18/02/15 (review) Persons who may be affected by the activity (i.e. are at risk)

Transcription

1 AREA HEALTH AND SAFETY RISK ASSESSMENT FORM (RA1) Assessment Reference No. Health and Safety- Offices Area or Assessment date 18/02/15 (review) Persons who may be affected by the activity (i.e. are at risk) Staff, students, visitors and contractors. activity assessed: Offices Department of Meteorology including Meteorological Office offices. SECTION 1 : Identify Hazards - Consider the activity or work area and identify if any of the hazards listed below are significant (tick the boxes that apply). 1. Fall of person (from Use of portable / 6. Lighting levels work at height) / 11. tools / equipment / Fall of objects / 7. Heating & Fixed machinery or ventilation / 12. lifting equipment Slips, Trips & Layout, storage, Housekeeping / 8. space, obstructions / 13. Pressure vessels Manual handling Vehicles / driving at work Outdoor work / extreme weather Fieldtrips / field work operations / 9. Welfare facilities / 14. Noise or Vibration 19. Radiation sources Display screen equipment / 10. Electrical Equipment / Hazardous fumes, chemicals, dust Hazardous 27. biological agent Confined space / asphyxiation risk Condition of Buildings & glazing / 29. Fire hazards & flammable material / 20. Work with lasers 25. Food preparation Occupational stress / Violence to staff / verbal assault / 28. Work with animals Lone working / work out of hours / Special needs SECTION 2: Risk Controls - For each hazard identified in Section 1, complete Section 2. For more complex activities or projects you are advised to use Form RA2. / Hazard No. 1, 2 Hazard Description Existing controls to reduce risk Risk Level (tick one) Further action needed to reduce risks High Med Low (provide timescales and initials of person responsible) Falling materials Insecure stacking or storage. Fall of persons during storage or retrieval of equipment and materials. Adequate amount of storage space/ shelving is provided. Safe storage arrangements ensure that objects are stable and easily accessible. Kick stalls are provided. Filing cabinets- either have safety feature (only one draw can be opened at a time) or warning notice affixed. / Staff to use kick stall (not to stand on chairs or boxes). Kick stalls are inspected yearly. Conduct two workspace health and safety inspections per year. Check storage arrangements. Do not store heavy storage at high level (only store light and small objects only).

2 3 Slips, trips & housekeeping hazards Spillages, slippery or sloping surfaces. Uneven surfaces/changes in floor level. Damaged or loose floor surfaces. Trailing cables, obstructions such as boxes, bags, files etc. Striking against objects. All floor surfaces are in good condition. Good house keeping standards. Gangways are free of obstructions and protrusions. Storage along fire escapes routes and near fire exits, is prohibited. Provision of hangers for coats and bags. Liquid spillages cleared up promptly. Cabinet doors and drawers are kept shut when not in use. Good office organisation and layout to allow sufficient working space around each desk and provide gangways that are wide enough for ease of movement. Guidelines provided to staff to raise awareness (Area H & S Policy) / Ensure the safe routing of cables, using cable ties also cable covers to eliminate tripping hazards. All damaged flooring to be reported and repaired promptly. Carry out regular workplace health and safety inspections. See also Hazard 15 Fire Hazards Encourage staff to keep area around and under their desks clear ( clear desk policy). Encourage regular clearouts of waste and archiving of paperwork. A:\department_health_and_safety\risk_assessments\2015\RA1-Offices risk assessment_15.doc

3 4 Manual Handling Musculoskeletal Problems from lifting & carrying e.g. stationary, IT equipment. Possible back injuries, other muscle strains & sprains, hernias and cuts. Manual handling guide (Safety Guide 37) available to all staff via U of R web page and Good Manual Handling Practice leaflet on health and safety notice board. Two people/team encouraged for lifting heavy/ awkward objects. Portering Service available for moving large items or for office moves. Trolleys and sack trucks available (located on lower ground floor, near lift). Use of lift when ever possible when moving heavy loads. Safe storage arrangements e.g. heavy or large objects stored at low or waist height to facilitate safe lifting and objects stored at high level minimised. / Staff to seek help when lifting heavy or awkward loads. Minimise carrying distances where possible and ensure route is free of obstructions and floor surfaces are in good condition, prior to lifting and carrying. Ensure sufficient rest and recovery time is taken during repeated lifting. Identify vulnerable staff (e.g. pregnant and those with health problems) and assess capability to lift, prohibit from certain tasks if necessary; seek advice from 0cupational Health Service when appropriate.

