Risk assessments

2. “A document used to prevent accidents and
injury of all concerned with an activity,
company
or location .”
The main aims are to;
 Eliminate
 Minimise
 Protect participants from harm

3.  Identify hazards
 Identify those at risk
 Assess chance of hazard causing harm and
grade risks

4.  Something that has the potential to cause
harm
 Eg: Water in a swimming pool

5. LIKELIHOOD DEFINITION
5.
Probable
Almost inevitable that an incident would result.
4.
Likely
Such an event is known to have occurred and represents a credible scenario.
An additional factor may result in an accident.
3.
Possible
Possible when additional factors are present but otherwise unlikely to occur.
2.
Unlikely
Conceivable, occurrence would require multiple failures of systems and controls or a
rare combination of factors.
1.
Very unlikely
Little or no chance of occurrence; would require a freak combination of factors for
the situation to result.

6. SEVERITY DEFINITION
5.
Major
Death or permanent incapacity would result.
4.
Serious
Serious (Major Riddor) injury/long term sickness/serious loss.
3.
Moderate
Reportable injury or temporary incapacity/moderate loss.
2.
Minor
Minor injury or illness/first aid only/slight loss/work restriction
1.
Negligible
No injury or illness/no loss

7. SEVERITY/CONSEQUENCE
Risk Rating 1.
Negligible
2.
Minor
3.
Moderate
4.
Serious
5.
Major
1.
Very unlikely 1 2 3 4 5
2.
Unlikely 2 4 6 8 10
3.
Possible 3 6 9 12 15
4.
Likely 4 8 12 16 20
LIKELIHOOD
5.
Probable 5 10 15 20 25
1-6
Low
May be acceptable; however, due care should be employed and task reviewed to see if risk
can be reduced further.
7-14
Med
Task should only proceed with appropriate authorisation. Where possible the task should
be redefined and/or measures employed to reduce the residual risk.
15-25
High
Task must not proceed. It should be redefined or further control measures put in place to
reduce risk. Controls should be re-assessed prior to the task commencing.