COVID-19 Risk Assessment
ABGI UK is committed to providing a safe and healthy work environment for all staff and all others we interact with in the course of our business day.
Overview
Risk assessment is the formalised process of identifying hazards, evaluating the risks that they generate and either eliminating or controlling the risk to an acceptable level. This assessment has been written to identify the COVID-19 risks and how we are managing them. All ABGi-UK staff are responsible for the implementation of these control measures.
Please be aware it is ABGi-UK’s overarching principle that where staff can work from home, they will continue to do so.
HSE Recommended Five Steps to Risk Assessment:
- Identify the hazards.
- Decide who might be harmed and how.
- Evaluate the risks and decide on precautions.
- Record your findings and implement them.
- Review your assessment and update if necessary.
Common Terms Used in Risk Assessment:
Hazard: Anything that can cause harm e.g. fire, chemicals, dusts, work at height, heat, electricity, lifting, noise, moving machinery parts, stress, violence etc.
Risk: The chance, great or small, that someone may be harmed by a hazard. Naturally, a person must be exposed to a hazard for any risk to exist.
Risk Control: Measures taken to eliminate the hazard / risk or, where this is not reasonably practicable, to reduce the likelihood of harm to an acceptable level. Risk control measures may take the form of revised working practices, equipment, training, or, as a last resort Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
General Risk Assessment Action Plan
| Risk Level | Result |
| LOW (no immediate action required) | No additional controls are required unless they can be implemented at a very low cost (in terms of time, money and effort). Actions to further reduce these risks are assigned low priority and arrangements should be made to ensure that the controls are properly maintained. |
| MEDIUM (action within three months) | Consideration should be given as to whether the risks can be lowered, where applicable, preferably to an acceptable level, but the costs of additional risk reduction measures should be 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 properly maintained, particularly if the risk levels are associated with harmful consequences. |
| HIGH (action within one month) | Substantial efforts should be made to reduce the risk, the risk reduction measures should be implemented urgently within a defined time period and taking into consideration, it may be necessary to suspend or restrict the activity or to apply interim risk control measures, until improvements have been completed. Considerable resources might have to be allocated to additional control measures. Arrangements should be made to ensure that the controls are properly maintained, particularly if the risk levels are associated with extremely and very harmful consequences. |
| VERY HIGH (requires immediate action) | These risks are unacceptable. Substantial improvements in risk controls are necessary so that the overall risk is reduced to a tolerable or acceptable level. The work activity should be stopped until the risk controls are implemented, which reduces the risk i.e. so that the risk is no longer very high. If it is not possible to reduce risks, the work should remain prohibited. |
Reference:
| Risk Description | People at Risk | Hazard | Risk Level | Residual Risk Level |
| COVID-19 Virus Exposure |
All staff, visitors and contractors |
Exposure to COVID-19 due to close contact with potentially infected people | Medium | Low |
| Measures |
|
All staff have been made aware that they must not come to the office if they or anyone in their household are displaying any COVID-19 symptoms. They should have booked a test and already be self-isolating. To arrange testing, contact the NHS on 0800 028 2816 or NHS Scotland - Covid-19 testing All staff have been made aware that should they begin to display any COVID-19 symptoms while in the office, they must inform their Line Manager, immediately leave the office, book a test and self-isolate if necessary. Ensure all staff, visitors and contractors are aware of restrictions and new policies within the office prior to entry/return. |
| Risk Description | People at Risk | Hazard | Risk Level | Residual Risk Level |
| Personal Hygiene | All staff, contractors and visitors | Exposure to COVID-19 due to poor personal hygiene | Medium | Low |
| Measures |
|
Ensure constant supply of hand soap, antibacterial wipes and hand towels are available within staff toilets. Implement enhanced cleaning within the office during the workday with focus on toilets and touch points throughout the office. Install additional hand sanitiser and antibacterial wipes throughout the office including all entrances. Post signage with reminders to socially distance, wash hands and clean all shared equipment and appliances. Ensure all staff, visitors and contractors are aware of restrictions and new policies within the office prior to entry/return. |
|
Risk Description |
People at Risk |
Hazard |
Risk Level |
Residual Risk Level |
|
Social Distancing |
All staff, contractors And visitors |
Exposure to COVID-19 directly from another person |
Medium |
Low |
|
Measures |
|
Create a socially distanced office environment giving a 2M distance where possible.
