Page 242 - The City and Guilds Textbook: Plumbing Book 1 for the Level 3 Apprenticeship (9189), Level 2 Technical Certificate (8202) and Level 2 Diploma (6035)

The City & Guilds Textbook: Plumbing Book 1

Step 5: Reviewing your risk assessment
and updating it if necessary

Quite often a plumber has to return to the same area of work on a servicing and
maintenance contract, and circumstances could have changed. If the example of the
boiler room is used again, then there could be new hazards such as the storage of
combustible materials or even chemicals in the vicinity of the appliances. Someone
may have damaged the main equipotential bonding at the gas meter, or a contractor
could have inadvertently partially blocked a temperature relief discharge pipe.
It is therefore advisable that you look at the existing risk assessment for the
KEY TERMS job location, and make a note of any new changes and actions required. It is
Risk calculation formula: essential that the risk assessment stays up to date. In a maintenance work plan
this is a method of using it is good practice to plan and review dates for risk assessments.
a formula of multiplying
likelihood by consequences Risk calculation formulas
to provide a number that
quantifies the level of risk A risk calculation formula is also known as ‘ranking the risk’, and results in
for a particular job. assigning a number to each risk. Start with an assessment of the likelihood
Quantitative approach: of an accident, then proceed with listing the consequences. This is called the
ranking a risk with a number. quantitative approach.

The formula for ranking risk with the quantitative approach is shown in Table 4.4.

 Table 4.4 Risk calculation formula
Likelihood of an accident occurring Consequences of an accident occurring
Scale value Scale value
No likelihood 0 No injury or loss 0
Very unlikely 1 Treated by first aid 1
Unlikely 2 Up to 3 days off work 2
Likely 3 More than 3 days off 3
Very likely 4 Specified major injury 4
Certainty 5 Fatality 5
Calculation of risk factors
Likelihood × Consequence
Calculated figure Action
Figures between 1 and 6 Minor, but monitor closely
Figures between 8 and 15 Significant, immediate control action
Figures between 16 and 25 Critical, all activities must stop until risk reduced

Worked calculation

Imagine an apprentice is asked to solder pipework in the loft space of a house
that was built in 1960. They are required to remove the galvanised CWSC.
What precautions should be taken, and what are the risks to the plumber
and others?
There are several risks associated with this scenario. Access to the work area is to
be carefully considered, along with the likelihood and consequences of an accident
occurring, and the provision to be put in place to reduce the risk.
p Figure 4.17 Soldering pipework
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