This section is designed to provide you with help and information for completing risk assessments and routes for approval.

University Training courses for Risk Assessments

These can be booked via my.HR if you are staff or though the Health and Safety Office for Students.

These include:

Control of Substances Hazardous to Health  (COSHH) Risk Assessment

Risk Assessment Awareness 

Biological Safety for Laboratory Workers 

For more information visit : https://www.lboro.ac.uk/services/health-safety/training/

Useful University Polices and Guidance documents. Please go to the following link for most up to date policies and guidance documents.

https://www.lboro.ac.uk/services/health-safety/policies/

1) Completing Risk Assessments - Useful document to help you  think about how to approach risk assessments. Link below:

https://www.lboro.ac.uk/media/wwwlboroacuk/content/healthandsafety/downloads/Completing%20Risk%20Assessments%20–%20Health%20and%20Safety%20Guidance.pdf

2) COSHH and Risk Assessment Safety Documentation  Guide  - Useful document for step by step help to completing process risk assessments. Link below: 

https://www.lboro.ac.uk/media/wwwlboroacuk/content/healthandsafety/downloads/Safety%20Documentation%20Guide.pdf

Types of Risk Assessment :

1)Biological Risk Assessment 

 Form Link -  https://www.lboro.ac.uk/services/health-safety/forms/

2)GMO Risk Assessment

3)Safety Risk Assessment ( Process, method statement and COSHH) - On this form you complete/tick  the relevant sections as appropriate 

Form Link - https://www.lboro.ac.uk/services/health-safety/forms/

4)Lone Working out of hours risk assessment

Form Link - https://learn.lboro.ac.uk/mod/resource/view.php?id=712170 ( see CBE LEARN page under blank forms)

Things to consider when completing your risk assessment:

i)Have i answered all questions( parts of questions) fully?

ii)Has my supervisor reviewed and signed it?

iii) Have i included any supporting information? ( e.g SDS for a chemical)

iv)Does the title tell the reviewer what the risk assessment is about?

v)Have i considered and documented the disposal route in full?

vi)Have i referenced any SOPS correctly? Are they for the equipment i actually use?

vii) Can a safer alternative be used?

viii) Is the storage facility i have stated actually available?

xi) Have i  considered if the chemical  ( for a COSHH) is compatible with virkon? 

x) Have i considered the impact of mixing two chemicals?

xi)Have i thought  carefully about the spill response? What is the best thing to use? Do we have it?

xii) Have i written down the steps in detail of what i am going to do?

Xiii) If i have answered YES to a section or highlighted a risk  have i given enough detail of mitigation?

Things to consider for completing out of hours risk assessments

I)Have I named an emergency contact and does that person know they are the emergency contact?. Does this person have enough CBE laboratory knowledge to do this role?

ii)Have I detailed exactly what I need to do out of hours including equipment used, location, approximate times, length of work?

iii)Have I mitigated any risks highlighted?

iv)Have myself and supervisor signed it?

Risk Assessment Reviewer Checklist

i)Has the Risk Assessment been signed by the supervisor?

ii)Does it state the location of the work?

iii)Does it cross reference other connected risk assessments?

When should I do a risk assessment review form?

What should I include on the risk assessment review form?

If it is for a minor change detail exactly what the change is and state the things that will remain the same including the risks ( if risk does change a new risk assessment should be done)

If it is to add someone new to the risk assessment you need to detail exactly what the person will/wont be doing as part of that risk assessment. You need to state the training/supervison they have/will have.

When do I need to write a new risk assessment ? What are classed as significant changes to warrant a new risk assessment?

Minor Revision

 A minor revision is a  change to the Risk Assessment which does not affect the risk. This could be a minor change to the location/procedure/materials used or a new person added to the project.  If a new person is being added to the risk assessment the Rick Assessment Review form must indicate exactly what the new person will/will not be doing as part of the original risk assessment. It must also detail experience and training provided to justify their addition to the risk assessment.

Major Revision

A significant change to a Risk Assessment will require a new Risk Assessment or major re-write of the Risk Assessment which must be re-submitted and approved.

Significant changes warranting a major revision are ( by no means exhaustive) :

•       1)Change to the risk of initial risk assessment

•       2)Change of process/equipment/procedures

•       3)Change/addition  of material used if effects the risk ( i.e addition of unscreened material)

•       4) Change in the scale of operations

•       5)Change of location if it effects the risk ( new facility)

•       6)· Change in the containment conditions or control measures

•       7)Change in the waste treatment procedures

•       8)Changes to people responsible

•       9) Changes to the properties ( more virulence, mobility, differences in growth/media, etc)

•       E.g  With a new strain of bacteria , if the hazard group is the same as the previous strain and the new strain has similar properties to the existing one, then that is fine.  If the hazard group changes or the new strain properties are different (potentially increasing the risk) then a new risk assessment would be needed.