Assessing Risks Flashcards
6 cards from real IOSH practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Assessing Risks flashcards as text
What is the definition of a 'hazard' in health and safety?
Answer: Something with the potential to cause harm
A hazard is anything that has the potential to cause harm. This could be a substance, piece of equipment, work method, or situation. It is distinct from 'risk', which considers the likelihood and severity of that harm.
What is the definition of 'risk' in health and safety?
Answer: The likelihood that harm will occur and the severity of that harm
Risk is the combination of the likelihood (probability) that a hazard will cause harm and the severity (consequence) of that harm. Risk = Likelihood × Severity is a common way to express this.
How many steps are in the HSE's recommended risk assessment process?
Answer: 5 steps
The HSE recommends a 5-step approach: (1) Identify hazards, (2) Decide who might be harmed and how, (3) Evaluate the risks and decide on precautions, (4) Record findings and implement them, (5) Review and update regularly.
Which of the following is Step 1 of the HSE's 5-step risk assessment?
Answer: Identify the hazards
Step 1 is to identify the hazards in the workplace. This can be done through workplace inspections, reviewing accident records, consulting workers, reading manufacturers' instructions, and checking industry guidance.
What is a 'risk matrix' used for?
Answer: Ranking risks by combining likelihood and severity ratings
A risk matrix is a tool that combines ratings for likelihood (how probable) and severity (how serious) to give an overall risk rating. This helps prioritise which risks need the most urgent attention and resource.
Who should be consulted when carrying out a risk assessment?
Answer: The employees who do the work and their representatives
Employees who do the work have practical knowledge of the hazards and risks they face. Consulting them (and their representatives) is both a legal requirement and ensures the assessment is realistic and practical.