Covid 19 risk assessment template
Looking to get back to work safely? We have created a free COVID-19 risk assessment to help ensure that you, your work friends and customers remain safe.
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You can download a copy of the coronavirus covid19 risk assessment here part 1 and part 2 and it is published below. Goes without saying to adapt it for your own unique circumstances, you can create a bespoke version for your business online in minutes using our easy to use risk assessment software.
Prevention of exposure to COVID -19 virus Risk assessment
Risk assessment – topic/area covered
Location(s): Prevention of exposure to COVID -19 virus
Department/staff: All departments and staff on the premises
Tasks/activities: All production, construction, sales and administrative tasks on the premises
Other information: Risk assessment to be updated in accordance with the latest government guidance
Risk assessment sign off
Prepared by: Protecting.co.uk
Signature: Protecting
Date:
Reviewed by:
Signature:
Date:
Date for review:
This risk assessment should be reviewed if additional risks not covered are identified or if there is any reason to suggest that the control measures are deemed to be insufficient.
Document issue record
Amendment number
Issue date
Date amended
Person amending
Remarks
Distribution schedule
Registered number
Issue number
Date
Name
Designation
Risk matrix
Risk rating guidance
Likelihood (L)
Likelihood (L) x Severity (S)
Risk rating (RR).
Severity (S)
Acceptability of risk guidance
High risk: 15-25
High-risk activities should cease immediately.
Further effective control measures to mitigate risks must be introduced.
Medium risk: 8-12
Medium risks should only be tolerated for the short term and only whilst further control measures to mitigate the risks are being planned and introduced.
Low risk: 1-6 Low risks are largely acceptable. Where it is reasonable to do so, efforts should be made to reduce risks further.
Guidance.
When completing a risk assessment, you should:
1. Identify the persons at risk and the significant hazards.
2. Calculate an initial RR for the activity.
3. Identify risk control measures that reduce the risks to an acceptable level.
4. Calculate a revised RR – you should consider how much safer the task will be if the control measures are followed. Here, you should consider changing both the likelihood (L) and the severity (S) ratings.
Note. Ideally, you should look to reduce the risks so that the task can be classified as “low risk”.
Personal protective equipment (PPE) assessment
In many instances, you will be able to reduce risks further by asking staff/others to wear/use PPE. You should identify which items are required for the task here:
Type of PPE:
Head
(BS EN 397)
Foot
(BS EN 345-1)
Eye
(BS EN 165:2005)
Hand
(BS EN 420:2003)
Hearing
(EN 352-1)
High-visibility vest
(BS EN 471)
RPE
Fall arrest
(BS EN 361)
Additional requirements
(list here): Guidance on self-isolation found via the Government website.
Note. PPE must only be considered as, when other control measures, such as guarding, local exhaust extraction, preventing noise at source, eliminating the need to work at height etc. are not possible. PPE should always be considered as a last resort option. PPE should only be worn when there is reasonable justification for doing so.
Risk assessment
Activity
Persons at risk
Significant hazards
Initial
Risk control measures
Residual
Controlling the spread of COVID-19
Employees, client, public
Persons being exposed to the bioaerosol and contracting and spreading COVID-19
Anyone who meets one of the following criteria must follow the Governments guidance on Self Isolation:
o Has a high temperature or a new persistent cough?
o Is a vulnerable person (by virtue of their age, underlying health condition, clinical condition or are pregnant)?
o Is living with someone in self-isolation or a vulnerable person.
Working on the premises where persons are showing symptoms of the virus
Employees, client, public
Carrying out routine operations on the premises as a result of work activities. The effected person should
• Return home immediately
• Avoid touching anything
• Cough or sneeze into a tissue and put it in a bin, or if they do not have tissues, cough and sneeze into the crook of their elbow.
• If the symptoms are too severe that the person is unable to get themselves home safely dial 999
They must then follow the guidance on self-isolation and not return to work until their period of self-isolation has been completed.
Travelling to site in order to carry out work operations
Employees, client, public
Catching and Spreading COVID 19. Where possible all workers should travel to site alone using their own transport.
• Additional parking spaces may need to be added to site
• Workers must avoid public transport
• Hand cleaning facilities to be provided at all entrances and exits for site.
Site Access
Employees, client, public
Catching / Spreading of the virus while access (or leaving) site in the confines of other persons
Stop all non-essential visitors
• Start and finish times to be staggered to reduce congestion.
• Plenty of space to be available to ensure operatives are keeping 2m as a minimum.
• Monitor site access points to enable social distancing – you may need to change the number of access points, either increase to reduce congestion or decrease to enable monitoring
• All entry systems which require skin contact i.e fingerprint scanners should be removed or disabled.
• All workers to wash and clean hands before entering or leaving site.
• Regularly clean common contact surfaces in reception, office, access control and delivery areas e.g. turnstiles, screens, desks, particularly during peak flow times
• Reduce attendees at site inductions and consider holding outdoors.
Drivers should remain in their vehicles if the load will allow it and must wash or clean their hands before unloading goods and materials.
