Risk Assessment and Method Statements Flashcards

What is a 'dynamic risk assessment'?

Answer: A rapid, ongoing reassessment of risks during a task when conditions change unexpectedly, carried out by the worker or supervisor in real time

A dynamic risk assessment is a real-time evaluation of risk when a situation changes or unexpected hazards arise. It supplements the pre-planned risk assessment but does not replace it. Workers and supervisors must be trained to recognise changing conditions.

Under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, which employers are required to record their risk assessment?

Answer: Employers with five or more employees must record the significant findings of risk assessments

Employers with five or more employees must record the significant findings of their risk assessments in writing. Employers with fewer than five employees are not legally required to record but are strongly advised to do so.

A Method Statement (safe system of work) details:

Answer: The sequence of work activities, the hazards involved, and the controls to be implemented at each stage to ensure the work is carried out safely

A Method Statement sets out how a specific task will be carried out safely: the sequence of operations, the hazards at each stage, the controls to address them, the resources required, emergency arrangements, and who is responsible.

Who should be involved in preparing a risk assessment for a complex construction task?

Answer: Competent persons with knowledge of the work (including site managers and experienced workers), along with health and safety advisers where appropriate

Effective risk assessments are best produced by those with direct knowledge of the work: site managers, supervisors, experienced operatives, and health and safety advisers. Worker involvement is a legal duty and improves the quality of the assessment.

What does 'residual risk' mean in the context of a risk assessment?

Answer: The risk that remains after all reasonably practicable controls have been implemented

Residual risk is the level of risk remaining after all reasonably practicable controls have been implemented. If residual risk is still unacceptably high, additional controls must be introduced before work can proceed.

A risk assessment rates a hazard as 'high risk'. Which of the following correctly describes the relationship between likelihood and severity?

Answer: High risk means the combination of the likelihood of an incident occurring and the severity of the harm if it does occur produces a high overall risk rating

Risk is a function of likelihood (how probable is an incident?) multiplied by severity (how serious would the harm be?). A high risk rating can result from high likelihood with moderate severity, or moderate likelihood with very high severity.