GSA Lecture Rooms Risk

Assessment
School/Professional Location: (Site/ Building/ Room)
Support Area:

Assessment Date: Review Date:

Assessors Name: Job Title:

Task: Risk assessment for the activities associated with work in Lecture Rooms & Similar Teaching-Based Environments

Who Risk Evaluation

Risk
might be Rating
What are the harmed? Are the following control Severity Likelihood Overall Low,
hazards? Yes/ (1 – 5) (1 – 5) risk Medium
(e.g. What are the risks measures in place to eliminate or Corrective actions required
(See list of sample No (S x L) or High
hazards) Staff, reduce the risks?
students,
visitors)
TRIP HAZARDS Staff, Chairs, other furniture and
AND OTHER students items within, and trailing Awareness amongst individuals,
OBSTRUCTIONS and cables across, walkways. particularly those supervising
others activities within the room(s) of good
using the Unnecessary delay in housekeeping practices.
room(s). evacuation from the room as
a result of obstructions on Sufficient storage space, particularly
means of escape. for items when not in use.

Routine housekeeping checks,

including condition of floor
coverings.

Where possible trailing cables

arranged to not run across
walkways. If unavoidable, cable
matting to be used.

Any damaged floor coverings

reported and made safe/repaired.

ELECTRICITY Anyone Using damaged portable

AND PORTABLE using or electrical appliances, cables, Appliances subject to appropriate
ELECTRICAL coming plugs etc. levels of maintenance (i.e.
APPLIANCES
into inspection and, where necessary,
contact Damage to portable testing) that is recorded.
with electrical appliances, their
appliance cables, plugs etc. Use of personally-owned portable

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 What are the Who Risk Evaluation
Risk
might be Are the following control Rating
hazards? Yes/
harmed? What are the risks measures in place to eliminate or Corrective actions required Severity Likelihood Overall Low,
(See list of sample No
hazards) (e.g. reduce the risks? (1 – 5) (1 – 5) risk Medium
(S x L) or High
s. Staff, appliances prohibited unless subject
to appropriate checks to ensure
safe condition and use.

Extension cables used only as a

temporary measure and positioned
away from areas of potential
damage.

Sufficient number and position of

fixed socket outlets.

Unavoidable trailing cables across

walkways are covered with cable
matting/protector.

SPILLAGES AND Staff, People slipping on liquid

CONTAMINANTS students spillages or other Floor covering appropriate to the
ON FLOOR and contaminants that have got activities taking place within the
SURFACES
others onto the studio’s vinyl, tiled room(s), i.e. slip-resistance
using the or similar floor surface. The properties.
room(s). spillages or contaminants
could arise from activities, Room layout and activities
equipment or items brought organised to reduce likelihood of
into the studio contaminants getting onto the floor
surface.

Any spillages immediately dealt

with, i.e. dry spot clean, and all
aware of how to deal with such
situations.

EXCEEDING Staff, Delay in safe evacuation

ROOM students from the room(s). Capacity of room(s) established
CAPACITY and prior to timetabling and adhered to.
others Insufficient to undertake
using the activities and to use the Any potential change of use or
room(s). room(s) safely. desired increase in occupancy
checked prior to proceeding.

DISPLAY * Anyone Health risks associated with

SCREEN using the poor workstation set up, poor Workstations provided within the
EQUIPMENT DSE posture and periods of room(s) subject to the generic
within the prolonged use of display workstation assessment as part of
room(s). screen equipment (DSE). the assessment process given by

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 What are the Who Risk Evaluation
Risk
might be Are the following control Rating
hazards? Yes/
harmed? What are the risks measures in place to eliminate or Corrective actions required Severity Likelihood Overall Low,
(See list of sample No
hazards) (e.g. reduce the risks? (1 – 5) (1 – 5) risk Medium
(S x L) or High
Staff, GSA’s specific DSE procedure.

Information provided to individuals

and made available within the
room(s) on good workstation set up
and posture, and breaking up
periods of continuous use.

MANUAL* Those Musculoskeletal injuries Individual awareness of safe

HANDLING undertaki through poor manual manual handling techniques.
ng handling techniques,
manual exceeding physical Generic manual handling
handling capabilities etc and other assessments in place for typical
and in injuries through the dropping activities undertaken within the
the of loads etc room(s).
immediat
e vicinity Extensive manual handling
activities, e.g. furniture moves,
undertaken by appropriate
staff/contractor
VIOLENCE AND Staff Staff awareness of recognising
AGGRESSION exposed Staff exposed to potentially situations, diffusing techniques,
to such confrontational situations actions to take, and the reporting of
situations and experiencing aggressive incidents to investigation and follow
or violent behaviour towards up actions where necessary.
them.

HAZARDOUS* Anyone Exposure to hazardous

SUBSTANCES within the substances that are used as The intended activities that will
room(s). part of projects, for involve the use of hazardous
demonstration purposes etc substances are subject to specific
within the room(s). risk assessment.

Risk controls identified by the risk

assessments in place and brought
to the attention working within the
room(s).

LONE WORKING* Those Those lone working or

AND WORKING lone working outside normal Periods of lone working generally
OUTSIDE working hours unable to promptly confined to normal working hours
NORMAL
or summon emergency and when others in the vicinity.
WORKING
HOURS working assistance in the event of
outside serious injury, sudden Lone working by students outside
normal illness. normal working hours prohibited.

