Risk Assessments
Risk Assessment Methodology
It is the aim of University College Dublin to identify hazards in the workplace and to control the risks from those hazards in so far as is reasonably practicable. ‘Hazard’ is defined as the potential to cause harm, while ‘risk’ is defined as the potential of the hazard to cause harm under the actual circumstances of use. The assessment of risk from the hazards identified is based on the linkage of the probability of occurrence with the severity of injury or material loss (the hazard effect) resultant from that occurrence.
Probability is determined based on an assessment on how likely it is that an adverse event related to the hazard concerned will occur. Probabilities are graded as:
- Unlikely: the adverse event being considered will occur only rarely.
- Likely: the adverse event being considered will occur on a frequent basis
- Very Likely: the adverse event being considered is almost certain to occur
Severity is based on the degree of personal injury or damage to property likely to occur in the event that the adverse event occurs. Severity of outcome is graded as:
- Slightly Harmful: e.g. superficial injuries; minor cuts and bruises; nuisance and irritation; temporary discomfort; minor infection; minor material damage.
- Harmful: e.g. lacerations; burns; concussion; sprains; minor fractures; dermatitis (temporary); asthma (temporary); long term discomfort; infection requiring medical treatment; significant material damage.
- Very Harmful: e.g. fatality; amputation; major fracture; severe poisoning; cancer; life shortening condition / disease; deafness; head injuries; eye injuries; substantial material damage.
The risk assessment matrix below is used to calculate the risk posed by any hazard by linking the probability of an adverse occurrence with the severity of injury or material loss (the hazard effect) resultant from that occurrence.
Table 1. Risk Assessment Matrix
|
Severity Of Outcome Of Negative Event |
||
Probability Of Negative Event |
Slightly Harmful |
Harmful |
Very Harmful |
Unlikely |
trivial risk |
acceptable risk |
moderate risk |
Likely |
acceptable risk |
moderate risk |
substantial risk |
Very Likely |
moderate risk |
substantial risk |
intolerable risk |
- Trivial Risk: No further action required.
- Acceptable Risk: No additional risk control / reduction measures required
- Moderate Risk: Further risk control / reduction measures should be considered and implemented were possible. Hazards graded as Moderate Risk must be closely managed.
- Substantial Risk: Further risk control / reduction measures must be identified. If the risk cannot be reduced further then the hazard must be strictly managed and the frequency and duration of the hazard must be reduced to as low a level as practicable along with the number of persons exposed to the hazard.
- Intolerable Risk: All work involving this hazard is prohibited.
The aim of any risk control/reduction measures identified and implemented are to reduce the residual risk from the hazard to as low a level as is reasonably practicable.
Where practicable University College Dublin commits itself to the elimination of hazards. Where the risk from a hazard cannot be eliminated at source then the University will supply a range of suitable personal protective equipment in order to protect employees where necessary.
Risk assessments will be reviewed regularly and when changes in work practises arise within the University or when new activities are introduced.
All staff and postgraduate students must be familiar with the contents of the risk assessments that are relevant to their work. Training and further information on workplace safety and risk assessment is available from the University Safety Office (safety@ucd.ie).
Staff and postgraduates working within University College Dublin must review all relevant available risk assessments prior to initiating work or undertaking new tasks to establish whether or not these documents identify and manage the hazards associated with their work adequately. In the event that existing risk assessments do not adequately manage the hazards associated with their work employees and postgraduates should either complete their own risk assessments; inform their Local Area Safety Committee or inform the University Safety Office.
Guidelines on completing risk assessments are available at www.ucd.ie/safety. Persons required to complete risk assessments for chemical, biological or fieldwork hazards are strongly encouraged to consult the University College Dublin Biosafety; Chemical Safety and Fieldwork Safety Handbooks for guidelines and detailed safety information.
Risk Assessment Groupings
Risk assessment in University College Dublin are broken down into a number of groupings dependent on their relevance to different activities undertaken within the University.
General Risk Assessments
These are risk assessments that can apply to all areas of University operation and all employees. Employees should make themselves familiar with the contents of relevant documents. General risk assessments can be found here.
Office Risk Assessments
These are risk assessments that apply to persons working in office environments within the University. Persons working in office based environments should make themselves familiar with the contents of these documents. Office risk assessments along with an Office Safety Handbook can be found here.
Chemical Agents Risk Assessments
These are risk assessments which apply to all persons working with chemical agents within the University. Please see here for further information.
Biological Agents Risk Assessments
These are risk assessments which apply to all persons working with or who may be exposed to biological agents within the University. Please see here for further information.
Laboratory Risk Assessments
These are risk assessments that apply to all persons working in a laboratory environment. Please see here for further information.
Workshop Risk Assessments
These risk assessments may apply to persons working in University workshops and similar environments or using workplace equipment.
Radioactive Hazards
These risk assessments apply to the use of radioactive materials. Please see here for further information.
Farm Risk Assessments
Fieldwork Risk Assessments
These risk assessments apply to persons who undertake fieldwork. Please see here for further information.
Veterinary Science Centre And Veterinary Hospital
These risk assessments apply to the operations of the Veterinary Science Centre and the Veterinary Hospital. Please see here for further information.
School Of Chemical and Bioprocess Engineering
In addition to the risk assessments in other relevant categories these specific risk assessments may apply to persons working in the School Of Chemical and Bioprocess Engineering. Please see here for further information.
School Of Electrical, Elecronic and Mechanical Engineering
In addition to the risk assessments in other relevant categories these specific risk assessments may apply to persons working in the School Of Electrical, Electronic and Mechanical Engineering. Please see here for further information.
St. Vincent’s University Hospital Clinical Research Centre
In addition to the risk assessments in other relevant categories these specific risk assessments may apply to persons working in the St. Vincent’s University Hospital Clinical Research Centre. Please see here for further information.
Mater Hospital Clinical Research Centre
In addition to the risk assessments in other relevant categories these specific risk assessments may apply to persons working in the Mater Hospital Clinical Research Centre. Please see here for further information.
Health Sciences And Allied Subjects
In addition to the risk assessments in other relevant categories these specific risk assessments may apply to persons working in the Health Sciences and similar fields. Please see here for further information.
Nova UCD
In addition to the risk assessments in other relevant categories these specific risk assessments may apply to persons working in the Nova UCD Facility. Please see here for further information.
IT Services
In addition to the risk assessments in other relevant categories these specific risk assessments may apply to persons working in IT Services. Please see here for further information.
Miscellaneous Risk Assessments
A listing of all University College Dublin Risk Assessments can be found in the UCD Register Of Risks.