Page 244 - 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

The risk with these provisions in place could reduce the likelihood to 1 and the
consequence to 0. The risk is then reduced and safe access can be achieved.
KEY TERM There is another way to carry out a risk assessment that does not use numbers.
Qualitative method: divides This is referred to as the qualitative method. The qualitative approach divides
risks into categories such as risks into priority categories – low, medium and high – based on a range of
low, medium and high. factors. An example of how this is applied is shown in the qualitative example
of a risk assessment which involves gas work (Figure 4.19). This risk assessment
form uses the qualitative approach of ranking risks.

General Risk Assessment Form
Location: Boiler room no 2, Looming Towers, Scare Street, Wick, UK Company Sector: Plumbing
Environment/Activity/Equipment Live. Tightness testing and purging of gas installation in boiler room.
Who is at risk: plumbers public contractors others (state) ................................

Hazard/s Leading to a risk of Existing measures to Risk rating Action required
control risk Yes/No
L S RR Ref No
Gas leakage Gas in air System tested before use 1 1 1 no

Apprentices monitored and
supervised
System tested after any
alteration
Purging of gas Gas in air / LEL lower Sectioning off areas 2 3 6
Explosive Limit

No naked flames or switching / yes
unless intrinsically safe (IS)

If young apprentices will be involved with this gas testing equipment, have the following been considered in the assessment:
Is the installation work required as part of their on site training? Y / N; The need to be supervised by a competent person Y / N; Their lack of experience
Y / N; If new to work, their lack of awareness of workplace risks Y / N; Their gender Y / N; Their manual dexterity Y / N; Their physical abilities Y / N.

Action plan

Ref Further action required Action by whom Action by Date completed
No when
1 Only persons deemed safe, responsible and conscientious will be Supervisor / Immediate
allowed to touch the equipment even if supervised. Foreman effect
2 Use of gas co seeker to search leaks plus leak detection fluid. Senior gas Immediate
engineer/ Plumber effect

3 Whole system to be commissioned after successful completion Senior gas Immediate
of documentation. engineer/ Plumber effect

Sign off procedure
Work Completed by: Signature ..................................... Name ..................................... Date .....................
Checked by Supervisor: Signature ..................................... Name ..................................... Date .....................
Approved By Signature ..................................... Name ..................................... Date .....................
Risk Number ................. Signature ..................................... Name ..................................... Date .....................

Risk Rating Calculation ➜
232 Likelihood Severity

3 Probable: Likely to occur each year; Has occurred recently 3 Death/hospitalisation
2 Possible: Likely to occur in 10 years; History of it happening 2 > 3 day injury
9781510416482.indb 232 29/03/19 8:56 PM
1 Remote: Not likely to occur in 10 years; Has not occurred 1 < 3 day injury

Risk Rating (RR) = Likelihood of Realisation of Hazard (L) × Severity of Hazard Being Realised (S)
Low = 1–2 Leave until last Medium = 3–4 Leave until later (set firm completion date) High = 6–9 ACT NOW