Risk Assessment

Activity Assessed: Use of Tail Lift/pallet trucks/moving decks Assessment Date: 22 February 2018 Assessment Reference:
Name of Assessor: Bob Carson Review Date: January 2020

Persons at Risk and Current Risk Level

Ref. Further Controls Action by Action by Completed
Hazard How They Might be Controls Currently in Place
No. Risk Recommended Whom Date Date
Harmed L S R
Rating
▪ Tail lift flip up trolley stops
used when transporting
goods on tail lift
▪ Pedestrians excluded from
vicinity of vehicle being
loaded/unloaded using tail
lift.
▪ Driver provided with
information specific to
vehicle:
Loading/Unloading
▪ maximum weight
Operatives, Drivers,
permitted on tail lift
Pallet/truck falls Members of the
1 ▪ Operating tail lift covered in 2 4 8 Low
from vehicle Public by impact from
a written Safe System of
falling full or empty
Work, with staff suitably
pallet truck.
trained.
▪ Driver instruction includes:
▪ Use flip up trolley
stops
▪ Load pallet truck on
tail lift
▪ Avoid overloading tail
lift
▪ Report any tail lift
defects
Loading/Unloading ▪ Operating tail lift covered in
Lifting Operation Operatives, Drivers a written Safe System of
– exceeding tail by falling from tail lift Work, with staff suitably
2 2 3 6 Low
lift safe working and being struck by trained.
load falling load as a result ▪ Tail lift included in daily
of tail lift catastrophic inspection
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 Persons at Risk and Current Risk Level
Ref. Further Controls Action by Action by Completed
Hazard How They Might be Controls Currently in Place
No. Risk Recommended Whom Date Date
Harmed L S R
Rating
failure. ▪ Tail lift serviced &
maintained
▪ Tail lift subject to statutory
inspection at prescribed
level
▪ Driver provided with
information specific to
vehicle:
▪ Tail lift safe working
load
▪ .
▪
▪ Covered in a written Safe
System of Work, with staff
suitably trained.
▪ Warning signs are
displayed in the area.
▪ Persons not involved with
Loading/Unloading
the unloading/loading
Operatives, Members
activity are kept away from
of the Public by
Vehicle the area.
3 crushing injury or 2 4 8 Low
Movement ▪ The designated loading or
impact injury due to
unloading area is provided
contact with moving
safe refuge for staff.
vehicles.
▪ A good standard of
illumination is provided and
maintained.
▪ Suitable high visibility
clothing is issued to
loading/unloading staff.
▪ Floor/yard surfaces are
even/level with satisfactory
surface drainage.
▪ Housekeeping exercises
are undertaken and waste
Loading/Unloading
removed on a regular basis.
Slips, Trips & Operatives, Drivers
4 ▪ A good standard of 3 3 9 low
Falls by impact with
illumination is provided and
ground.
maintained.
▪ Goods/material storage
does not obstruct the
emergency exits or escape
routes.

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 Persons at Risk and Current Risk Level
Ref. Further Controls Action by Action by Completed
Hazard How They Might be Controls Currently in Place
No. Risk Recommended Whom Date Date
Harmed L S R
Rating
▪ Operating tail lift covered in
a written Safe System of
Work, with staff suitably
trained.
Loading/Unloading
Falls from Height ▪ Tail lift fitted with slip
Operatives, Drivers
5 from raised tail resistant surface 2 4 8 low
by impact with
lift/deck ▪ Tail lift fitted with flip up
ground.
trolley stops
▪ Use of slip resistant
footwear

▪ Operating tail lift covered in

a written Safe System of
Work, with staff suitably
trained.
▪ A good standard of
Machinery – Loading/Unloading illumination is provided and
moving tail Operatives, Drivers maintained.
6 2 4 8 low
lift/deck (raised by standing in tail lift ▪ Only driver permitted to
or lowered) crush zone raise/lower tail lift
▪ Persons not involved with
the raising/lowering tail lift
are kept away from the
area.
▪ Use of safety footwear
▪ Deck use covered in
safe system of work
▪ Driver/ operative must
Crushing by Driver, loading
7 not go under raised 2 5 10 Low
falling deck operatives
deck unless they can
confirm deck safely
locks are in place

