This document is currently a DRAFT pending committee approval. It will be an ongoing work in progress. The risk assessment uses these risk criteria:

Risk likelihood

How likely is a hazard to occur?

• Rare - Exceptional circumstances only
• Unlikely - Not expected to occur
• Possible - Could occur at some time
• Frequent - Will probably occur in most circumstances
• Certain - Expected in most circumstances

Risk severity

How Major is a hazard if it occurs?

• Negligible - Small injuries, scratches & bruises.
• Minor - Minor injuries requiring first aid.
• Moderate - Emergency services required, no permanent injury.
• Major - Potential for death or permanent lifechaning injury.
• Extreme - Potential for multiple deaths.

Risk matrix

This gives a risk matrix of Low, Medium, High & Extreme risk activities.

	Neglibile	Minor	Moderate	Major	Extreme
Certain	Medium Risk	High Risk	Extreme Risk	Extreme Risk	Extreme Risk
Frequent	Medium Risk	High Risk	Extreme Risk	Extreme Risk	Extreme Risk
Possible	Low Risk	Medium Risk	High Risk	Extreme Risk	Extreme Risk
Unlikely	Low Risk	Medium Risk	Medium Risk	High Risk	Extreme Risk
Rare	Low Risk	Low Risk	Medium Risk	Medium Risk	Extreme Risk

Controls

Hazards are assessed before any controls are applied, and then again after controls to reduce the risk level are applied. If a risk is still considered Extreme after controls are applied then it cannot ever be done in the space. High risk activities can only be done under very strict care, with full induction, and when other members are present in the space.

Hazard

Slips, Trips & Falls - wet area uneven edge (marked), drain pipes, concrete floor.

Before Controls

Likelihood - Unlikely, Consequences - Major

Controls

- Require enclosed footwear - solid footing - Drain pipes, fit a sink or something else - Rules to keep space clean & tidy

After Controls

Likelihood - Unlikely, Consequences - Major

Hazard

Bludgeoning from falling heavy objects

Before Controls

Likelihood - Unlikely, Consequences - Major

Controls

Covered footwear Rules about carrying heavy objects Rules about storing heavy objects Securing heavy/stationary tools down Keeping work areas and storage areas tidy

After Controls

Likelihood - Rare, Consequences - Major

Hazard

Cuts from sharp hand tools & parts with sharp edges

Before Controls

Likelihood - Frequent, Consequences - Minor

Controls

Rules about proper use of tools - not abusing tools No drinking and using hand tools

After Controls

Likelihood - Unlikely, Consequences - Minor

Hazard

Catch hazards - any tool with moving parts

Before Controls

Likelihood - Unlikely, Consequences - Major

Controls

Have a separate machine tool area No loose clothing or hair when in machine tool area

After Controls

Likelihood - Rare, Consequences - Major

Hazard

Hazardous Chemicals - TBD

Hazard

Electric shocks from Mains devices

Before Controls

Likelihood - Possible, Consequences - Extreme

Controls

Residual Current Devices in designated areas, mains devices only opened in these areas Mains devices always unplugged before opening Connecting open mains devices only when via isolation current transformer Standard Operating Procedure for mains powered devices - to be followed 3-phase devices to be tested before connecting No connecting open mains devices when alone in the space

After Controls

Likelihood - Unlikely, Consequences - Major

Hazard

Low Voltage Electricity - fire, electrical burns, exploding batteries

Before Controls

Likelihood - Possible, Consequences - Minor

Controls

Proper and appropriate fusing for all devices Take care when working with batteries - do not short, proper fusing.

After Controls

Likelihood - Unlikely, Consequences - Minor

Hazard

Hearing damage from high noise levels (immediate or prolonged.)

Before Controls

Likelihood - Certain, Consequences - Major

Controls

Enclosures for loud devices when it can be operated inside an enclosure Ear protection available and required for operators and people close by Doors open to minimise reflected sound Position furniture to wall off & sound deaden where possible No using loud equipment when others' present without advance notice and providing ear protection Future - Sound-deadened space

After Controls

Likelihood - Unlikely, Consequences - Minor

Hazard

Eye damage from optical hazards, ie bright lights & lasers.

Before Controls

Likelihood - Unlikely, Consequences - Major

Controls

Only operate laser equipment within legal requirements Only operate lasers or bright light in designated area, with appropriate warning signage Use appropriate eye protection for laser use - user( responsible for providing No blink protection unsafe (more than Class 2) lasers until we have a separate room Suitable beam dumps for any lasers No using lasers or bright light when others' present without advance notice

After Controls

Likelihood - Rare, Consequences - Major

Hazard

Burns and eye damage from welding activities

Before Controls

Likelihood - Frequent, Consequences - Major

Controls

Appropriate clothing (long sleeves) and protective gear (masks, gauntlets) available and required for welding. Use welders in desginated space, separated from main area or outdoors away from others. No using welders when others' present without advance notice, warning not to look at welder.

After Controls

Likelihood - Unlikely, Consequences - Minor

Hazard

Swarf (bits of material) from tool use (cutting, grinding, drilling, etc.)

