AARHUS UNIVERSITY GUIDE FOR THE OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY ORGANISATION RISK ASSESSMENT A guide on how to predict and understand occupational health and safety risks at AU AARHUS UNIVERSITY GUIDE FOR THE OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY ORGANISATION RISK ASSESSMENT A guide on how to predict and understand occupational health and safety risks at AU Introduction This guide is a tool for the occupational health and safety organisation at AU. Risk assessment as part of the occupational health and safety work at AU is about predicting and understanding the existing or potential risks in the workplace. Risk assessment is an important tool for the o 1. Information about our work environment in which situations is a risk assessment required? We must assess the risks and the things we are exposed to at work to establish whether or not they may have negative short or long term effects. The occupational health and safety organisation has a range o 2. The risk assessment method Definition and use of risk assessments: A risk assessment covers the likelihood of risk exposure and the severity of the consequences. The assessment shows which types of preventive measures that must be taken to deal with the risk. Assessing specific risks at work Be Likelihood and consequences The risk assessment is divided into two steps. 1. Assessing the severity of the risk (frequency and consequences) 2. Defining appropriate action and prioritising initiatives. The severity of the risk can be defined as Likelihood x Consequences = Risk Based on the availa Suggestions for actions to take based on the assessment of the severity of the risk Based on the risk score and the severity, you can find suggestions below for actions to take in order to deal with the risk. In order to assess the information from your sources, you can ask the following: Is there a Physical work environment green zone Example: Odour problems toilet/sewer Observation/incident: Odour problems toilet/sewer: In connection with heavy rain, odour problems arise in a specific cloakroom/toilet area. This is the result of an outdated sewage system. Risk of: The odour problems may Psychological work environment - green zone Example: Noise problems from the printer room Observation/incident: Noise problems from the printer room The printer room is right next to an office where two employees work. Sometimes, people meet in the printer room and talk. The door is left open in or Physical work environment yellow zone Example: Slippery floors Observation/incident: Slippery floors when a machine is used to wash the floors. When a machine is used to wash the floors, water is often left on the floor. Risk of: Slip and fall accidents at work. Likelihood of negative impact: C Psychological work environment - yellow zone Example: Conflicts between employees Observation/incident: Conflicts often arise between employees and professional differences of opinion occasionally lead to personal criticism. Risk of: Low level of professional and personal well-being at work. Likel Physical work environment red zone Example: Risk of fire Observation/incident: Flammable substances and materials are used in the laboratories. Lack of instructions on how to handle highly flammable substances and materials. Lack of fire fighting instructions. Fire fighting equipment is not avai Psychological work environment red zone Example: Risk of harassment and violence Observation/incident: Staff has been exposed to verbal threats and assault. In certain situations, some of AUs service staff are in contact with students and, to a limited extent, citizens who act in an aggressive and