Install Perspex screens at all desks.
Reduce meeting spaces within office and reduce capacity of remaining meeting rooms to allow socially distance meetings only when necessary.
Allow for staggered start times for staff to avoid peak travel times, congestion at main office entrance and general movement within the office.
Display signage and floor marking where appropriate to inform staff of importance of social distancing.
Ensure all staff, visitors and contractors are aware of restrictions and new policies within the office prior to entry/return.
|
|
Risk Description |
People at Risk |
Hazard |
Risk Level |
Residual Risk Level |
|
Contact Points and Surfaces |
All staff, visitors and contractors |
Exposure to COVID-19 from contaminated surfaces |
High |
Medium |
|
Measures |
|
Implement enhanced cleaning within the office during the workday with focus on toilets and touch points throughout the office.
Install additional hand sanitiser and antibacterial wipes throughout the office including all entrances.
Display signage and floor marking where appropriate to inform staff of importance of good hygiene (hand washing). |
Action Plan
Risk:
|
Action |
|
All staff have been made aware that they must not come to the office if they or anyone in their household are displaying any COVID-19 symptoms. They should have booked a test and already be self-isolating. All staff have been made aware that should they begin to display any COVID-19 symptoms while in the office, they must inform their Line Manager, immediately leave the office, book a test and self-isolate if necessary. Ensure all staff, visitors and contractors are aware of restrictions and new policies within the office prior to entry/return. |
|
Responsible |
When |
|
All staff All staff CS/SMT |
Prior to staff returning and on-going Prior to staff returning and on-going Prior to staff returning and on-going |
|
Action |
|
Ensure constant supply of hand soap, antibacterial wipes and hand towels are available within staff toilets. Implement enhanced cleaning within the office during the workday with focus on toilets and touch points throughout the office. Install additional hand sanitiser and antibacterial wipes throughout the office including all entrances. Post signage with reminders to socially distance, wash hands and clean all shared equipment and appliances. Ensure all staff, visitors and contractors are aware of restrictions and new policies within the office prior to entry/return. |
|
Responsible |
When |
|
Cleaners/CS All staff /Cleaners Cleaners/CS CS CS/SMT |
Prior to staff returning and on-going Prior to staff return and on-going Prior to staff return and on-going Prior to staff return and on-going Prior to staff return and on-going |
| Action |
|
Create a socially distanced office environment giving a 2M distance where possible. Install Perspex screens at all desks. Reduce meeting spaces within office and reduce capacity of remaining meeting rooms to allow socially distance meetings only when necessary. Allow for staggered start times for staff to avoid peak travel times, congestion at main office entrance and general movement within the office. Display signage and floor marking where appropriate to inform staff of the importance of social distancing. Ensure all staff, visitors and contractors are aware of restrictions and new policies within the office prior to entry/return. |
| Responsible | When |
|
CS Cleaners All Staff Line Managers CS CS/SMT |
Prior to staff return and on-going Prior to staff return On-going Prior to staff return and on-going Prior to staff return Prior to staff return |
|
Action |
|
Implement enhanced cleaning within the office during the working day with focus on toilets and touch points throughout the office. Install additional hand sanitiser and antibacterial wipes throughout the office including all entrances. Display signage and floor marking where appropriate to inform staff of importance of good hygiene (hand washing). Cleaners and all staff |
|
Responsible |
When |
|
Cleaners and all staff Cleaners/CS CS |
On-going Prior to staff return and on-going Prior to staff return |
