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Lets not manage a Risk that does not exist or is so low as not to cause concern.

Section 3 of the Method Statement – Sequence of Activity/Event

1. This is a step-by-step bullet point only, in chronological order of events. i.e.
   1. We turn up
   2. We carry out activity 1
   3. We have lunch
   4. We carry out activity 2
   5. We go home
2. We can broadly assess here the risk and severity of harm of that bullet point and point score it (in your head) whilst completing Section 3 of the MSRA
   1. The Possibility/Probability of Harm (Likelihood) occurring

                                                               i.      1 = (Unlikely)

                                                             ii.      2 = (Possible)      (column 1& 5 of the Risk Assessment)

                                                            iii.      3 = (Likely)

2. The nature of an injury if it happened (Severity)

                                                               i.      1 = Minor Injury

                                                             ii.      2 = Requires More than very basic firstaid      (column 2 & 6 of the Risk

                                                            iii.      3 = Serious injury or death                                  Assessment

3. Multiplying these two criteria together will give you a result ie
   1. A plane falling from the sky and hitting someone

                                                               i.      Likelihood = 1

                                                             ii.      Severity = 3

                                                          iii.      Total = 3

2. It can be assessed that no control measure needs to be taken. Of course we would not consider this in the first place and very little we could do about it if it did happen. Inside or outside not a lot could stop this tragic event.
3. If the result is 4 or more we must reduce this total by controlling the event by either reducing its likelihood or reducing the severity. Typically, we tend to manage/control the Likelihood.
4. Multiplying the same two criteria for meeting a fully-grown live hungry Tiger.
   1. Likelihood of being harmed = 3 (column 1 of the Risk Assessment)
   2. Severity of being harmed = 3 (column 2 of the Risk Assessment)
   3. Total = 9 (column 3 of the Risk Assessment) (must be controlled) This now gets transferred to the risk assessment to prove that the risk has been reduced and how.
5. The control measure is we ensure that the Tiger is caged. The Likelihood is now Unlikely = 1. (column  5 of the Risk Assessment) We would really struggle to reduce the severity of an injury from the same hungry tiger but if we could we should. In this case, we could not so severity remains a 3 (column 6 of the Risk Assessment)but we have successfully managed to reduce the risk to a 3 (column 7= Column 5 x Column 6). I know we would not normally arrange to meet a tiger like this we would go to a zoo or safari where cages are supplied without asking, albeit your car would be your cage in a safari and that then lends itself to another assessment.
6. If we attended a venue where they were supplying coaching, supervising, equipment etc then they are best placed and probably have Risk Assessments that we should be asking for. Again the need for us to conduct an assessment is arriving and leaving. Not the event, unless of course you are the expert in it and running it, taking charge.

This does look a lot to take in but I can assure you that after a few assessments it doesget easier quicker and meaningful. The tendency is to manage risks that do not really need managing by putting a control measure in for things that do not needcontrolling. We could complete Section 3 – Sequence of Activity/Event with all risks being a 3 or below. No need to invent control measures as youare running a safe activity.