when he said

> The main thing is to document it so that you can prove you acted reasonably (should an accident occur!).

That's what risk assessment is about.

Dominic

Sent from my iPhone

[Michael Erskine]

sooooooooo... do we need them or not? If we do, who's gonna do them?

[Dominic Morrow]

If someone will put together or find a good template and a list of tasks that require them I'll do a few examples.

Dominic

Sent from my iPhone

[Michael Erskine]

On 11 September 2012 13:22, Dominic Morrow <notti...@gmail.com> wrote:
> If someone will put together or find a good template and a list of tasks that require them I'll do a few examples.

But do we need to have them? Are we required, as an organisation, to
have these things in place?

If not I'd argue against their production (and may be inclined to
destroy any I find :) )

[James Hayward]

Yes, we are required by our insurance to manage risks.

[Michael Erskine]

On 11 September 2012 14:14, James Hayward <jhaywa...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Yes, we are required by our insurance to manage risks.

But quite specifically with risk assessments?

[James Hayward]

I don't think so, no.  I think we need documentation, but not specified what.  I think risk assessments are the least laborious though!

[Gent]

If you'd like me to type it up i can help and have the shared document from Michael ... don't know all the equipments names etc though.  Just let me know :)

[Nev]

Examples of Risk Assessment from HSE attached.

 

Risks should be assessed by a 'competent person'.  This is to ensure that no significant hazards are overlooked.  As a start you'd have to be familiar with all aspects of the equipment and environment to be able to list applicable hazards.

  

Just a note on law, although the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 probably doesn't apply here (unless HackSpace has one or more employees), common law 'Duty of Care' and liability under civil law probably do.