Ri s k A ss e ss ment
The primary purpose of risk assessment is to reduce the level ofrisk associated with a particular piece of machinery. The end result is to increase worker safety. Though risk assessment does rely on judgmental decisions, quantitative models have proven useful in assessing alternative safety measures and to determine which gives better protection.Structured risk assessment involves evaluating: •Severity of the potential risk, •Frequency of exposure to the potential hazard, •Possibility of avoiding the hazard if it occurs, and •Likelihood of occurrence if a safety interlock fails. To assist industries with evaluating potential risk, the EuropeanMachinery Directive provides quantitative guidelines based upon five defined levels of risk. These levels range from the lowest risk category in which the severity of injury is slight and/or there is relatively little likelihood of occurrence, to the highest risk category in which the likelihood of a severe injury is relatively high. B, 1, 2, 3, 4: Risk CategoryS:Severity of potential injuryS1:Slight injury (bruise) S2:Severe injury (amputation or death)F:Frequency of exposure to potential hazardF1:Infrequent exposure F2:Frequent to continuous exposureP:Possibility of avoiding the hazard if it occurs (generally related to thespeed/frequency of movement of hazard point and distance to hazard point)P1:Possible P2:Less possibleL:Likelihood of occurrence (if an interlock fails)L1:Very unlikely L2:Unlikely L3:Highly likely L3P1F1S1DS2F2P2P1P2BBB2132 OR 1BL2L1 3 OR 11 OR 3421B OR 2 OR 4B 1-800-247-9447 GE Interlogix Industrial 5