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 What are the Who Risk Evaluation
Risk
might be Are the following control Rating
hazards? Yes/
harmed? What are the risks measures in place to eliminate or Corrective actions required Severity Likelihood Overall Low,
(See list of sample No
hazards) (e.g. reduce the risks? (1 – 5) (1 – 5) risk Medium
(S x L) or High
Staff,
hours
Unauthorised personnel able Lone working activities and
to access room(s) or other activities being carried undertaken
areas of the building and outside normal working hours
potential impact on the subject to risk assessment,
personal safety of those lone particularly those involving students.
working or working outside
normal hours. Means of summoning emergency
assistance easily available (e.g. red
emergency telephone).

GSA’s Out of Hours and Lone

Working Procedure adhered to,
especially individual awareness of
actions to take, procedures to follow
etc.

Appropriate security arrangements

in place to reduce likelihood of
unauthorised access into buildings

WORK Those Contact with the dangerous

EQUIPMENT using the parts of work equipment that Work equipment intended to be
work is intended to be used within used that has dangerous parts is
equipme the room(s), e.g. for subject to specific risk assessment.
nt and demonstration purposes.
others Appropriate levels of awareness of
within the General misuse of work the safe use of particular items of
room(s). equipment. work equipment, and supervision to
ensure safe use.
Defective work equipment
and any safety measures of Work equipment subject to
that equipment. appropriate levels of maintenance,
e.g. in accordance with the
manufacturer’s instructions.

WORKING AT Those
HEIGHT / working Falls whilst working at height Proper access equipment available,
ITEMS at height to erect displayed material or e.g. step ladders.
STORED AT and access storage areas.
HEIGHT anyone Awareness of safe working at height
below Items stored or displayed at techniques.
items at height not securely
height. positioned and falling to Sufficient space around areas
ground. where work at height and others
kept away from vicinity whilst taking
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 What are the Who Risk Evaluation
Risk
might be Are the following control Rating
hazards? Yes/
harmed? What are the risks measures in place to eliminate or Corrective actions required Severity Likelihood Overall Low,
(See list of sample No
hazards) (e.g. reduce the risks? (1 – 5) (1 – 5) risk Medium
(S x L) or High
Staff, place.

Items securely positioned when

displayed or stored at height, e.g.
proper shelving systems, consult
with Estates for heavy items being
fixed into the building’s fabric.

FIRE Anyone Combustible materials in

within the contact with sources of Smoking is prohibited.
specific ignition.
building Rubbish not allowed to over
Potential use of dangerous accumulate and is safely disposed
substances such as of.
flammable liquids or gases,
carrying out activities Room(s) covered by fire risk
involving ignition sources or assessment process, in particular
heat, e.g. for demonstration for day-to-day for fire safety
purposes. management of activities within the
room(s) and for information,
Display materials adversely instruction and training.
affecting means of escape
from the room(s) or causing Displayed work etc safe distance for
obstruction to emergency heat sources such as light fittings
equipment such as fire alarm and spot lights.
call points or firefighting
equipment, or emergency Displayed work not located within
guidance way signage. 1metre of any exit point from the
room(s).

Displayed materials not restricting

or preventing access to emergency
equipment or obstructing
emergency guidance way signage.

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 What are the Who Risk Evaluation
Risk
might be Are the following control Rating
hazards? Yes/
harmed? What are the risks measures in place to eliminate or Corrective actions required Severity Likelihood Overall Low,
(See list of sample No
hazards) (e.g. reduce the risks? (1 – 5) (1 – 5) risk Medium
(S x L) or High
ANY OTHER Staff,
HAZARDS
IDENTIFIED?

Notes:
1. This template relates to section 8.2 Use of Generic and Dynamic Risk Assessments in the GSA Health and Safety Risk Assessment Procedure
available at: http://www.gsa.ac.uk/media/1278542/GSA-Health-and-Safety-Risk-Assessment-Procedure-v2.pdf

2. An asterisk* in column one denotes relevant information available at http://www.gsa.ac.uk/about-gsa/key-information/occupational-health-and-safety/

which may require specific risk assessment(s)

3. Where hazards, or risks particularly risks to health and safety associated within those hazards, are not applicable indicate this at the relevant part
within the ‘corrective actions required’ section.

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 LIKELIHOOD DESCRIPTION RATING SEVERITY DESCRIPTION

Highly Probable 5 Death (R*)

Probable 4 Specified Injury (R*)
Possible 3 Unfit for Normal Duties for More Than 7 Days (R*)
2 Unfit for Normal Duties for Less Than 7 but More
Unlikely
Than 3 Days
Highly Unlikely 1 Minor Injury

OVERALL RISK
(Based on Likelihood X Severity)
SEVERITY INDEX
1 2 3 4 5
5 5-MED 10-MED 15-HIGH 20-HIGH 25 -EXTREME
LIKELIHOOD

4 4-LOW 8-MED 12-HIGH 16-HIGH 20-HIGH

3 3-LOW 6-MED 9-MED 12-HIGH 15-HIGH
2 2-LOW 4-LOW 6-MED 8-MED 10-MED
1 1-LOW 2-LOW 3-LOW 4-LOW 5-MED

OVERALL RISK DESCRIPTION

Low risks are largely acceptable, monitor periodically to determine situation changes which may affect the risk,
1-4 LOW or after significant changes

Medium risks should only be tolerated for the short-term and then only whilst further control measures to
5-10 MEDIUM mitigate the risk are being planned and introduced, within a defined time period.

High risks activities should cease immediately until further control measures to mitigate the risk are introduced.
12-20 HIGH The continued effectiveness of control measures must be monitored periodically.

Work should not be started or continued until the risk has been mitigated. Immediate action is required to
reduce exposure. A detailed mitigation plan must be developed, implemented and monitored by senior
25 EXTREME management to reduce the risk before work is allowed to commence

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