Page 9 - HIL Operatives Training Manual V4 16022024_Neat

O P E R A T I V E S T R A I N I N G M A N U A L V E R S I O N 4

1.4 Risk Assessments and Safe Systems of Work
A copy of all risk assessments and safe systems of work will be available at head office. As part of
your induction you will be asked to read and demonstrate your understanding of the risks and control
measures identified. At any point please feel free to ask questions and take the time you need to
gain a thorough understanding of the risks that you may face whilst carrying out your daily activities.

1.5 Risk Assessments

• Risk Assessments, as required by Regulation 3 of the Management of Health & Safety at
Work Regulations 1999, will form the main strategy of the Company intention to minimise
risks and maintain an accident free Company. These will take the form of written risk
assessment where significant risks are identified. Local, residual, risk assessment will be
carried out by employees and contractors immediately prior to carrying out any work.
• Method statements, based on generic risk assessments, will be issued where the risk and
potential for harm are greater than normal or where called for as part of tender
documentation. Generally, all method statements relevant to construction projects will be
prepared by either the Company or the sub-contractor undertaking the work. Method
statements and risk assessments will be carried out by a competent person, who may be
an employee of the Company or by the Company's Health & Safety Consultant.
• Safety, health, environmental and fire prevention (SHEF) legislation requires employers
to make an assessment of the risks to the safety and health of his employees, to other
persons not in his employment and to the environment, arising out of the conduct of his
undertaking. Assessment is not an end in itself, but a structured way of analysing risks
and enabling the introduction of preventive and protective control measures.
• A ‘HAZARD’ is something with the potential to cause harm. This may include substances
or machines, methods of work and other aspects of work organisation.
• The ‘RISK’ is the likelihood that the harm from a hazard is realised. The extent of the risk
includes the number of people who might be affected and the consequences for them.
‘RISK’, therefore, reflects the likelihood that harm will occur and its severity.

1.6 Risk Assessment - The 5 Main Steps:
1. Look for the hazards - by inspection of workplace plans and procedures, ask employees
and their representatives and check incident records for trends.
2. Decide who might be harmed and how - consider employees' visitors and others, inside
and outside the area.
3. Evaluate the risks arising from the hazards and decide whether existing precautions
are adequate or more should be done. Ensure that the risk procedure considers
hazards arising from the location itself and pays recognition that for complex cases
hazards are to be identified by the use of specialist techniques.
4. Record significant findings and important conclusions.
5. Review the assessment at intervals, depending on risk and revise if necessary.
The following principles should be adopted when defining safe systems of work and other
preventive and protective methods:

1. Eliminate risks e.g., by avoiding the use of the hazardous process.
2. Substitution of a less hazardous process.
3. Combating risk at source e.g., by engineering controls.
4. Minimising the risk by the use of safe systems of work.
5. As a last resort, minimising the risk by the use of PPE.
6. In addition to the above, the provision of suitable and sufficient information, instruction
and training.

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