School of Engineering (SoE)

UniS/SoE/RA/SO/004 1
Risk Assessment (The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999)
Description of the activity: Generic Workshop Risk Assessment
Person(s) undertaking activity: All workshop staff, students, visitors and contractors
Person carrying out the assessment: Nick Izzard (School Health & Safety Advisor) Ext: 6608 Signature:
Date of assessment: J anuary 2006
Type of Hazard Examples Details of Risk Recommended Control Measures Required
1. Machine Tool
injuries
Cuts, abrasions, ejections,
shearing, cutting, drawing in,
chopping etc
1) Danger to staff from use of Machine Tools. 2)
Insufficient lighting levels
1) Only Authorised Users allowed to operate workshop equipment. Risk Assessments must be
available for all items of machine tool usage. Planned preventative maintenance programme in
place as well as emergency repair procedure for all machines and tooling. 2) Adequate normal
and emergency lighting provided and maintained by Estates. Low voltage Stroboscopic lighting to
be used on rotating machine tools.
2. Electrical shock Damaged cabling, poor
earthing etc leading to contact
with live electrical source
1) Danger from electrocution due to faulty electrical
appliances not maintained in a safe condition. 2)
Electrocution whilst repairing or using a repaired
item of equipment. 3) Risk of electrocution from
mains supply.
1) All Portable Appliances Testing (PAT) is to be carried out at correct intervals. No electrical
appliances are to be used under any circumstances without prior PAT, this includes privately
owned items brought into workshops. All items should have a visual inspection by the user prior to
use to check for faulty wires, plugs etc. Any damage should be reported to the School Health &
Safety Advisor immediately and the item MUST NOT be used. 2) No electrical repairs are to be
carried out by persons not deemed to be a competent electrician under any circumstances. 3)
Baseline contract in place for regular checks of continuity, mains inwards and building supplies.
3. Slips, trips, falls Falling from height, slipping on
wet floor surfaces, tripping
over obstructions etc
1) Floors and walkways obstructed with clutter. 2)
Accumulation of materials leading to items being
placed on top of cabinets, lockers and left on
benches. 3) Damaged flooring/carpeting creating a
Trip Hazard. 4) Unclean and untidy workshop, not
kept clean to a satisfactory standard.
1) All floors and walkways to be kept clear of clutter, materials, tooling and belongings at all times.
Swarf and machining waste should be cleared away at the end of every job as well as the end of
the working day. 2) Staff to review their holdings. Only suitable and maintained steps to be used to
gain access to height, chairs and desks must not be used instead of steps under any
circumstances. 3) All flooring, mats and carpets are to be inspected on a regular basis and any
damage reported to responsible person immediately. 4) Spillages are to be cleaned up
immediately (spillage kit should be labelled and persons trained in its use).
4. Fire Flammable materials and
substances
Injury to personnel and
destruction of property
1) Accumulation of waste and flammable materials.
2) Staff not trained in Fire Safety. 3) Smoking related
fires. 4) Sources of ignition. 5) Electrical fires
1) Good housekeeping standards to be maintained at all times, emptying of bins and removal of
waste materials to be carried out daily. 2) All personnel to attend Induction Training which is to
include information on evacuation and assembly drills. 3) University No Smoking Policy does not
allow smoking to take place in any workshops or buildings under any circumstances. 4) All staff
are to be vigilante in identifying any sources of ignition and either remove the source and/or report
to responsible person immediately. 5) All electrical appliances must be PAT tested and have an
In Date sticker attached. Appliances and machine tools should be switched off at the end of the
working day.
5. Cuts, puncture
wounds, burns
and abrasions
Cuts and injury through using
equipments, slips and falls etc
FIRST AID- Incorrect or poor treatment of injured
personnel 1) Lack of staff awareness with regard to
First Aid arrangements. 2) Not enough First Aid
boxes available, not very well stocked and poorly
maintained.
1) Staff and students should be reminded on a regular basis of the correct emergency procedures
in the event of an accident. 2) First aid boxes should be maintained on a regular basis, located at
key locations with a current list of First Aiders. All accidents must be reported on the Forms
provided. Any queries should be directed to the School Health & Safety Advisor
School of Engineering (SoE)
UniS/SoE/RA/SO/004 2
6. Injury from
lifting/handling
(1)

