RISK ASSESSMENT - SHEET 2

QAD 210.13.14
TASK ANALYSIS SCHEDULE

Task Code Involved Personnel

T17
Fabrication, Maintenance and Personnel in the immediate area
Using Portable
Hand Tools PO = PROBABILITY OF OCCURRENCE - RISK LEVEL = HIGH (H) – MEDIUM (M) - LOW (L)
CO = CONSEQUENCE OF OCCURRENCE - RISK LEVEL = HIGH (H) – MEDIUM (M) - LOW (L)
Note that should an H – High PO and an H – High CO be recorded together for a risk
exposure, the risk is unacceptable and further control measures are required.
Risk Exposure Control Measures PO CO

 Eye injuries – Are common within the  The company operates a Mandatory eye
engineering fabrication industry and must be protection policy. Light eye protection
strictly controlled. shall be worn in all fabrication work areas
and other work areas where there is risk of
 Personnel must remember at all times that “ eye injury i.e. maintenance work shops
their eyes are irreplaceable and also the easiest etc.
point of entry into the brain.
THIS SHALL BE ADHERED TO AT
ALL TIMES

 SEE RISK ASSESSMENT T16

GRINDING OPERATIONS

 Eye protection (GOGGLES – MINIMUM)

shall be worn at all times whilst operating
powered hand tools.
M M

 Burns / Grazing – Grazing type burns are not
uncommon, this is generally caused by
kickback or momentary loss of control by the
operator.
 Toolbox talks are an effective method of
raising awareness to the hazards of
grinding operations.
 Personnel shall maintain a two-handed
control of the grinder at all times.

 Gauntlets shall be worn whilst operating

grinders to protect the hands and forearms
in case of kickback during use.
M L

H:WORD/SAFETY/RISKASSESS/T17
 Vibration White Finger – Is the loss of blood  Personal protective equipment shall be
circulation in the fingers and arms creating
permanent numbness. This is now known as
HAVS – Hand and Arm Vibration Syndrome
and is contracted by prolonged periods of 
using vibration generating equipment such as
hand held grinding machines.
 Slips, Trips and Falls – Hoses and cables  Good housekeeping shall be maintained at
around work sites cause tripping hazards with
can lead to serious potential injury.
 Over exposure To Dust and Fume – Caused 
by grinding operations on steel, exotic
materials such as cunifer, nickel, etc, or toxic
materials when grinding painted surfaces.
 Hearing Damage – Personnel can suffer both
short term and long term hearing damage when
exposed to noise levels above 85 dBa.
Grinding operations can and do generate noise
levels above this level.
worn at all times (i.e. heavy leather
gauntlets), natural breaks to be taken as
and when possible
 Any new grinding equipment procured
shall be the type that is designed with anti
vibration dampers fitted
 The risks shall identified at the site
induction stage and toolbox talks.
H M
all times.
 Cables and hoses shall ever possible be
secured overhead to remove the risk
 If cables and hoses etc. must run across
the floors, then they shall routed, secured,
highlighted with barrier tape or covered to
prevent personnel tripping over them.
H L
Personnel shall use fume extraction when
ever possible
 Operators shall wear suitable respiratory
protective equipment i.e. air or battery
powered face shield or at least a
particulate mask.
 Personnel in the immediate area shall also
wear a particulate mask.
M M
 An assessment shall be carried out to
identify the levels of noise for which
personnel are exposed (SHE Officer)
 Personnel shall wear ear protection whilst
carrying out grinding operations and
when working in noisy environments
above 85 dBa.
H L
H:WORD/SAFETY/RISKASSESS/T17
 Inadequately Mounted Discs – Incidents can 
occur when grinding discs come free and fly
off during use. This is mainly due to
inadequate positioning and securing of the
discs on the grinder.  Personnel shall ensure that discs are fitted
 Parting of Air Hoses – Air hoses can part at
joints and whiplash causing injury.
 Working with Electrically Powered Hand 
Tools – Electric shock, electric burns and
possible Death can be caused by a number of
factors such as damaged or inadequate
insulation, inadequate over current protection, 
inadequate earthing, loose contacts and
connectors and or poor maintenance and
testing etc.
Only trained and authorised personnel
shall be permitted to change the grinding
discs.
correctly to the grinders and all the points
from the training of authorised personnel
shall be adhered to.
 Grinders shall not be used without the
guards in position.
M L
 Hose retaining straps shall be used where
any joint is made or where a claw joint is
present.
M L
Supervisors shall ensure that all
equipment in use is adequate for the task
and in good condition.
All operators shall check the hand tools
for defects prior to use.
 The maintenance department shall
maintain all electrically powered hand
tools on a regular basis including visual
inspection and PAT testing.
L L
H:WORD/SAFETY/RISKASSESS/T17
 Working with regular hand tools – Injuries  Hand tools inspections shall be part of the
can be caused to personnel when hand tools regular safety inspections carried out by
are not used correctly, the wrong tool for the the SHE officer.
job is used or damaged tools are used.
 All operators shall check the hand tools
for defects prior to use.

 The correct use of hand tools shall be a

regular item on shop floor toolbox talks.

 Hand tools issued from the stores shall be

inspected for defect prior to issue and on
their return, any damaged tools shall be
scrapped.

 Supervisors shall ensure that all

equipment in use is adequate for the task
and in good condition. Supervisors shall
also inspect hand tools on a regular basis
and have defective tools replaced.

H M

Risk Assessment carried out

for Heerema Hartlepool : Date : __________ Signature : ____________________

Lead Assessor Name D. Gorman Job Title SHE Officer

Assisted by Name B. Yeoman Job Title Production Manager
Assisted by Name W. Hegarty Job Title Superintendent
Assisted by Name P.J. Quayle Job Title Q.A. / Environmental
Engineer
Assisted by Name E. Jackson Job Title Safety Representative

H:WORD/SAFETY/RISKASSESS/T17