Scenario

Risk Assessment Exercise

Preparation for the Risk

Assessment
Define the activities
Understand the scope of the contract. Talk to the
client and the supervisors to confirm the work
processes involved.

Get to know how the work processes are carried

out including:

Equipment/tools involved
Substances involved
People involved
Any other things (sources) that may create hazards

Work around the work areas and talk to people

involved to get as much information as possible.

Your are the Services Manager of a

company providing commercial
cleaning services to businesses,
employing 60 full- and part-time
cleaners. Your company have won a
contract to clean all common areas
of a shopping centre.
The shopping centre is open
everyday, and has 24-hour security.
General cleaning, by 10 cleaners, is
done from 8.00 am to 5.00 pm, and
more detailed cleaning, by 6 other
cleaners, from 5.00 pm to 9.00 pm. A
supervisor is in charge of each shift.
You are required to perform a risk
assessment for the job.

Define the activities

General cleaning includes:
Cleaning surfaces, including walls, doors,
glass panes, fixtures etc. with cloth and
cleaning agents.
Vacuum cleaning.
Sweeping and mopping floors.
Carting away garbage.. Etc.

All general cleaning to be carry out on

ground level.

Vacuum Cleaners
Waxing Machines
Ladders
Lifting Platform

FIRE

More detailed cleaning includes:

Electricity

Waxing of floors.
Cleaning surfaces at higher levels.
Hand wipe cleaning
Vacuum cleaning
Floor mopping
Floor waxing

Workers
Public

Cleaning agents
Bleaching solution
Waxing solution

FIRE
On ladders
On lifting platform
On ground at various level
Outdoors

Work procedures
- General cleaning
Cleaners hand clean surfaces with cloth
and cleaning agents on ground level
Cleaners operate vacuum cleaners on
ground surface
Cleaners mop floors
Handling of chemicals
Cleaning agents
Bleaching solutions

Work procedures
- Detailed cleaning
Cleaners hand cleaning surfaces at
heights
On ladders
On lifting platform

Cleaners operate waxing machine to wax

floors on ground level
Handling of chemicals
Cleaning agents
Bleaching solutions

Identify Hazards

Equipments/Tools
Vacuum Cleaner

Brainstorming to develop a preliminary list

of hazards (Preliminary Hazards List - PHL)
Anticipate possible hazards by focusing on the
hazard sources involved
Develop a preliminary hazards list by studying
how people work and interact with the various
hazard sources

Electrocution
Trailing cable tripping

Waxing machine

Electrocution
People struck by vacuum cleaner
Trailing cable tripping

Lifting platform

Lifting platform obstructing passageway

Unattended platform played by public
Unstable platform fall and hurt public
electrocution
Trailing cable tripping

Ladders

Substances
(Need to know the materials safety data)
Cleaning agents
Irritant

Bleaching solution
Diluted bleach is irritating
Strong bleach is corrosive
Mixing of bleach with other cleaning agent, e.g.
ammonia solution could generate chlorine gas

Waxing solution
Irritant

Ladder obstructing passageway

Unattended ladder climbed by pubic, e.g. kids.
Unsecured ladders fall and hurt public

Surrounding environment
Lots of people moving around in the public
affected by the cleaning activities
Public injured by work
Workers affected by public

Fire in the shopping center

Safe evacuation of workers

Hazards for Detailed Cleaning Process

Hazards for General Cleaning Process

Hand cleaning with cloth and cleaning agents

Over-exertion, twisting of limbs, esp. wrists

Contact with cleaning agents

Vacuum cleaning
Electrocution
Tripping by cable
Struck by vacuum cleaner

Hazards associated with transportation of ladder

Fall from ladder
Collapse of ladder
Hand tools drop down

Working on lifting platform

Hazards associated with transportation of platform
Hazards associated with erection of lifting platform (may need a separate
JSA)
Fall from platform

Handling of cleaning and bleaching solutions

Skin irritation
Inhalation of chemical vapors
Injuries associated with lifting and manual handling

Electrocution
Tripping by cable
Struck by waxing machine
Slippery floor

Working on ladders

Floor mopping
Slippery floor

Waxing

Handling of cleaning and bleaching solutions

Skin irritation
Inhalation of chemical vapors
Injuries associated with lifting and manual handling

After listing out the possible hazards, we

can proceed to complete the risk
assessment using appropriate pro forma.

Company Name: AB&C Cleaners

Hazards

How harm
occur?

Work at
heights:
e.g. work
on ladders,
work on
lifting
platform

Ladder failure
Ladder
unstable
Cleaners lose
balance

Date of Assessment : xx/xx/xxxx

Who get
hurt?

Severity

Existing
controls

Cleaners

Bruising &
fracture. Can
be serious.

Structural
Cleaners
failure of lifting
platform
Unstable
tipping of
platform
Cleaner
over-reaching
out

Bruising &
fracture.
Can be fatal
depending on
height

Assessment conducted by: Mr. TM Chan

Ladders
being used in
the company
are up to
safety
standard
Procedures
for inspection
and
maintenance
of ladders
Lifting
platform is up
to safety
standard
Procedures
for inspection
and
maintenance
of platform

RAI

Additional controls
needed

2B

1B

Tools drop from

ladder and lifting
platform

Public

Bruising &
fracture

Work areas
are fenced off

3B

Ensure that the

ladder inspection &
maintenance
procedure is properly
carried out
Training to be
provided to cleaners
on safe use of
ladders
Ensure additional
person on guard
Ensure that the
ladder inspection &
maintenance
procedure is properly
carried out
Training to be
provided to cleaners
on safe use of
ladders
Ensure having a
person standby on
ground
No additional
concern for now.
Supervisor to check if
procedure is followed

Action by
whom?
Supervisor

Supervisor

Action Done
by
when?
xx/xx/xx

Slips and
trips

Tripped by trailing Public

cables

Bruising &
fracture

Work area
fenced off

3C

Slip on wet floor

(when mopping)

Bruising &
fracture

Work area
fenced off
Warning
signs

2C

Work area
fenced off
Warning
signs

2B

Public
Cleaner

Slip on waxed
Cleaner
floor when waxing Public

Bruising &
fracture

Electrical

Faults developed
at the machines

Cleaner

Electrocution

Contact
with bleach
and other
cleaning
chemicals

Cleaners risk
getting problems
such dermatitis
and eye injury
from direct
contact with
chemicals

Cleaners

Skin problems Eye injuries

(To be completed with other hazards)

Equipment
2D
maintained by
competent
persons in
company
according to a
procedure
Appropriate
2C
types of
gloves
provided and
cleaners
trained in
their use.
Appropriate
eye protection
issued and
cleaners
trained in
their use.

Cable outside fenced

areas should be
taped down on floor
Ensure warning signs
properly placed
Ensure slip resistant
shoes are worn by
cleaners
Schedule waxing
work to be carried out
after closing of
shopping center
Ensure slip resistant
shoes are worn by
cleaners
Ensure cleaners
trained on proper use
of equipment

Refresher training to
remind cleaners of
necessary safety
precautions
Remind cleaners to
report any health
problems they think
may relate to their
work