Health Safety and Environmental Management Procedures Manual

Title: HS&EP 1 Issue No. 02 Revision: 00

Controlled Copy Page: 7 of 13

RISK ASSESSMENT
The terms HAZARD and RISK are frequently used in Health and Safety Regulations and they cause
confusion.

Definition of Hazard and Risk

HAZARD The potential to cause harm. RISK The likelihood of harm occurring.

Consequence Chance
FATALITY Death or total damage. 4 LIKELY 5
MAJOR Incapacitated or major damage. 3 PROBABLE 4
MINOR First aid only 2 POSSIBLE 3
NONE Trivial, cosmetic damage 1 REMOTE 2
IMPROBABLE 1

ACTIVITIES

To simplify assessments it may be appropriate to break activities down by Site and work area
location.

THE ASSESSMENT

Review the tasks and activities in the workplace and identify their individual hazards.
For each hazard identified, consider the consequence and the chance of this becoming a reality.
Check the matrix for the effect and risk values and multiply these together to get the risk factor.
Check for the action priority against the chart shown.

(N) Risk is unacceptable and action must be taken to reduce it before

1st ACTION LEVEL
any work is done.
(M) Risk is marginal. Activity to be studied to reduce to an acceptable
2nd ACTION LEVEL
level.
3rd ACTION LEVEL (Y) Risk is acceptable. No further action required

NEVER RELY ON COMMON SENSE, ALWAYS CONSIDER MURPHYS LAW:

“If it can happen, it will happen”

USE MATRIX BELOW TO DETERMINE IF ACTION IS REQUIRED

LIKELY (5) 5 10 15 20 ACTION PRIORITY

PROBALE (4) 4 8 12 16
POSSIBLE (3) 3 6 9 12 1ST ACTION 9 - 20
REMOTE (2) 2 4 6 8 2ND ACTION 6-8
IMPROBABLE (1) 1 2 3 4 3RD ACTION 1-5

NONE (1) Trivial/cosmetic damage

MINOR (2) First aid only
MAJOR (3) Incapacitated or major damage (reportable under
(RIDDOR)
FATALITY (4) Death or total damage

13 September 2004 OP 07 Briggs Commercial Limited

Form No. F001C