There are 3 types of risk assessment…
Flip the cards below…
Let’s look at each of these in more detail…
1. Informal risk assessment
This is what we do in our everyday lives; decisions taken ‘on the spot’ when our current environment changes or when we are introduced to a new environment.
For example, if a client takes a bath, we might use a non-slip mat to prevent them from slipping when they get in and out. We would support them to avoid filling up the bath with scalding hot water and getting straight in it because we know the water would burn their skin. We would not put too much water in the bath so that when they get in it overspills onto the floor. We might even have a bath mat on the floor to stop them from slipping.
When we leave our home, we generally lock the door to avoid an intruder entering our property when we are not there. We make sure we have enough petrol in our car to get from A to B.
When cooking, we follow instructions on how to defrost and heat up a meal to avoid food poisoning. These can all apply to the people we work with.
All of these activities involve us following safe practice guidelines which we have normally learnt as we have grown up. Very few of these will be written down anywhere and will be based on our own personal experience. We may change the way we do things based on our experience of what happened last time. Again, this may not be written down and will be acted out according to what we remember.
2. Formal risk assessments
These are prepared in advance, recorded and monitored on a regular basis.
Formal risk assessments capture essential information required in order to carry out particular tasks or functions.
Below is the Health & Safety Executive’s (HSE) risk assessment template that you can use in your workplace.
You can download a copy of the HSE template via this link…
Risk assessments should always be person-centred. Wherever possible, the individuals being supported should be involved in creating risk assessments, particularly about themselves.
Click on the yellow + buttons to see examples of the sort of information required for a formal risk assessment when using a hoist and sling for moving and handling. The risk assessment should tell us:
3. Dynamic risk assessment
Whilst formal risk assessments will be in place, care and support workers may be faced with a situation when the circumstances are different. For example, on arrival at an individual’s home or in an individual’s private room.
The circumstances may be different to normal and mean that the guidance in the formal risk assessment does not apply. The worker will then need to use their initiative and a more dynamic approach to assessing the risks they are immediately faced with.
If it is not clear, they may need to contact their office or supervisor to discuss possible options and to take advice accordingly.
The important thing to do after the situation has been resolved is to ensure that any formal risk assessments are updated to take into account this new situation as it may occur again.
P E C T
A tool that can be used to ensure the individual has covered their safety and role within a dynamic risk assessment is the acronym PECT.
Flip the cards below, to take a look at what PECT stands for.
Under PECT, we must consider what the person orpeople are doing that would raise concern. Let’s take a look at what some of these concerns could include…
- Is there an issue with the environment?
- Do the staff have the capability to complete what is regard of their role?
- Can the task be completed safely?
Any issues with carrying out the task must be recorded.
A debrief where the issue is discussed, can help put new control systems in place so that the individual and other members of a team can learn. This can be used as an example for future training.
“That was too easy”
We know it was easy but by repeating the acronym PECT with the definition, we are aiming to support you to remember it.
.svg)
