The document outlines the importance of risk assessments for organizations, particularly in light of COVID-19 challenges, emphasizing the need to identify hazards, evaluate risks, and adapt safe systems of work accordingly. It highlights various risks that charities face and provides guidance on adhering to public health regulations while ensuring employee safety and operational continuity. Emphasis is placed on the necessity of documenting risk management processes and continuously reviewing controls to mitigate risks effectively.

1. Assessing health & safety risks in uncertain times
20th May 2020
Sharon Kearns
Risk Consultant, Zurich Insurance

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 Review the risk environment and identify key operational risks
 Benefits of a risk assessment approach
 Risk control hierarchy and selection
 Risk assessment and liability defence
Objectives
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 Understanding the basics of risk management
– Why is risk management important?
– What particular risks do charities face?
– How can risk be managed?
– Disaster recovery planning
 Risk management model
– Establishing a risk policy
– Identifying risks
– Assessing risk
– Evaluating what action needs to be taken
– Periodic monitoring and assessment
Charity Commission for England & Wales Guidance CC26
Charities and Risk Management
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Moral Legal Financial
Why carry out risk assessments?

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The headlines
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Genesis
Housing Group
fined after
outbreak of
Legionnaires’
disease at
sheltered
housing
scheme
Southwark
council fined
£570,000 over
fatal tower
block fire
Worker’s hand in
flames as a result
of using alcohol
based sanitizer in a
static electrical
environment

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Compensation claims
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£88,627 compensation for night
support worker who sustained
injuries after falling down staircase
whilst carrying laundry basket – RA
not suitable or sufficient
£58,893 compensation for community
centre visitor who suffered significant
burns after sitting on a toilet seat
cleaned with a concentrated solution
of cleaning product – lack of COSHH
risk assessment

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“A systematic examination of a work
activity, undertaking, premises/area, equipment, etc..” HSE
Risk = Likelihood (probability) x Severity
Carried out by competent person
What is a risk assessment?
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Have you formally identified the competent
health & safety risk assessors in your
organisation?
YES or NO
Go to slido now to vote
Poll
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Step 1 –
identify the
hazards
Step 2 -
identify who
might be
harmed
Step 3 -
evaluate the
risks &
controls
Step 4 –
record,
communicate
& retain
Step 5 -
monitor risk
assessments
- check
controls
Risk assessments - a 5 step process

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Covid-19 presents a new risk…

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Step 1 –
identify the
hazards
Step 2 -
identify who
might be
harmed
Step 3 -
evaluate the
risks &
controls
Step 4 –
record,
communicate
& retain
Step 5 -
monitor risk
assessments
- check
controls
Risk assessments - a 5 step process

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 All safe systems of work should be reviewed e.g.
– Can the work be carried out from home?
– Can travel to a job be carried out whilst observing social distancing rules?
– Can tasks be carried out safely while observing social distancing rules?
– Can normal and emergency operations continue safely with fewer staff at work, or
when those with key skills are absent?
– Can the required PPE be provided to continue a specific task?
– Will fatigue be likely if staff are working longer hours?
* Government advice - certain types of businesses / work must close during the lockdown.
Safe systems of work
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“Suitable & sufficient”
 The assessment should identify all significant and foreseeable risks arising from work activities /
undertaking
o Identify and consider guidance on those particularly vulnerable to the virus: pregnant workers, those
beyond typical retirement age, those with underlying health conditions etc.
o Take into account a reduced workforce
o Adhere to Public Health England, the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) and government regulations &
advice
 All necessary measures must comply with statutory provisions, codes of practice and industry guidelines
 Positive:
o Should NOT be over-complicated
o Allows flexibility
o Open to interpretation