4 5 Work with Display Screen Equipment (DSE) Prolonged poor seated posture at DSE workstation Musculoskeletal problems. Repetitive movements (e.g. use of keyboard and mouse). Eye strain, fatigue. 6.7 Lighting, heating & ventilation. Display screen equipment DSE guide (Safety Guide 13) available to staff via U of R website and on health and safety board. All staff, who are identified as DSE users have their workstations assessed using DSEasy Free eye tests offered to all DSE users. Ergonomic office chairs and desks, foot rests, wrist rest etc. provided. Good office organisation and layout to allow sufficient working space around each desk. Adequate storage space provided. Prevision of adequate lighting and window blinds. Reasonable fluorescent strip lighting provided Additional angle poised lamps are available. Blinds provided at windows. Windows can be opened to provide ventilation. / Ensure all DSE users are provided with the Safety guide controlling correct posture and DSE workstation adjustment. Staff to take regular breaks/change activities/take a lunch break. Staff to report any DSE related health symptoms (seek advice from the Occupational Health Service). Twice yearly workplace health and safety inspections. (SDG) / Angle poised lamps, and fans supplied where necessary. A:\department_health_and_safety\risk_assessments\2015\RA1-Offices risk assessment_15.doc

5 9 Welfare facilities. Trained first aiders and appointed persons are provided by the department. All first aiders and appointed persons are listed on First Aid notices which are located in 1L42 And on U1 and U2 stairwells. 10 Electrical equipment Office, portable electrical equipment. Electrical shock or burns from contact with live parts due to damaged cables and casing. Faults or overloading of sockets causing overheating and fire. Electrical equipment guide (Safety Guide 11) and Testing portable electrical equipment guide (Safety Guide 12), available to staff via U of R website. Portable appliance testing is carried out on all equipment in accordance with above guides. All electrical installation meets with BS and maintained in a safe condition as per IEE Wiring Regulations. All equipment meets with EU Standards. Sufficient socket outlets are provided. / Staff not to use equipment which has not been tested. Staff should visually check equipment before use. If they are in any doubt about the safety of equipment, it must not be used and must be reported to the departmental Area health and Safety Co-ordinator. Ensure sockets are not overloaded. Ensure cabling is not subjected to damage by furniture (e.g. desk legs, chairs and cabinets) or pedestrians. All cables that transverse traffic routes should be protected by cable covers if they cannot be safely re-routed or tied back out of the way.

6 15 Fire hazards and flammable material. Combustible material that may encourage the spread of fire. Portable heaters. Blocked means of escape. Insufficient fire detection and extinguishers. Overload or faulty electrical equipment (see hazard 10). 24 Conditions of building and glazing. Fire Drills guide (Safety Guide 5), Emergency evacuation procedures (Safety Guide 6) and Fire Safety guide (Safety Guide 34), available to staff via U of R website. A good level of awareness. Staff responsible for good housekeeping standards maintained in offices. No flammable materials used or stored. Escape routes signposted and kept clear of furniture, boxes etc. Assembly point identified as car park, just north of main entrance to the department. CO2 and fire extinguishers located in all corridors at all floor levels. All fire doors kept shut, those in corridor on automatic release catches. No smoking policy maintained, by law. Regular fire drills, in accordance with Safety Guide 5 organized by department. Close windows and doors and unplug unnecessary electrical equipment when leaving office at night Good structure condition, no low level glazing. Asbestos survey of building carried out, results on FMD database. / Ensure all new members of staff receive fire safety induction. Ensure all office soft furnishing is in good condition with no exposed foam fillings etc. Staff should minimise accumulations of paper and boxes or dispose off if no longer wanted. Staff should always switch off portable heaters at night. Care should be taken regarding the positioning of heaters i.e. kept away from combustible materials and surfaces. A:\department_health_and_safety\risk_assessments\2015\RA1-Offices risk assessment_15.doc

7 26 Occupational stress. Stress and the workplace A guide to staff. University leaflet on Health and Safety web page. 27 Violence to staff /verbal assault. Guidance leaflets are available on the HSE website. 29 Lone working/working out of hours. Outside normal working hours guide (Safety Guide 7) available to staff on the U of R website. / Staff to use Buildings Occupants Register, which includes the location you are working. 30 Special needs. Disabled, wheelchair bound. A Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan (PEEP) actioned for each disabled person / A carer allotted to each disabled person if needed. Brief carer about where refuge points are located, in the advent of an emergency. Name of Assessor(s) S GILL SIGNED Number of continuation Review date 18/02/16 sheets used: