Gas Safety

• Gas Features
• Gas Risks
• Apparatus Safety
• Cylinder Safety
• REACH

Process Safety

• Material Process Fume
• Personal Protective Equipment
• Processes Safety
• Welding & Cutting Hazards

Workplace Safety

• Assessing Risks
• Avoiding Hazards
• Emergency Planning

Safety Services

• Safety Training Workshops
• On-line safety training modules
• On-Site Safety Checks
• bocsafety.net
• Tradefile
• Safe Under Pressure

Safety Data Sheets

Assessing Risks

Model Risk Assessments Oxygen and Acetylene Package (pdf) Completed Example Risk Assessment (pdf)

What is Risk Assessment?

A risk assessment is a careful examination of what could cause harm to people in the workplace. Risk assessments allow you to evaluate whether you have taken enough precautions or need to do more to prevent potential injuries. The aim is to make sure that no one gets hurt or becomes ill. Accidents and ill-health can ruin lives and affect your business by impacting your productivity. If machinery gets damaged, insurance costs increase or you may have to go to court. The important things you need to decide are whether a hazard is significant and whether you have it covered by appropriate precautions so that the risk is minimised.

How to assess the risks in your workplace

• Look for the hazards – walk around your workplace and consider what could reasonably be expected to cause harm.
• Ask your employees what they think. They may have noticed things that are not obvious. Safety Data Sheets can also help you spot hazards and can put risks in their true perspective. Visit www.bocindustrial.co.uk to view and download relevant safety information.
• Identify who might be harmed or is at higher risk – young workers, trainees, new employees, expectant mothers, contractors, maintenance workers, cleaners, visitors, members of the public etc. Evaluate the risks and decide whether the existing precautions are adequate or whether more should be done.
• Record your findings – write down significant hazards and conclusions, e.g. electrical installations: insulation and earthing checked and found sound.
• Review your assessment and revise it if necessary – sooner or later you will bring in new machines, materials and procedures that could lead to new hazards. If there is any significant change, add it to your original risk assessment.

Control Measures*

After assessment, risks may be controlled by:

• Elimination – the job is redesigned so as to remove the hazard. However, the alternative method should not lead to a less acceptable product or less effective process. If hazard elimination is not successful or practical, the next control measure is:
• Substitution – replacing the material or process with a less hazardous one. If no suitable practical replacement is available, the next control measure is:
• Isolation – separating the hazard from the operators by methods such as enclosing or guarding dangerous items of machinery. If isolation measures fail to control the risk, the next control measure is:
• Engineering controls – installing additional machinery such as local exhaust ventilation to control the risk. If this method is not effective, the next control measure is:
• Safer work practices – an example of this is to reduce the time the worker is exposed to the hazard. Only after all the previous measures have been tried and found to be ineffective in controlling the risks should Personal Protective Equipment be considered.
• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) – this is the last control measure to be considered. If chosen, PPE should be selected and fitted to the person who uses it. Workers must be trained in the function and limitation of each item of PPE.
• Provide welfare facilities – i.e. first aid and washing facilities for removal of contamination.
• Hazards in the workplace – look out for potential electrical and mechanical hazards.

* In some circumstances, a combination of control measures may be the most effective method of controlling the risk.

Training

A fundamental requirement for personal safety is the provision of instruction and training to instil a sense and need for care for those who may not be skilled in this area. Also important is training in the wearing and use of PPE in a responsible manner and in accordance with legislation.

BOC has access to professionals and technical advisers who are able to help you. You can contact the BOC Customer Service Centre on the numbers below:

UK 0800 111 333
ROI 01 409 1800

Safety in the Workplace: The information contained herein is provided as a general outline and is not intended to be a definitive statement on the subject matter. Professional advice should be sought before any action is taken in relation to safety in the workplace.