Risk Assessments

What is the first step in conducting a risk assessment?

• ADocument findings
• BImplement control measures
• CIdentify hazards✓
• DEvaluate risks

Answer: The first step in risk assessment is to identify all hazards present in the workplace or activity. This involves looking for anything that could potentially cause harm.

What is the difference between a hazard and a risk?

• AThey are the same thing
• BHazard is an accident; risk is an injury
• CHazard is the potential to cause harm; risk is the likelihood and consequence of harm✓
• DRisk is the potential to cause harm, while hazard is the likelihood and consequence of harm

Answer: A hazard is anything that could potentially cause harm. A risk is the likelihood that someone will be harmed by that hazard and how serious the harm could be.

How should risks be prioritised in an assessment?

• AIn the order in which they were found during the walk round
• BAlphabetically, by the name given to each hazard
• CBy severity and likelihood combined✓
• DBy likelihood alone, ignoring how serious the harm would be

Answer: Risks should be prioritised based on both the likelihood of harm occurring and the severity of that harm. High likelihood + high severity risks require priority attention.

What is 'Control of risk' in health and safety terms?

• AEliminating every risk entirely, which the law requires in all cases
• BIgnoring the risk once it has been written down in the assessment
• CTransferring the risk to another contractor by putting it in the contract
• DMeasures taken to minimise or manage risks to an acceptable level✓

Answer: Control of risk involves implementing measures to eliminate or reduce risks to an acceptable level. Complete elimination isn't always possible, but risks must be controlled.

What is the hierarchy of control in risk management?

• AControls, Eliminate, Reduce, Replace, then Accept the rest
• BEliminate, Reduce, Control, then Accept whatever is left
• CEliminate, Substitute, Engineer, Administrative, PPE✓
• DReplace, Reduce, Accept, then Eliminate as a final step

Answer: The hierarchy of controls is: Elimination (remove the hazard), Substitution (replace with something safer), Engineering controls (design out the risk), Administrative controls (procedures), and PPE (last resort).

Who should be involved in conducting a risk assessment?

• AAn external consultant, working from drawings without visiting the site
• BManagement, safety representatives, and workers doing the job✓
• CThe site's insurers, who set the premium according to the risk found
• DThe HSE inspector for the area, who approves the assessment on site

Answer: Risk assessments should involve management, workers who perform the tasks (they know the hazards best), and safety representatives to ensure a comprehensive assessment.

How should findings from a risk assessment be documented?

• AOnly if serious injuries occur, because minor findings need no written record
• BKept in people's heads, since the team will remember what was found on site
• CAs photographs of the work area stored on a site phone
• DIn a formal document with hazards, risks, controls, and review dates✓

Answer: Risk assessment findings must be formally documented including identified hazards, risk levels, control measures implemented, responsible persons, and review dates.

When should a risk assessment be updated?

• AAt the end of each project, when the site is handed over
• BRegularly and whenever significant changes occur✓
• CWhen a new insurer asks for a copy for their records
• DJust once, because after completion the job is done

Answer: Risk assessments must be regularly reviewed and updated whenever there are significant changes to the workplace, work activities, procedures, or legislation.

What is 'ALARP' in health and safety?

• AAs Low As Reasonably Practicable✓
• BAssess, Log And Report Promptly
• CAccident Log And Risk Planning
• DAn electrical safety standard for testing installations

Answer: ALARP (As Low As Reasonably Practicable) is the principle that risks should be reduced to the lowest level possible, balancing safety against costs and effort.

In risk assessment, what does 'likelihood' refer to?

• AThe severity of the injury that could result
• BThe probability that harm will occur✓
• CThe number of people who could be involved in the accident
• DThe likely cost to the business of an accident happening

Answer: Likelihood refers to how probable it is that harm will occur. Risk is assessed by considering both the likelihood and the severity of potential harm.

What is a 'residual risk'?

