Posted By Arran Linton - Smith Tracy, You no longer have to worry about quantifying risk. The important aspect is how you plan to manage the hazard and risk.

Posted By Tabs So long as they lead to a reduction, or management of the risks, it is fine. Many of us use high/med/low to help us prioritise or understand the issues - but it certainly isn't compulsory. The authorities would simply say it is a process for you to understand and identify the risks. Besides, what might be med risk to me, could be low or high to you ... it is always subjective.

Posted By Malcolm Shepperson The HSE have recently updated their 'Five steps to risk assessment' and have not stipulated that a value, be it literate or numerate, need be attached to the risk assessment. The problem with doing so is that any value is largely the opinion of the risk assesor, unless there is reliability data to hand on which a failure rate can be calculated. The main reason for attaching a priority rating to an assessment is to determine which of the identified risks should be addressed first, but this can be decided upon by discussions between yourself and the individuals concerned. The other problem with high/medium/low or a numeric system is that they are either meaningless in the grand scheme of things, either a hazard is controlled or it is not, or in the case of numeric scales they become complex and misunderstood and i have seen some dreadful ones in my time. If the hazard is present and it can harm you, do something about it; if it cannot harm you, concentrate on the ones that can.

Posted By Les Welling Could you send me your e mail address and I will try to send you a very good example. Please send to: leswelling@onetel.net. Les

Posted By Tracey C I would just like to thank everybody that has posted a response and helped me greatly today. Thank you!