BTC Health and Safety Policy V6.0 Page 11 of 21 Dec 2023 8.2.4. Step 3: Evaluate the risks Evaluate the risks and decide whether existing precautions are adequate or more should be done. Consider how likely it is that each hazard could cause harm. This will determine whether you need to do more to reduce the risk. Even after all precautions have been taken, some risk usually remains. What you need to decide for each significant hazard is whether this remaining risk is high, medium or low. First, ask yourself whether you have done all the things the law says you have got to do. For example, there are legal requirements on prevention of access to dangerous parts of machinery. Then ask yourself whether generally accepted industry standards are in place. Don’t stop there – think for yourself, because the law also says that you must do what is reasonably practicable to keep your club safe. Your real aim is to make all risks small by adding to your precautions as necessary. If you find that something needs to be done, draw up an ‘action list’ and give priority to any remaining risks which are high and/or those which could affect most people. In acting, ask yourself: • Can I get rid of a hazard altogether? • If not, how can I control the risks so that harm is unlikely? In controlling risks, apply the following principles in this order: • Try a less risky option • Prevent access to the hazard (eg by guarding) • Organise training to reduce exposure to the hazard • Issue of protective equipment • Provide welfare facilities (eg washing facilities for removal of dirt, splinters etc, and first aid) Improving health and safety need not cost a lot. For instance, enforcing protective sparring equipment for sparring may help prevent accidents, or marking out a sparring area keeping spectators out can further prevent unnecessary injury. Failure to take simple precautions can cost you a lot more if an accident does happen. But what if the training you do tends to vary a lot, or you or your assistants move from one site to another? Identify the hazards you can reasonably expect and assess the risks from them. Then further identify any additional hazards when you get to the club/institute. Gain further information from others on site, and then take what action seems necessary. But what if you share a training hall?
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