Moving heavy items, repetitive
handling, difficult postures
1) Risk of injury from manual handling, lifting
pushing, dragging etc. 2) Lack of Manual Handling
Assessments.
1) All manual handling of items other than small items and equipments are not to be carried out
unless deemed to be safe to lift or move. 2) Manual Handling Assessments to be carried out when
required.
7. Compressed air
hazard
Compressed air line being
used irresponsibly
1) Swarf blown into eyes whilst blowing swarf away
from work piece or cleaning down machine. 2)
Injection of air through skin
1) Wrap around Safety Glasses must be worn when using compressed air to move swarf, including
personnel within operating area. 2) Compressed air always directed away from body and only low
pressure airlines used.
8. Hazardous
Substances
Metal fumes, solvents, acids,
airborne dust, pesticides
COSHH- 1) Use of harmful substances or
chemicals. 2) Unsuitable COSHH items being
stored or used in workshops.
1) All harmful substances kept to a minimum, stored correctly and COSHH Assessments carried
out. 2) Only appropriate type COSHH items to the research are to be used and stored in fire proof
cabinets when not in use. *Eating and drinking is only allowed in COSHH Free environments.
9. Failure of PPE Unsuitable, damaged or
contaminated PPE offering no
or limited protection
1) Use of damaged PPE leading to failure to protect
the user from contaminants. 2) Unsuitable PPE
being used and failing to protect user from
contaminants. 3) Contamination of user from dirty
PPE. 4) Type of PPE to be worn
1) PPE to be inspected prior to use and a vigorous and detailed inspection to take place when
using an item of PPE for the first time, or after a long period of inactivity. 2) All PPE used must be
of the type identified on the COSHH Risk Assessment, unsuitable substitutes must not be used. 3)
All PPE must be stored in a suitable cupboard / locker / drawer when not in use, and must not be
left lying around on worktops or on equipment between use and at the end of play each day. All
PPE should be cleaned regularly with suitable cleaning agents or wipes, especially in the case of
shared or pooled items. 4) Safety boots/shoes and coveralls or lab coats must be worn at all
times when actively working within the confines of the workshop.
10. Spillage of liquid
waste oils or
coolants
Contamination of working area
by hazardous liquid
substances
1) Spillage of waste oils and coolants. 2) Seepage
of either liquid waste or oil and coolant drums
1) All containers full or partially full must be bunded accordingly. 2) Damaged containers must be
decanted and disposed of
11. Poor or
inadequate
ventilation and/or
heating
Failure of ventilation or heating
systems
Uncomfortable working conditions due to cold or
unventilated conditions
All ventilation and heating systems are maintained and serviced by Estates baseline contract
12. Stress Ill health and irritability STRESS Leading to ill health. 1) All Managers must constantly monitor their staff for any signs of stress. This should include
regular contact with staff, monitoring of Sick Leave especially when associated with repetitious
minor ailments. Occupational Health or similar should be used to assist in the early identification
of symptoms, and staff should be encouraged to undergo Lifestyle Screening when Stress is
identified.
13. Personal Safety Lone and late working 1) Lack of emergency support 1) Lone and late working on low risk tasks should be kept to a minimum whenever possible, and Late
Work Forms (LTWK99) and Risk Assessments must be completed by the appropriate members of
staff or student and signed by the School Health and Safety Advisor before work commences. Late
working involving chemical processes involving quantities of hazardous substances and the running
of plant and/or electrical or mechanical equipments is prohibited without the appropriate support.

Risk Assessment Review (Annual)
I confirm that the assessment remains valid, controls remain effective and there has been no increase in risk.
1
st
Review date: J an 2009 Name: Signed:
NB If the above statement cannot be verified then a re-assessment will be required to confirm that there has been no significant change to the activity/process.