General Risk Assessment
Management Unit
Assessment Date
Assessor’s Name
Description of Task
Risk identification
Hazard Potential
consequences
Ventilation
Inadequate There is a risk that
level of building ventilation
ventilation in systems that are not
general areas running, or lack of natural
ventilation, will leave
areas poorly ventilated. If
an infected individual is
present, this may allow
increased build-up of viral
particles and a
consequently increased
infective risk to other
occupants of that area.
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University of Glasgow Location (Site / Building / Room) All buildings
10th May 2020 Review Date Ongoing review Version 1.1
David McLean Head of SEPS
David Harty Job Title Safety and Compliance Manager, Estates
Billy Ferguson Engineering Services Manager, Estates.
Assessment of Covid-19 risk from building natural ventilation and mechanical ventilation systems
Risk assessment Risk management
Inherent Risk Control measures Residual Additional control measures and comments
risk risk
Risk rating
Likelihood
Risk rating
Likelihood
Impact
Impact
2 3 6 • Encourage users of naturally 1 3 3 Where practicable, consider increasing ventilation rates.
ventilated areas to open
windows – this is advised in Note that there is NO defined air change rate that must be
the campus guides. met other than normal workplace basic ventilation
• Check that building requirements. However, greater air flow is beneficial in
mechanical ventilation increasing dilution of viral particles and aerosols.
systems are functioning as
part of the building pre-
opening planning process –
This is part of Estates
checklist system
• Ensure through ongoing
routine checks and
maintenance, that

Inadequate There is a risk that some
level of multi-occupancy rooms
ventilation in may have a low level of
specific areas. air flow and dilution. This
(rooms lacking may allow increased
openable build-up of viral particles
windows of within occupied areas.
mechanical
ventilation)
Risk of Covid There is potentially a
spread through small increased risk of
natural air infection if ventilation and
movement and air movement within
natural multi-occupancy rooms is
ventilation inappropriate. In all cases
an infective individual
must be present for the
hazard to exist.
mechanical ventilation
systems remain operational
and that airflows are at least
at normal levels.
3 3 9 • Lower occupancies may 2 3 6 Multi-occupancy use of any small unventilated areas should
reduce usage below that of be limited by Schools/Services.
normal operation.
• The main transmission route
is much more likely to via
person- to-person contact
and by direct contact with
contaminated surfaces.
• There is no increased risk
within singly occupied areas.
• Any failures of equipment
can be reported via normal
Works Request systems.
• Work areas that lack either
an openable window or
mechanical ventilation can
be reported via the Works
Request system for
improvements to be
considered.
2 3 6 • Overall, the risk is judged to 1 3 3 Opening of windows to increase ventilation is encouraged and
be low in comparison to creates an overall benefit due to dilution effects.
more typical transmission
routes of person-to-person
contact and touching of
surfaces.
• Most people who are
infective and symptomatic
will not be present within
the workplace.

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 • Dilution ventilation is highly
effective in reducing the
concentration of viral
particles in the air and risk of
infection and forms a key
control approach.
Risk of Covid There is a risk that 3 3 9 • Air movement within any 2 3 3 Local users should consider airflows from fans or local air
spread by desk mechanically induced air room creates a risk of handling units. If these are blowing directly from one person
fans or local air currents within a room distributing aerosols more to another in a multi-occupancy room managers may wish to
handling units will create an increased directly to other parts of the consider repositioning staff to avoid this or switching off units
which may risk of viral aerosol spread room should someone who that only circulate air within the room.
create air between room occupants. is infected cough or sneeze
movement into the airstream. Mechanical ventilation systems that introduce fresh air are
within a room • Air movement may likely to provide and overall positive benefit due to dilution
potentially move droplets effects.
either towards, or away from
another occupant.
Depending on circumstances
this may either increase, or
lower, the risk of
transmission.
• A risk exists only in multi
occupancy rooms and if an
infected person is present.
This is a relatively low risk.
• If sharing a room with an
infected individual the
person-to-person
transmission and surface
transmission routes are likely
to be the dominant risks to
consider with in-room air
movement being only a
secondary factor.
• Overall, the benefit, or risk,
of local air movement will
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 depend on local factors. This
will need to be assessed on
that basis by local managers.
Risk of Covid There is a risk that 1 3 3 • Spread cannot occur unless 1 3 3 Use of alternative hand drying arrangements, such a paper
spread by hand mechanically induced air an infected person is present towels, may present equivalent risks if waste disposal
drier units currents within the room and has significant hand arrangement are poor. Individuals may be reluctant to touch
within toilets. will distribute aerosols contamination. This risk is bins to fully deposit towels correctly
containing viral particles. expected to be low, and
reducing over time.
• Hand driers will be used
after individuals have
washed their hands.
Provided this is done
thoroughly there should be
minimal viable virus present
when the hand drier is used.
• Less thorough hand washing
will still reduce viral load to a
substantial degree.
• Few people will occupy the
area simultaneously. Many
areas will have single
occupancy only.
• The risk of significant spread
through the use of hand
driers is considered low and
comparable to the existing
background risk of an
individual breathing
/coughing /sneezing in an
area.
Air movement There is a perceived risk 2 3 6 • Although the virus can 1 3 3 Air recirculation within a building system should be switched
via building that movement of air spread by an airborne route off, if this is reasonably practicable. However, this may not
ventilation that from one part of a conventional physical always be achievable and may introduce other issues.
includes a building to another via a distancing is designed to
recirculation building ventilation counter this by keeping
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element may system incorporating individuals apart. This serves For example, reducing, or stopping, recirculation may result in
distribute virus some recirculation of to lessen the viral load that more fresh air being drawn and lower room temperatures and
particles building air may allow any infected person can pass so may not be an acceptable user option, particularly in colder
around a viral spread. to another on the basis that conditions where heating elements may not be able to meet
building. most virus containing aerosol the full demand using external air only.
droplets fall to the ground in
the intervening 2m. A similar See industry guidance
reduction is likely to occur https://www.rehva.eu/fileadmin/user_upload/REHVA_COVID-
limiting significant entry of 19_guidance_document_ver2_20200403_1.pdf
large aerosol particles to
ventilation extracts.
• Ventilation systems, by their
nature create a substantial
dilution of air within them.
Mixing and dilution of any
viral aerosol within the
system will substantially
lower any concentrations of
viral particles that may be
drawn in from a room where
an infective individual may
be present.
• Airflow within the system
will create a rapid drying
effect on any small aerosols
entering reducing viral
particle reducing viability.
• Few infective people are
likely to be at work to create
an initial source of infection.
• Although air may be
circulated by some
mechanical systems it is
judged fairly unlikely that
viral aerosol would be
distributed in sufficient

