What is a Risk Assessment?Believe it or not you do them everyday!

This training module has been created

by:Mary N Harris ~Senior Security Specialist

Risk Assessment Risk Assessment Decision Matrix provides guidance

on establishing hazard categories as a starting point for evaluating risk. This framework can be used in any situation where death, system loss, or property, equipment or environmental damage is a concern. These categories require understanding the particular product or process being evaluated, and what the terms mean to an individual operation. Consider the following definitions of categories of hazard severity.

Created by Mary Harris ~ Security Specialist December 2011

What Is Risk? Risk: A combination of the probability of the

occurrence of harm and the severity of that harm.Harm: Physical injury or damage to health of

people. Note: This may be a result of direct interaction with the [machine] or indirectly as a result of damage to property or to the environment

Hazard: A potential source of harm.

What is risk?Residual risk: Risk remaining after protective measures

have been taken Risk assessment: The process by which the intended use

of the machine, tasks and hazards, and the level of risk are determined. (see matrix)

Protective measures: Design, safeguards and complementary protective devices, administrative controls, warnings, work procedures, training or personal protective equipment used to eliminate hazards or reduce risks.

Performing risk assessmentsThis training module will help you

understand the steps needed to take in order to perform a proper risk assessment.

Created by mnh 12/8/11

Decision matrix on risk assessment Catastrophic (1)~ Death, system loss, devastating

property damage or environmental damage Severe (2)injury or occupational illness, major

system or environmental damage Marginal (3) Minor injury, minor occupational

illness, or minor system or environmental damage Negligible (4) Less than minor injury or

occupational illness, or less than minor system or environmental damage

Probability Level Category Parameters Frequent (A) Likely to occur frequently Probable (B) Will occur several times during a product’s life cycle or person’s life

span. Occasional (C) Likely to occur some time during a product’s life cycle or a person’s

life span. Remote (D) Unlikely, but possible to occur during a product’s life cycle or person’s

life span. Improbable (E) So unlikely it can be assumed the occurrence may not be

experienced.

Occurrence ProbabilityOccurrence probability

Catastrophic Critical Marginal Negligible

A~ Frequent

B~ Probable

C~ Occasional

D~ Remote

E ~ Improbable

5 Simple Steps to Conduct a Risk Assessment

Identify the hazards ~ Take a walk around, talk to employee’s Decide who could be harmed and in what way ~ Establish groups that

are affected by the risks and hazards you identified in your search. People that are not in the workplace everyday- contractors, cleaners, visitors, etc. Various types of employees- new employees, expectant mothers, those with disabilities all face different types of risks in the workplace.

Establish Control Measures ~ Identify how you manage the risks at present and what further steps might be required to reduce the risks further as noted by law. 

Record the findings of your assessment and inform those at risk of the controls.~ What is your course of action, as some hazards can be easily fixed immediately, whereas some require more time to correct? A timeline is also useful to help establish temporary solutions for dealing with the hazards that will take longer to correct in full. Identify, assign and put a date on the responsibilities of those involved carrying out any of the changes Review the Risk Assessment on a regular basis

5 Simple Steps to Conduct a Risk Assessment

Review the Risk Assessment on a regular basis: Changes are always occurring in the workplace in order to remain current with policies and procedures. As these changes take place, it is important asses these areas when implemented into your workplace to reduce risk. Remain up to date on incidents that take place at work. Handle incidents immediately and record the actions taken to reduce the risk from occurring again- this allows you to remember to check up on this area during your formal risk assessment. Make your risk assessment an annual event.

Occurrence ProbabilityBlank worksheetOccurrence probability

Catastrophic Critical Marginal Negligible

A~ Frequent

B~ Probable

C~ Occasional

D~ Remote

E ~ Improbable