Posted By Merv Newman Get hold of a copy of OHSAS 18001/2 (and no, you can't have a copy of mine) It's all explained in there. From memory, there is a 4x4 grid of "probability" against "seriousness" Top left is "unlikely to happen (maybe in exceptional circumstances)/first aid injury" running through "moderate probability", (could happen, maybe once a month on average)"probable" (will happen, maybe once a week) to "almost certain" (will happen, maybe every day or every time), against "Medium", "serious" and "major" injury or incident. A "major" risk is one which will or could result in death or permanent disability, serious injury to two or more persons. The top five (I think) levels of risk are rated "HIGH" Work should stop or not start untill risk level is reduced. The next 6 (um) are rated MEDIUM risk : work may continue as current measures appear to be controlling the situation, but future action may be required. The final 5 (yes !) are rated low risk. No action required until higher risks are reduced to medium or low levels. None of the above should be taken as gospel. I hope some other contributors will put me right (if I've been stoopid, again) The senior European HSE consultant of my ex-employer scratched the cornea of his eye while reading the financial times. My site, my accident, my inquiry and action report. Recommendations : Officialy none. Unofficially, have a good snigger at Don's expense then get back to work. Actually he was one of the good guys. But you would have to have a heart of stone not to laugh out loud. (Oscar Wilde ?) Merv

Posted By Jerry Lucey Hi Philip, Your approach to risk rating seems very good and the important thing to remember is that risk rating is merely a system whereby you can prioritise action on particular risks. A 1 - 3 rating on hazard (severity) and liklihood is a good approach as this allows you to identify high, medium and low risk. The important thing, however is what information is included in the hazard (severity) and liklihood columns. The hazard column should inculde a detailed account of what is happening followed with the severity of the foreseeable injury. The liklihood column should include any item that may have a bearing on the event leading to the injury being realised i.e. training of personnel, frequencey of activity, servicing of plant involved etc. It is also very important that your control measures follow the hierarchy set out in the Principles of Prevention. In short I tend to keep the risk rating system as simple as possible, in the same way you are planning on doing and concentrate on the actual content of the risk assessment. Frank has a valid point regarding multiple injuries and in instances such as fire etc, where there is the risk of multiple fatalities I give them a 9 on your scale, irrelevant of the liklihood of the risk being realised as this ensures that the incidents with the most catestrophic consequences receive top priority. Hope this helps a little.

Posted By Merv Newman Anon1234, may I call you "An" ? Didn't I say that above ? Fatal and multiple injuries are both in the "High" category. Unless the probability is very low. And often there is little more than chance or luck that makes for the difference in outcome. 3 or 4 point scale ? If you like, but you will find that a lot of people can spend an awful lot of time arguing the difference between "medium high" or "medium low" and as to whether an event may happen "once a week" or "twice a fortnight" 3 or 4 points, the system allows you to assign priorities. You may not (WILL NOT) be able to solve everything at once, nor in the very near future. But it helps to have an action plan adressing, at least, all the High risk situations. (Action plan = written record of who will be doing what with what, to whom and by when) Keep it as simple as possible. And as said above (was it you, Frank ?) Record your definitions. Especially if they vary from the BSI ones. And communicate them to interested parties BEFORE you start your RAs Merv

Posted By Rob W I use the following scale, seems to be fairly easily understood by those who need to read the assessments and those I train to carry them out. It provides a risk rating from 1 - almost impossible minor injury to 36 - certain death, ( as with any scale the extremes are easy to deal with ) I always make the point that this rating system only assists in making decisions on what is an acceptable risk, equally important are the views of those who carry out the work or manage the work. Likelihood scale 1 - Almost impossible - even in abnormal circumstances accidents or injuries are very unlikely 2 - Very unlikely under normal circumstances 3 - May happen but probably only in the long term 4 - Will probably happen within a few months 5 - Will probably happen within a few weeks 6 - Certain and imminent Severity scale 1 - Minor - light scratches, minor bruising, temp aches & pains, minor temporary skin irritation 2 - Moderate - Cuts not needing stitches, small burns, temp skin irritation, eye irritation 3 - Serious - Cuts that need stitches, burns requiring medical treatment, mild asthma, manual handling injuries leading to short term absence. 4 - Very serious - broken bones, moderate head injuries, serious eye injury, severe asthma, manual handling injuries leading to long term absence 5 - Major injury / major health effect - Amputations, silicosis, loss of sight, manual handling injury leading to serious permanent disability 6 - Death or fatal health effect i.e. Asbestosis, cancers