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 quantity and at a high
enough viable concentration
to create a significant
transmission route.
• The risk is assessed as
relatively low in comparison
to the more obvious risks of
person-to-person contact
and surface contact.
• The substantial dilution
benefits of running a
ventilation system are
considered to outweigh the
theoretical risk of air
recirculation.
Maintenance
Tasks
Risk to There may be a risk that 2 3 6 • There is a low likelihood of 1 3 3 Apply standard risk assessment practices and physical
operatives operatives come into viral particles entering distancing when work on systems is required.
during contact with infective ventilation systems in
maintenance of viral material during significant quantity for
ventilation system maintenance and reasons outlined in the
systems. cleaning. preceding sections.
(excluding filter • System surfaces that are
changes) designed to facilitate airflow
will not tend to retain viral
particles.
• The drying effect of airflow
within ductwork will tend to
reduce the viability of viral
particles more rapidly than
would otherwise occur.
• The risk from work on
ventilation inlets, extracts,

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 ductwork and air handlers
will be low.
Risk to There may be a risk that 3 3 9 • By their nature filters are 2 3 6 Working practices should be managed by a task specific risk
operatives operatives come into designed to trap particulate assessment and should include use of gloves, protective
during contact with infective material and so present a overalls (preferably disposable if significant dust
discharge or viral material during higher risk of retaining viral contamination is expected) and eye protection. A respirator
recirculation system filter changes. particles than smooth may be required if the specific task assessment indicates a
filter change ductwork. likely disturbance of significant quantities of dust.
within • Inlet filters present no risk as
ventilation they are filtering only fresh
systems. air.
• Discharge and recirculation
flow filters may potentially
trap particles drawn in from
the building air. Many are
not HEPA filter standard and
will not trap viral size
particles.
• The quantities of viral
particles drawn into the
system are likely to be low
for the various reasons
identified above.
• Although materials will be
accumulated on the filter
over its lifetime, no
substantial quantity of viable
material will be retained
over this long a time period
due to the drying effect of
constant airflow. The risk of
viable infective material
being present, in quantity,
on the filter at any point in
time is low.

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 • The risk of infection by Covid
from work with filters may
be judged similar to the pre-
existing risk from other
airborne virus such as cold or
flu. Similar industry standard
working practices should
therefore be adequate.
• The risk will be primarily
nuisance dust, or allergy,
rather than infection.

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Risk Rating Calculator
Likelihood that hazardous event will occur Consequence of hazardous event
1 Very unlikely 1 Insignificant (no injury)
2 Unlikely 2 Minor (minor injury requiring first aid only)
3 Fairly likely 3 Moderate (Up to three days absence)
4 Likely 4 Major (More than seven days absence)
5 Very likely 5 Catastrophic (Permanent injury or death)

Action Level Table

Risk Rating Risk Level Actions to be taken
STOP! Stop the activity and take immediate action to reduce the risk, a detailed plan should be developed and
20 – 25 Very High Risk
implemented before work commences or continues. Senior management should monitor the plan.
Urgent Action! Take immediate action and stop the activity if necessary, maintain existing controls rigorously. The
15 – 16 High Risk
continued effectiveness of control measures should be monitored periodically.
Moderate risks may be tolerated for short periods while further control measures to reduce the risk are
Action
8 – 12 Moderate Risk being planned and implemented. Improvements should be made within the specified timescale, if these are
possible.
Monitor Look to improve at the next review or if there is a significant change. Monitor the situation periodically to
3–6 Low Risk
determine if new control measures are required.
No Action No further action is usually required but ensure that existing controls are maintained and reviewed
1–2 Very Low Risk
regularly.

Some example hazards that may apply to the activity (not exhaustive)
Working at height Noise Lighting (including strobe lighting) Fire and explosion
Falling objects Vibration Compressed air Hazardous chemicals
Slippery, uneven or worn floors Hand tools Magnetic fields Biological risks / disease
Obstructions and projections Repetitive hand / arm movement Pressure systems Animals
Confined spaces Machine operation Needles and sharps Compressed Air
Mechanical Lifting Manual Handling Lasers Hydraulic systems
Poor housekeeping Vehicle movements Ionising and non-ionising radiation Other (please specify on assessment)

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