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Risk Assessment Information
Evaluating Risk:
This risk assessment is based on the 5 Steps to Risk Assessment model and uses numerical values to calculate the levels of risk.
In practice this means we simply assign a value of 1-5 for the likelihood of the hazard causing harm and a value of 1-5 for the severity of the harm should it occur (1 being
the lowest value, 5 being the highest). The two figures are then multiplied to achieve a risk rating score: L x S = R.
For example if a worker changes a light bulb in an indoor ceiling light using a stepladder twice a year then we can rate the likelihood as ‘1’ due to the low frequency of the
activity being performed. However as injuries as a result of falls from height can be serious (even from relatively short distances) then we can rate the severity as a ‘4’,
Using the calculation we multiply 1 x 4 = 4. This produces a ‘Very Low’ Risk Level on the Risk Rating Key.
Another example would be for a worker who regularly has to change light bulbs as a part of their job, sometimes outside and in adverse weather conditions. The likelihood
would increase to ‘5’, reflecting the regularity of the action and the potentially increased chance of falling while working outside on uneven ground and in bad weather,
while the severity would remain at ‘4’. Again using the calculation we multiply 5 x 4 = 20. This returns a Risk Rating of High on the Risk Rating Key.
Likelihood and Severity Key:

Likelihood Severity
Rating Guide words Rating Guide words

1 Extremely unlikely 1 No/Minor harm

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2 Unlikely 2 Moderate harm
3 Likely 3 Serious harm
4 Extremely likely 4 Major harm

5 Almost certain 5 Catastrophic

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Risk Rating Key:

Risk
Score Description
Level
Very
1-4 These risks are considered acceptable. No further action is necessary other than to ensure that the controls are maintained.
Low
No additional controls are required unless they can be implemented at very low cost (in terms of time, money and effort). Actions to
5-10 Low
further reduce these risks are assigned low priority. Arrangements should be made to ensure that the controls are maintained.
Consideration should be given as to whether the risks can be lowered, but the costs of additional risk reduction measures should be
11-15 Medium taken into account. The risk reduction measures should be implemented within a defined time period. Arrangements should be
made to ensure that the controls are maintained, particularly if the risk levels are associated with harmful consequences.
Substantial efforts should be made to reduce the risk. Risk reduction measures should be implemented urgently within a defined
time period and it might be necessary to consider suspending or restricting the activity, or to apply interim risk controls, until this has
15-20 High been completed. Considerable resources might have to be allocated to additional controls. Arrangements should be made to ensure
that the controls are maintained, particularly if the risk levels are associated with extremely harmful consequences and very harmful
consequences.
These risks are unacceptable. Substantial improvements in risk controls are necessary, so that the risk is reduced to an acceptable
Very
20+ level. The work activity should be halted until risk controls are implemented that reduce the risk so that it is no longer very high. If it
High
is not possible to reduce risk the work should remain prohibited.

Definitions:

A systematic examination of workplace risks in 5 steps: 1) Identify the hazards, 2) Identify who might be harmed and how, 3) Evaluation
Risk
the hazard (by examining current controls and recommending further controls), 4) Recording the assessment and 5) Reviewing the
Assessment
assessment.
Hazard Something with the potential to cause harm e.g. tools, machinery, work equipment, substances, workstation, unsafe system of work etc.
The damage that a hazard may cause e.g. physiological effects (physical injury, ill health) and psychological factors (e.g. stress), loss of
Harm
time/efficiency and damage to the premises/equipment.
Likelihood The chance that a hazard realises its potential to cause harm.
Severity Extent of injury, damage etc.
Risk The probability of a hazard actually causing harm.
Controls Measures introduced or installed to reduce to a minimum the possibility of harm to persons, plant and property.

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