Risk Assessment & Method Statement Review Flashcards

What does 'ERIC PD' stand for as a hierarchy for controlling risks?

Answer: Eliminate, Reduce, Isolate, Control, Personal protective equipment, Discipline

ERIC PD is a mnemonic for the hierarchy of controls: Eliminate the hazard, Reduce the risk (substitution), Isolate the hazard (engineering controls), Control it (administrative measures), use Personal Protective Equipment, and apply Discipline to enforce compliance.

What is a 'task-specific' risk assessment?

Answer: An assessment prepared for a specific activity to be carried out at a specific location, addressing the actual hazards of that exact task

A task-specific risk assessment is prepared for a particular activity at a specific location, addressing the actual hazards of that exact task in its real context. It is more focused and relevant than a generic assessment and should reflect the specific site conditions.

How often should risk assessments for high-risk activities be reviewed on a construction project?

Answer: Regularly throughout the project and whenever conditions, methods or personnel change significantly

High-risk activity risk assessments should be reviewed regularly (e.g., at the start of each phase) and whenever there are significant changes to working methods, site conditions, personnel, equipment or when an incident occurs that suggests the assessment may be inadequate.

What is 'likelihood' in the context of risk assessment?

Answer: The probability or chance that a hazard will actually cause harm in the specific circumstances

Likelihood (or probability) in risk assessment refers to how probable it is that a hazard will cause harm given the existing control measures and the specific circumstances. It is combined with severity to determine overall risk level.

What does 'severity' mean in the context of risk assessment?

Answer: How serious the harm would be if the hazard caused an injury — from minor discomfort to fatal

Severity is the magnitude of harm that would result if the hazard caused an injury or illness. It ranges from minor (no lost time) to catastrophic (fatal or life-changing). Severity combined with likelihood determines overall risk level.

What should a site supervisor do to ensure method statements are actually followed in practice?

Answer: Observe work actively, compare what workers are doing against the method statement, and intervene immediately when deviations occur

Supervisors must actively monitor work against the method statement through regular observation. When deviations are observed, they must intervene immediately, determine the reason (condition, misunderstanding, shortcut) and take corrective action.