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Risk Assessment

Risk Assessment

A Risk Assessment is a careful examination of anything in the work environment that could cause injury or ill health. When completing a Risk Assessment think about and consider what you will be displaying on the booth, where everything will be positioned, and decide if there is anything that could cause anyone any harm to anyone (e.g. trailing wires, hot water, heavy boxes, trip hazards, etc.) Then think about what precautions and controls measures your will implement to prevent these things from harming anyone, and detail these in your risk assessment. Precautions and control measures can include training and the provision of information as well as practical measures such as safety guards and the implementation of a minimum safe distance.

 

Do this for the build-up, exhibition open days and dismantling. Weigh up whether you have taken enough precautions or should do more to prevent harm. The important aspect is whether a hazard is significant, and whether you have covered it by satisfactory precautions and controls, so that the risk is small. 

About the risk assessment

If you are building a booth, your risk assessment must also include a detailed analysis of all the risks associated with your booth build, fitting and removal (e.g., working at height, use of tools, risk of fire, hazardous substances, heavy loads, live electricity, etc); and again what precautions and control measures you will implement in order to lower the risk to a safe level.

Assess the complexity

If you are building a large or complicated booth, or are involved in unusual activities during the exhibition, you may need to seek the assistance of a qualified Health & Safety professional.

Assess the complexity

If you are building a large or complicated booth, or are involved in unusual activities during the exhibition, you may need to seek the assistance of a qualified Health & Safety professional.

How to do the risk assessment?

Look for hazards that you would reasonably expect to result in significant harm under the conditions in your booth space. Hazards are anything that can cause harm. 

Ask yourself: 

  • What equipment, materials and substances will be used? 

  • How much noise and dust will there be? 

  • What are the ground conditions? 

  • How are your disposing of waste? 

  • What electrical installation are there? 

Potential hazards:  

  • Slipping / tripping hazards 

  • Fire 

  • Chemicals 

  • Moving parts 

  • Working at height 

  • Electricity 

  • Vehicles 

  • Dust 

  • Fumes 

  • Noise 

  • Poor lighting 

  • Temperature 

  • Heavy goods 

Ask yourself the questions below. There is no need to list individuals by name. Think about groups of people doing similar work or who may be affected, e.g., 

  • Who will be affected by your work and at most risk? 

  • Who are your employees, contractors or exhibitors on or near your booth? 

  • How will your visitors be affected? 

  • Groups include staff, contractors, guests, venue service staff, among others 

A risk is the likelihood of a hazard causing harm. Decide whether the existing precautions are adequate or whether more should be done for the hazards listed. As yourself whether the existing precautions reduce the risk as far as reasonably practicable, represent good practice, meet industry norms and legal requirements.

Once you have done this adequately you can then decide on the appropriate action, ask yourself if the risk can be removed completely or can things be done in a different way? If not, can the risk be isolated, controlled or reduced?

Write down the significant hazards and conclusions. You must also tell your employees about your findings. You should be able to demonstrate that you have made a suitable assessment by identifying what the main hazards are, who might be affected, that the precautions are reasonable, and the risk is low.

Review your assessment and revise as necessary, inevitably new plans may develop and new observations may be made which could lead to new hazards requiring an assessment. It is good practice to review your assessment from time to time to make sure precautions are working effectively, allowing you to learn by experience.

1Look for the hazards

Look for hazards that you would reasonably expect to result in significant harm under the conditions in your booth space. Hazards are anything that can cause harm. 

Ask yourself: 

  • What equipment, materials and substances will be used? 

  • How much noise and dust will there be? 

  • What are the ground conditions? 

  • How are your disposing of waste? 

  • What electrical installation are there? 

Potential hazards:  

  • Slipping / tripping hazards 

  • Fire 

  • Chemicals 

  • Moving parts 

  • Working at height 

  • Electricity 

  • Vehicles 

  • Dust 

  • Fumes 

  • Noise 

  • Poor lighting 

  • Temperature 

  • Heavy goods 

2Decide who might be harmed and how

Ask yourself the questions below. There is no need to list individuals by name. Think about groups of people doing similar work or who may be affected, e.g., 

  • Who will be affected by your work and at most risk? 

  • Who are your employees, contractors or exhibitors on or near your booth? 

  • How will your visitors be affected? 

  • Groups include staff, contractors, guests, venue service staff, among others 

3Evaluate the risks

A risk is the likelihood of a hazard causing harm. Decide whether the existing precautions are adequate or whether more should be done for the hazards listed. As yourself whether the existing precautions reduce the risk as far as reasonably practicable, represent good practice, meet industry norms and legal requirements.

Once you have done this adequately you can then decide on the appropriate action, ask yourself if the risk can be removed completely or can things be done in a different way? If not, can the risk be isolated, controlled or reduced?

4Record the findings

Write down the significant hazards and conclusions. You must also tell your employees about your findings. You should be able to demonstrate that you have made a suitable assessment by identifying what the main hazards are, who might be affected, that the precautions are reasonable, and the risk is low.

5Review your assessment

Review your assessment and revise as necessary, inevitably new plans may develop and new observations may be made which could lead to new hazards requiring an assessment. It is good practice to review your assessment from time to time to make sure precautions are working effectively, allowing you to learn by experience.