Element IA5: The Assessment and Evaluation of Risk

1. Sources of Information Used in Identifying Hazards and Assessing Risk                                            5-3
   • Accident/Incident and Ill-Health Data and Rates                                                                                5-3
   • External Information Sources                                                                                                          5-5
   • Internal Information Sources                                                                                                           5-5
   • Uses and Limitations of Information Sources                                                                                   5-5
   • Study Questions                                                                                                                            5-6
2. Hazard Identification Techniques                                                                                                     5-7
   • Hazard Detection Techniques                                                                                                         5-7
   • Importance of Worker Input                                                                                                            5-9
   • Study Question                                                                                                                             5-9
3. Assessment and Evaluation of Risk                                                                                              5-10
   • Key Steps in a Risk Assessment                                                                                                           5-10
   • Use and Limitation of Generic, Specific and Dynamic Risk Assessments                                                         5-13
   • Limitations of Risk Assessment Processes                                                                                    5-14
   • Temporary and Non-Routine Situations                                                                                          5-15
   • Consideration of Long-Term Hazards to Health                                                                               5-15
   • Types of Risk Assessment                                                                                                                  5-15
   • Organisational Arrangements for an Effective Risk Assessment Programme                                    5-18
   • Acceptability/Tolerability of Risk                                                                                                   5-19
   • Study Questions                                                                                                                          5-20
4. Systems Failures and System Reliability                                                                                        5-21
   • Meaning of the Term ‘System’                                                                                                       5-21
   • Principles of System Failure Analysis                                                                                                    5-21
   • Using Calculations in the Assessment of System Reliability                                                             5-23
   • Methods for Improving System Reliability                                                                                      5-27
   • Study Questions                                                                                                                          5-28
5. Failure Tracing Methodologies                                                                                                      5-29
   • A Guide to Basic Probability                                                                                                         5-29
   • Principles and Techniques of Failure Tracing Methods in the Assessment of Risk                               5-30
   • Study Questions