• AThe level of risk present before control measures are applied
• BA risk that transfers to the client when the site is handed over
• CThe risk remaining after control measures are implemented✓
• DA risk that is no longer important enough to record anywhere

Answer: Residual risk is the level of risk that remains after control measures have been implemented. It should always be at an acceptable level.

How should hazards be identified in a risk assessment?

• ABy copying a generic assessment from a similar job elsewhere
• BBy waiting for incidents to happen and then recording their causes
• CBy investigating accidents, reviewing claims and reading insurers' reports
• DBy consultation, inspection, past accidents, and industry guidance✓

Answer: Hazards should be identified through multiple methods: workplace inspection, consulting workers, reviewing past accidents and incidents, and referencing industry guidance.

What should happen after control measures are implemented?

• ALeave them alone from then on, once they have been written into the file
• BThe work is finished and nothing further needs to be done
• CMonitor and evaluate effectiveness, and review regularly✓
• DOnly check them again if an accident or near miss is reported

Answer: After implementing controls, effectiveness must be monitored and evaluated. Regular reviews ensure controls remain appropriate and are actually being followed.

In electrical work, what is a key hazard to assess?

• AA cold working surface underfoot in the winter months
• BElectric shock from contact with live parts✓
• CHumidity, which is the main danger in electrical work
• DNoise levels from the tools being used on the job

Answer: Electric shock is a primary hazard in electrical work. Risk assessment must consider contact with live parts, arc flash, and thermal burns.

What is the significance of 'persons at risk' in an assessment?

• AThe workers in the immediate work area, as others are outside the hazard zone
• BAnyone who could be affected including contractors, visitors, and public✓
• CDirect employees, since contractors are covered by their employer's assessment
• DThe people named on the method statement, who sign to say they have read it

Answer: The assessment must consider all persons who could be affected by the hazard, including employees, contractors, visitors, members of the public, and emergency responders.

How should risk assessment results be communicated?

• AKept on file in the site office rather than communicated
• BOnly to the manager who signed the assessment off
• COnly in writing to head office for the central file
• DTo all relevant personnel in an accessible format✓

Answer: Risk assessment findings must be communicated to all relevant personnel through training, briefings, and accessible documentation so everyone understands the hazards and controls.

What is a 'control measure' in risk assessment?

• AMeasuring the size of the hazard so it can be recorded in the file
• BAn insurance policy taken out to cover the cost of any accidents
• CAn action taken to eliminate or reduce the risk from a hazard✓
• DA document that describes the risk and how serious it might be

Answer: A control measure is an action or procedure implemented to eliminate the hazard or reduce the risk to an acceptable level. Examples include guards, procedures, training, and PPE.

In the context of electrical installations, what hazards must be assessed for working at height?

• AFall risks, electrical hazards, and rescue procedures✓
• BThe air temperature, the humidity and the forecast for the rest of the week
• CNoise levels, dust exposure and the site welfare facilities
• DParking, deliveries and storage arrangements for the ladders

Answer: When working at height on electrical installations, assessment must cover fall risks, electrical hazards (contact with overhead lines), rescue capabilities, and environmental factors.

What is 'competence' in relation to risk assessment?

• AHolding employer's liability insurance, a CSCS card and a current DBS check
• BBeing good at writing up the paperwork and at filling in the standard forms
• CBeing friendly and helpful towards the rest of the team when they raise concerns
• DHaving the knowledge, skills and experience to conduct assessments properly✓

Answer: Competence for risk assessment means having adequate knowledge, skills, training and experience to identify hazards correctly and assess risks appropriately.

How should emerging risks and new hazards be identified?

• ARisks are fixed once assessed, so the assessment stands until the job changes
• BWait for the HSE to write to you about any new hazard that affects the electrical industry
• CBy reviewing the assessment once a year at the annual audit
• DThrough continuous monitoring, worker feedback, and regular updates to the assessment✓

Answer: Emerging risks should be identified through continuous monitoring of the workplace, feedback from workers, changes in processes, new equipment, and regular assessment updates.