Ranking Hazards

This involves creating a priority list of hazards to be controlled on a “worst” first basis. It takes account of the consequences and probabilities of the event occurring. Ranking includes severity and probability values.

Severity - rated as follows:

- MAJOR i.e. death or major injury as defined by RIDDOR 1995 (e.g. a fracture). FACTOR 3

- SERIOUS i.e. ‘over 3 day’ injuries - ref. RIDDOR 1995.= FACTOR 2

- SLIGHT i.e. injuries where persons may be off work for less than 3 days (or not at all).= FACTOR 1

Likelihood - rated as follows:

- HIGH i.e. could happen anytime.= FACTOR 3

- MEDIUM i.e. might happen sometimes. = FACTOR 2

- LOW i.e. where harm is unlikely to occur. = FACTOR 1

Risk Rating - is a means of ‘measuring’ the risk by multiplying the severity factor by the likelihood factor e.g. a severity factor ‘ SERIOUS’ with a likelihood factor ‘MEDIUM’ would give a risk rating of 2 x 2 which, of course, gives a ‘score’ of 4.

The objective is to achieve the lowest possible ‘scores’, so far as is reasonably practicable.

Priority should always be given to those risks which affect large numbers of people and/or could result in serious harm.

GUIDANCE - Risk rated from 6 - 9 require IMMEDIATE action to achieve a reduction in risk, from 3 - 5 require action AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, from 1 - 2 may be considered acceptable (although action may be possible to reduce the risk even further).

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