Welfare Facilities
Employees, client, public
Catching / Spreading the virus while using site welfare facilities
Provide additional hand washing facilities to the usual welfare facilities if a large spread out site or significant numbers of personnel on site
• Ensure soap and fresh water is readily available and kept topped up at all times
• Provide hand sanitiser where hand washing facilities are unavailable
• Regularly clean the hand washing facilities and check soap and sanitiser levels
• Provide suitable and sufficient rubbish bins for hand towels with regular removal and disposal.
Toilet Facilities
• Restrict the number of people using the toilet facilities at one time.
• Washing of hands before and after using the facilities.
• Increase cleaning regime for toilet facilities particularly door handles, locks and toilet flush.
Portable toilets should be avoided where possible. If this is not possible then these should be cleaned and emptied more frequently. 5 1 5
Welfare Facilities
Employees, client, public
Catching / Spreading
Continued. Canteens and Eating Arrangements
• Whilst there is a requirement for construction sites to provide a means of heating food and making hot drinks, these are exceptional circumstances and where it is not possible to introduce a means of keeping equipment clean between use, kettles, microwaves etc. must be removed from use.
• Use of local shops is to be discouraged.
• Dedicated eating areas should be identified on site to reduce food waste and contamination
• Break times should be staggered to reduce congestion and contact at all times
• Hand cleaning facilities or hand sanitiser should be available at the entrance of any room where people eat and should be used by workers when entering and leaving the area.
• Operatives should be asked to bring pre-prepared food and refillable drinking bottles
Workers should sit 2 metres apart from each other whilst eating and avoid all contact
Welfare Facilities
Employees, client, public
Catching / Spreading
the virus while using site welfare facilities. Where catering is provided on site, it should provide pre-prepared and wrapped food only – Payments should be taken by contactless card wherever possible – Crockery, eating utensils, cups etc. should not be used
• Drinking water should be provided with enhanced cleaning measures of the tap mechanism introduced
• Tables should be cleaned between each use
• All rubbish should be put straight in the bin and not left for someone else to clear up
All areas used for eating must be thoroughly cleaned at the end of each break and shift, including chairs, door handles, vending machines and payment devices.
Welfare Facilities
Employees, client, public
Catching / Spreading
the virus while using site welfare facilities.
Changing Facilities, Showers and Drying Rooms
• Stagger start and finish times to reduce congestion and contact at all times
• Enhanced cleaning of all facilities throughout the day and at the end of each day
• Consider increasing the number or size of facilities available on site if possible
• Based on the size of each facility, determine how many people can use it at any one time to maintain a distance of two metres
Provide suitable and sufficient rubbish bins in these areas with regular removal and disposal.
Site Working
Employees, client, public
Catching / Spreading the virus while using site welfare facilities
Non-essential physical work that requires close contact between workers should not be carried out
• Work requiring skin to skin contact should not be carried out
• Plan all other work to minimise contact between workers an subcontractors.
• Re-usable PPE should be thoroughly cleaned after use and not shared between workers
• Re-usable PPE should be thoroughly cleaned after use and not shared between workers
• Stairs should be used in preference to lifts or hoists
• Stairs should be used in preference to lifts or hoists
o Lower their capacity to reduce congestion and contact at all times
o Regularly clean touchpoints, doors, buttons etc.
• Increase ventilation in enclosed spaces
• Regularly clean the inside of vehicle cabs and between use by different operators.
Site Meetings
Employees, client, public
Catching / Spreading the virus while using site welfare facilities
Only absolutely necessary meeting participants should attend
• Attendees should be two metres apart from each other
• Rooms should be well ventilated / windows opened to allow fresh air circulation
Consider holding meetings in open areas where possible.
Cleaning
Employees, client, public
Catching / Spreading the virus while using site welfare facilities. Enhanced cleaning procedures should be in place across the site, particularly in communal areas and at touch points including:
o Taps and washing facilities
o Toilet flush and seats
o Door handles and push plates
o Handrails on staircases and corridors
o Lift and hoist controls
o Machinery and equipment controls
o Food preparation and eating surfaces
o Telephone equipment
o Keyboards, photocopiers and other office equipment
Rubbish collection and storage points should be increased and emptied regularly throughout and at the end of each day.
Lack of awareness
Employees, client, public
Persons being unaware of the controls required to control the virus, putting themselves and others at risk. The latest government campaign posters will be displayed in the welfare areas and in suitable places around site.
• Regular bulletins will be issued and where possible and safe to do so at an acceptable distance, toolbox talks and safety briefings will be carried out, warning employees of the risks posed by the virus as well as the control measures outlined in this assessment and from government guidance. This will include informing personnel of the known symptoms and making them aware of new Government advice as and when updated.
We will continually adopt and review new government / WHO guidance as and when it is available
“at-risk” employees Employees, client, public
Vulnerable persons such as those with pre-existing medical conditions and autoimmune deficiencies being exposed to the virus. Medical questionnaires are issued upon employment.
• Employees known to be in the “at-risk” category to follow government guidance and as a minimum take “particular care to minimise their social contact”. These personnel may have received letters to state that they must self-isolate for 12 weeks. The category includes:
o Pregnant women
o People over 70
o People who have had an organ transplant and are taking immunosuppressant medicine
o People who are having chemotherapy or radiotherapy
o People who have blood or bone marrow cancer
o People who have a severe chest condition, such as cystic fibrosis or severe asthma
People who have other serious health conditions