Before Controls

Likelihood - Frequent, Consequences - Major

Controls

Appropriate safety equipment - eye protection / gloves provided Long sleeved clothing / overclothing required for anything that produces hot swarf, ie angle grinding Keeping work area clean and tidy Machine tool area for tools that are likely to produce shrapnel Eye baths (at least portable ones)

After Controls

Likelihood - Unlikely, Consequences - Minor

Hazard

Inhaling dust - from cutting/grinding - ie MDF/Fibreglass dust.

Before Controls

Likelihood - Certain, Consequences - Major

Controls

Shopvac or other dust extraction system available, used during/after. Work outside if possible Inside dust work in machine area only, anyone close by to wear a mask, shopvac in use, doors open in other areas. Dust masks suitable for type of dust (provide paper masks, users to provide other tools) No ultrafine or hazardous dust or vapour in space (nothing that requires a respirator, until we have better ventilation.)

After Controls

Likelihood - Unlikely, Consequences - Minor

Hazard

Fire in space.

Before Controls

Likelihood - Unlikely, Consequences - Extreme

Controls

Fire extinguishers and hoses provided in space All materials with MSDS should be stored as per MSDS Chemical/flammable storage space in chemical bund Higher/bigger fire extinguisher signs - visible over furniture Fire extinguishers to be regularly tested & tagged All new members to be shown where the two fire extinguishers area, what they are used for, how to use Have an evacuation plan Smoke detectors installed

After Controls

Likelihood - Rare, Consequences - Moderate

Hazard

Small levels of smoke from soldering and other related regular activities.

Before Controls

Likelihood - Frequent, Consequences - Minor

Controls

Open roller doors when soldering, etc. Portable extraction fans for soldering. Larger fans for clearing the air. Plan for a designated soldering area with extraction setup Consider airflow to surrounding users when soldering

After Controls

Likelihood - Unlikely, Consequences - Minor

Hazard

Members not familiar with safe working practices.

Before Controls

Likelihood - Frequent, Consequences - Major

Controls

Induction in space required - demonstrate and show tools and safety equipment Read and agree with safe working practices before working Clear rules that you're not allowed to use anything you don't know how to operate safely and to ask someone who knows if you don't know Tools marked in inventory as requiring induction & labelled as such Large tools (req. induction) need a record of who can give induction, and who has been inducted. Put in the asset on the web site Smaller tools, have a "safety rules" list laminated next to or with the tool 4 categories of tools:

1. No specific rules (low severity injuries, ie hammers, screwdrivers, stanley knives, and computers.)
2. Rules only (ie CRO), laminate rules and leave near device.
3. Self-Induction (ie angle grinder), laminate safety rules and attach list of inducted signatures on back, require people to read and sign before using. Label says "Self-Induction Signature Required."
4. Full Induction (ie mill), laminate safey rules. Require people to be walked through safe use, list of approved inductors and inductees.

Safety rules can be a reformatted/copied relevant section of the user's manual Post manuals on the web site (on the asset page) where possible. Responsibility of donor/lender to provide this. We will provide printer & a laminator and lamination sheets.

After Controls

Likelihood - Rare, Consequences - Major

Hazard

Members ignoring safe working practices

Before Controls

Likelihood - Frequent, Consequences - Major

Controls

Signage for rules to maintain awareness Vigilance, official warnings, protocol for expulsion - at discretion of committee

After Controls

Likelihood - Rare, Consequences - Major

Hazard

Members injured while alone in space.

Before Controls

Likelihood - Frequent, Consequences - Major

Controls

List of activities that can't be done alone - High risk tools (anything that could make you unable to contact emergency services ie severity Major or above, rotary tools, etc.) Write these terms into the safety rules for the tool. Keep a mobile phone on charger no SIM marked as 'dial 112 for emergency call' with our street address and instructions (until/unless we get a landline.) Discourage people from using the space alone.

After Controls

Likelihood - Possible, Consequences - Moderate

Hazard

Non-members accessing the space.

Before Controls

Likelihood - Frequent, Consequences - Major

Controls

Every member has to keep an eye out for new people arriving to the space, asking them to wait until they've been met by a full member. The full member who opened the space is responsible for new members, showing them the rules, giving quick induction tour, providing membership form & collecting $1 for membership. Write an induction checklist and keep it in the space. If the space is left unattended, roller doors should be closed (if not locked) & responsibility falls on the full member to secure the space. Guests on special designated association-run events only

After Controls

Likelihood - Rare, Consequences - Major

Hazard

People bringing in unsafe objects

Before Controls

Likelihood - Frequent, Consequences - Major

Controls

People bringing new permanent tools/junk need to fill it in on the web site, and print/laminate safety rules if needed Any items have to pass all of the safety rules, risk assessment hazards, and be legal and comply with EMF and any other applicable regulations. Members in the space are encouraged to question safety, and any member can veto usage of an item (given stated safety reasons) until/unless approved by the committee (this can be via the mailing list if a majority of committee members write back online, or at a committee meeting.)

After Controls

Likelihood - Rare, Consequences - Major