Posted By Chris Packham Brenda When doing a risk assessment for skin exposure (my particular field of activity) we have developed a structured approach that gives us a "risk rating" for the activity as observed. If our rating indicates that action is needed this is then taken and the risk assessment repeated to ensure that the risk is now within acceptable limits. (Note that for skin exposure it is almost impossible to obtain zero risk for the majority of commonly used chemicals.) We may have to repeat this several times until we get to where we feel we need to be. Hope this is of some help. Chris

Posted By Darren J Fraser Brenda What you have described is a management tool typically used within Quality, and is known as a Failure Mode Effect Analysis (FMEA). There are plenty of examples available on the web. The benefit of using this type of tool is that it allows all those concerned to see the before and after on the same page, without having to look at various different forms and trying to cross index everything. The other point is that this shows an improvement within your own management system.

Posted By Chris Packham Brenda I am a little confused about the "level of risk of hazard before I score". I use the scoring system to identify the "level" of the risk, i.e. to determine whether there is a significant risk, how urgent is the need to take action, or whether the risk is so insignificant that I do not need to bother. So until I have completed my risk assessement I don't know what the level of risk is. It's the "score" that tells me that. I hope that this rather rambling statement makes some sense! Chris

Posted By Chris Packham Perhaps I wasn't clear. My risk assessment (usualy done for a client) is based on what I find at the time, i.e. would include any controls that might already be in place. After all, this is what my client wants from me - Is there a risk and is it something I need to take action on? If so, how urgent is the action? Once additional controls have been put into place, then a new risk assessment, including these new controls, indicates whether these are adequate of whether more is needed. We keep on going until the risk assessment shows an acceptable risk. Chris

Posted By anon1234 The advantage of giving an indicative risk level without the existing controls is that it clearly identifies the benefit of the existing controls - the key output for those at the sharp end is to spell out what controls should be in place and why