Risk assessments

"A risk assessment is not about creating huge amounts of paperwork , but rather about identifying sensible measures to control the risks in your workplace. You are probably already taking steps to protect your employees, but your risk assessment will help you decide whether you  have covered all you need to."

HSE (2016a) Risk assessment. Available at: http://www.hse.gov.uk/risk/controlling-risks.htm (Accessed: 18 October 2016).

Risk assessments are simply here to ensure maximum reassurance when it comes to safety at the workplace. The law states that in you run a business with more than 5 employees you must write up a formal risk assessment, even if your business has less than 5 employees you must still psychically manage risk.

For good detail on risk assessments got to: http://www.hse.gov.uk/risk/controlling-risks.htm

Why manage risk?

• To protect yourself and/or your employees from harm
  
• To keep a good reputation 
• It is a legal requirement to manage risk, therefore if laws are not followed serious fines/prison sentences may occur. 
• 'Reasonably practicable'

http://www.safework.nsw.gov.au/law-and-policy/employer-and-business-obligations/reasonably-practicable

How to manage risk:

1. Identify the hazard 
2. Confirm measures are already in place to reduce harm 
3. Assess the severity of the risk. Normally done through some kind of assessment scale 
4. Identify what things you can do to help manage the risk
5. Finally, create an action plan with deadlines, to ensure the risk is managed. 

Example of a risk assessment: 

Working from height

Working from height classes as a place of work, where if precautions are not taken, A person could fall from a distance which is liable to cause injury.

"Falls from height are a main cause of work-related death and the second most common cause of major injury to employees in UK workplaces. In 2004/05, falls from height accounted for 53 fatal accidents at work and around 3,800 major, and often disabling, injuries. Last year, The Work at Height Regulations 2005 came into effect. These apply to all work at height where there is a risk of a fall likely to result in personal injury, as Peter Ellis explains"

Ellis, P. (2006b) Working at height. 6th edn. The RoSPA Occupational Safety & Health Journal,.

For more information about working at height go to:

http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg401.pdf

Do….

• as much work as possible from the ground.
• ensure workers can get safely to and from where they work at height.
• ensure equipment is suitable, stable and strong enough for the job, maintained and checked regularly.
• take precautions when working on or near fragile surfaces.
• provide protection from falling objects.

Don’t…

• overload ladders – consider the equipment or materials workers are carrying before working at height. Check the pictogram or label on the ladder for information.
• overreach on ladders or stepladders.
• rest a ladder against weak upper surfaces, eg glazing or plastic gutters
• use ladders or stepladders for strenuous or heavy tasks, only use them for light work of short duration (a maximum of 30 minutes at a time)
• let anyone who is not competent (who doesn’t have the skills, knowledge and experience to do the job) work at height

General health and safety, (Hazards, Fire safety)

 Today you will be learning about simple risk management for a creative industry establishment, but also the steps to identify and prevent the hazard before it becomes a risk.

Risk management-

Why manage risk?

Warning symbol 

• To prevent harm from the public and/or staff.
• To keep your venues reputation intact. 
• It is a legal requirement, with consequences such as fines and/or prison sentences. 
• "Reasonably Practicable". 

Steps to managing a potential risk-

• Identify the hazard.
• Confirm that measures are already in place to reduce harm after the worst happens.
• Assess the severity of the risk in whatever way you do (Normally in some kind of assessment scale).
• Create an action plan with timelines to ensure the hazard is managed as quick and efficiently as possible. 

Fire exits-

Fire safety 

• Make sure all staff/public know where each fire exit is, but also every fire assembly point. 
• Make sure nothing is blocking the path of a fire exit.
• Have staff in place as fire wardens to ensure the public don't just get up and run in any direction when a fire alarm sounds. 

The total number of deaths because of fire

"The figure of 144 worker deaths in 2015/16"

For more information got to: http://www.hse.gov.uk/

                                

Manual Handling

Now we shall continue on health and safety, but this time you will be learning about Manual handling.

Manual handling relates to the picking up and movement of object's, either  using only yourself, others and also a few kinds of machinery/tools. There are different load amounts when it comes to either a man or woman lifting an object. It is advised to stick to the limits as injury is common and sometimes life changing.

Injuries related to manual handling: 2013/14, all industries

• Employee:

Fatal- 0
Major- 1431
over 7 days- 16,932

• Worker: 

Fatal- 0

Major- 1490

Over 7 days- 17,085

• Self employed:

Fatal- 0

Major- 59

Over 7 days- 162

As these results show, it is very important to follow the safety chart when in comes to lifting heavy objects, As if ignored you may damage your back, neck or legs. If you are lifting a heavy object without following the safety instructions you could damage your spine, which could cause permanent damage. 

This picture is showing the correct way to pick up an object.

Always avoid lifting up a heavy object when you have the tools to do so.

Shelf trolley-

Trolley-                                               

Lift truck-

Stage rigging basics

"Rudimentary truss replaced pipe to hang lighting and sound equipment. Almost overnight, it seemed, an industry was born."

Sapsis, B. (2014) Entertainment rigging for the 21st century: Compilation of work on rigging

Stage rigging is not the most acknowledged job when it comes to performances, but if not done properly can cause serious damage to both equipment and people. When rigging, always remember to do as much of the rigging as you can on the floor so there is less work to do while at height, therefore less chance of injury.

Here is a YouTube video showing some examples of why rigging safely is so important.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uru8Y6pzAGE

With any piece of equipment you need a safety wire.

MOST IMPORTANTLY NEVER LET ANYONE WHO IS NOT TRAINED USE RIGGING EQUIPMENT!

Primary uses of stage rigging:

• To support stage lighting equipment 
• Support shift stage scenery 
• Sometimes to support aerial performances 

There are many different ways of rigging properly, this is because there are so many different varieties of equipment that could be included in the set up of the stage. Here are some examples of wire rope ringing accessories. 

For a good basic video tutorial on stage rigging watch the video below: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDMdbx0K6QQ