RISK ASSESSMENT

RISK ASSESSMENT TITLE: General Risk Assessment for Entry and Working in Service Ducts. Hazard Steam/hot water pipes Risk Contact with uninsulated hot pipework Current Controls All pipework insulated. Annual inspection by Mechanical Section to ensure adequate standard of insulation and repairs carried out as necessary. Fuses withdrawn. Circuit isolated Page: 1 of: 3 Action Required Be aware of any damaged/uncovered sections of hot pipework/flanges etc. Report any missing/damaged insulation to E&B Supervisor. Personnel to wear suitable PPE if required. Short Term: Install 110v TL system. Long Term: Replace existing installation with approved system. Re-fix loose conduit. Electricity Temperature/ Ventilation Contact with 240v supply. Bulkhead fittings damaged/missing. Original VIR cabling is now well beyond its expected life span. Earthing standards are suspect. Conduit loose in places High working temperatures if working for prolonged periods or performing heavy manual work Striking head on projections Electric shock, trailing cables Ventilate by opening manholes. Restrict exposure/working time. Low Working Height Tools/Equipment Slips, Trips, Falls and Obstructions Falls into open manholes. Falls off access ladders. Slips/trips/obstructions within duct. Equipment Failure Vehicles Loss of lighting in duct. Exhaust fumes from parked vehicles or machinery/plant etc. working nearby drawn into space. Vehicles driving into manholes Use battery powered tools. Only 110v equipment to be used when battery power is not suitable. All open manholes protected with sufficient/adequate barriers. Secured ladders provided which project at least 1m above landing place. Floor of duct kept clean of debris and other tripping hazards All personnel to carry stand-by torches. Surface surveillance to ensure that vehicles/plant/machinery do not park/operate too close to manhole opening. Monitor conditions to ensure that sufficient ventilation is provided which is appropriate to the type/duration of the work. Provide local cooling if required. Where possible, carry out work during annual steam shutdown period. Personnel to wear appropriate head protection e.g. bump caps. Protect/highlight all sharp corners and projections. Trailing cables to be safely routed/protected to avoid trip hazards and damage to cables. Monitor to ensure standards are maintained. Monitor to ensure standards are maintained. Wear suitable foot wear at all times. Regular inspections to ensure ducts are clean and kept free of debris/tripping hazards etc. Ensure that no horizontal crossings of cables/pipes/connections etc. are made across duct passageway, which could constitute either a tripping hazard or an obstruction. Check equipment prior to entry to make sure it’s working. Erect sufficient barriers/warning signs not to drive/park too close to manhole opening. Vacate duct immediately should any unusual smell be detected and report to E&B Supervisor. Monitor to ensure suitable standards are maintained. Risk Assessment (Continuation Sheet) Hazard Asbestos Insulation Risk Damage to asbestos pipe insulation dependant on type of work carried out Current Controls Annual inspection by Mechanical Section and records maintained. Only approved Licensed Contractors used to remove/repair asbestos insulation. See Section 9.1.2 of H&S Manual. All personnel entering duct warned of their presence particularly high voltage cables. Annual inspection of cables by Electrical Section Minimum 2 men working in duct. Avoid area Toe boards to be erected on manhole barriers. Annual inspection of condition of pipework by Mechanical Section and repairs carried out as necessary. Page: 2 of: 3 Action Required Method statement, indicating the ways in which possible damage to asbestos insulation will be eliminated, may be required depending on the proposed work to be carried out. Care must be taken at all times not to damage the asbestos. Report any damage to E&B Supervisor immediately. Monitor standards of working within duct. Be aware of surrounding electrical power supplies within duct and carry out work accordingly to avoid damage to all cables. Report any damage to E&B Supervisor immediately. Select suitable staff to work in duct. Carry out necessary repairs to cover to prevent possible collapse. No loose equipment left which could fall into open manhole(s). All tools/materials/equipment to be lowered into manhole. Should any leaks develop, evacuate the space immediately and report to E&B Supervisor. Where possible, carry out work during annual steam shutdown period. Create escape route via manhole to road surface at end of existing dead-end leg running between Kelvin/Bower Buildings. Monitor to ensure inspection and housekeeping standards are being maintained. Monitor to ensure HOT WORK PERMITS are used when required. Enforce NO SMOKING policy. Report any cable damage to E&B Supervisor immediately. In the event of suspected smoke/fire, evacuate duct immediately via nearest egress point and report to E&B Supervisor. Ensure that all colleagues have also evacuated duct. Extend existing fire alarm systems within buildings directly connected to ducts to give warning of fire at egress points from ducts to buildings. Vacate duct immediately should any unusual smell be detected and report to E&B Supervisor. Fire alarm within buildings to be activated in the event of evacuation. Ensure that all colleagues have also evacuated duct. Carry out regular air monitoring. Power Cables (including high voltage cables) Restricted Working Space Falling Material/tools/ equipment etc Damage to any power cable within duct. Steam/Hot water Burst Personnel becoming stuck/jammed. Claustrophobia Possible collapse of old concrete manhole cover to side of duct. Materials/tools etc. falling into open manhole(s) Ingress of steam or hot water into duct Fire Fixed electrical cables in duct becoming overheated or damaged. Personnel exposed to smoke/fire from entering building which is on fire e.g. re-entering West Medical Building from duct. Toxic Fumes Ingress of toxic fumes/smoke/ gasses/vapours etc. into duct from buildings Regular inspection of cables carried out by Electrical Section. No high risk ignition sources. No smoking. No extraneous combustible materials. No hot work to be carried on without first obtaining a Permit. See Section 4.2 of H&S Manual. No known sources within duct Risk Assessment (Continuation Sheet) Hazard Animals Risk Bitten by rats/mice. Contact with rat’s urine. Current Controls Regular inspections by Mechanical Section to ensure ducts are rodent free. Page: 3 of: 3 Action Required Report any evidence of rodent presence to E&B Supervisor. Obtain Hospital treatment immediately if bitten and report to E&B Supervisor and SEPS. Ensure good standards of personal hygiene and wear PPE. Lock all access doors to duct from buildings. Provide additional security doors where required. Keys to be retained by Designated Persons A minimum of two egress points must be available at all times when persons are entering/working in the duct e.g. exit to WMB plus at least one other manhole cover opened, fitted with a ladder, barriers erected and made available as a means of escape. If work is longer than 1hr duration, all manhole exit points to be made available and fitted with ladders etc. Any additional emergency procedures that may be required should be the subject of a separate risk assessment by the appropriate Supervisor concerned and a copy appended to this document. Job dependant. Unauthorised Access into ducts Emergency Procedures Vandalism/plant damage. Personal injury etc. Failure to escape quickly from ducts in event of emergency. *Confined Space *Manual Handling Duct at present is not a designated confined space. However, the carrying out of certain operations within the duct may make it a confined space for which a PERMIT-TO-WORK will be required e.g. pipe freezing. Risk Assessment to be job specific. Risk Assessment to be job specific. The Confined Spaces Regulations 1997 See Section 4.1 of H&S Manual *Hazardous Substances Risk Assessment to be job specific. The Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 See Section 11.3 H&S Manual The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 1999 Job dependant. Job dependant. *NOTE: These last three hazards are examples of other possible hazards that may be created by the work being carried out within the duct at the time. It is possible that the type of work being carried out may create other hazards. A further detailed Risk Assessment must be carried out by the appropriate Supervisor on all foreseeable hazards which could be created by the proposed work and appropriate controls/actions implemented according to the identified risks.