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 Office safety / homeworking
 Working with DSE
 Working environment
 Cleaning
 Grounds maintenance
 Caretaking
 Working at heights
 Lone working
 Violence
 Emergency
 Fire safety
 Welfare
 Slips, trips and falls
 Volunteers
 Use of chemicals
 Use of electricity
 Use of power tools
 Noise
 Manual handling
 Use of vehicles / driving
 General maintenance duties
 Health risks eg infection
 Mental health & wellbeing
 First aid
 Changes to work / work practices
 Redeployment
 Getting back to “normal”
* Not exhaustive - what are the significant risks in your organisation?
Employee activities to consider in the new normal

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Service activities to consider in the new normal
 Activities / actions of employees
 Changes to services delivered
– Contractual
– Grant-funded
 Activities / actions of volunteers
 Activities / actions of third parties eg contractors
 Organised events
 Assets
– Buildings and curtilages
– Statutory obligations
– LOLER – lifting equipment
– PSSR – pressure systems
– Water systems – legionella
– Electrical equipment
– Vehicle maintenance & inspection
– Etc
– Maintenance
– Site inspections
– Security
– Temporarily-closed buildings
– Getting back to “normal”
– What are the risks associated with the new normal?* Not exhaustive - what are the significant
risks in your organisation?

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Poll
In your organisation, what do you consider
to be the main risk associated with the new
normal?
Go to slido now to vote
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Covid-19 and Risk Assessment
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 How does the virus threat change risk assessments?
 Refer to current COVID-19 guidance and how this relates to the risks in the workplace and
services provided
 Work should not be carried out or service provided unless essential
 All mitigating measures must be taken to reduce the risk of transmission eg
- Plans to minimise contact
- Implement social distancing rules
- Making handwashing part of the safe system of work
- Etc
 Any changes should be documented and records retained
 Deputy Coroner of Birmingham recently provided guidance:
– COVID-19 risk assessments should be undertaken
– Generalised COVID-19 policies should be in place
– Contemporaneous and detailed records should be made in support of decisions taken
– "Provided that the stance adopted is a reasonable one and can be supported evidentially, the
risk of a finding of neglect should be minimal."

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• Review existing risk assessments
• Complete risk assessments for new or changed practices
• Review controls and safe systems in place in the wake of COVID
19
• Confirm that controls reduce the likelihood of the risk occurring or
mitigate it’s impact
• Ensure that risks assessments, controls and safe systems of work
are recorded
• Monitor the implementation of safe systems of work
• Review risk assessments and safe systems of work
“Would it be reasonably practicable to do more taking into account
circumstances of your services and Covid-19?”
Covid-19 – risk assess, risk assess, risk assess

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 NCVO is collecting information about how lockdown will affect charities – please complete and submit
– https://www.ncvo.org.uk/easing-lockdown-form
– https://knowhow.ncvo.org.uk/tools-resources/risk-management/template-risk-register
Sharing your experience
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 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/charities-and-risk-management-cc26
 https://www.zurich.co.uk/municipal/en-gb/risk-management
 https://www.zurich.co.uk/insurance/coronavirus
 membership@ncvo.org.uk
 News & Views - Zurich
 Managing Safety at Events - Zurich Municipal
 Local Community Advisory Service - Zurich Municipal
 www.hse.gov.uk
 https://www.gov.uk/guidance/social-distancing-in-the-workplace-during-coronavirus-covid-19-sector-
guidance
 https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-for-the-charity-sector
 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-to-employers-and-businesses-about-covid-19
 https://www.ncvo.org.uk/practical-support/information/coronavirus
 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-for-social-or-community-care-and-residential-
settings-on-covid-19/guidance-for-social-or-community-care-and-residential-settings-on-covid-19
 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-to-educational-settings-about-covid-19/guidance-to-
educational-settings-about-covid-19
 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-residential-care-supported-living-and-home-care-
guidance/covid-19-guidance-on-home-care-provision
 https://www.hse.gov.uk/toolbox/ppe.htm
 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-on-social-distancing-and-for-vulnerable-
people/guidance-on-social-distancing-for-everyone-in-the-uk-and-protecting-older-people-and-vulnerable-
adults
 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-decontamination-in-non-healthcare-settings/covid-
19-decontamination-in-non-healthcare-settings
Useful references