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LEGAL RESPONSIBILITIES
4.1 Risk assessments – for new and existing sites Regulation 3 of MHSWR requires that a ‘suitable and sufficient’ risk assessment be carried out before the work activity commences. Its purpose is to determine whether any risks are present and, if they are not adequately managed, what further control measures are required. The significant findings of the risk assessment must be recorded where there are 5 or more employees. The control measures must have the primary aim of eliminating the risks. Where elimination is not possible, the control measures must aim to reduce the risks to a level as low as is reasonably practical (ALARP). Regulation 4 and Schedule 1 of MHSWR sets out the principles of prevention. The responsibility for the risk assessment lies with the employer although he may do this using input or assistance from various sources such as boiler manufacturers and control system experts, or have the entire risk assessment carried out on his behalf by someone competent to do so. For a boiler, the risk assessment should consider issues such as: x The likelihood and severity of injuries from: o Burns from hot water, steam, burners and flues; o Electric shock; o Fuel escape; o Fire; o Asphyxiation, and toxic effects from combustion products; o Falls from height; o Impact by a moving vehicle (particularly sites using solid or liquid fuels) x The location of the boiler with respect to: x Capability of safety-related systems; x Level of supervision; x The positioning of alarms and the associated response times; x The presence of other dangerous materials; x The adequacy of boiler house ventilation and flue integrity; x Environmental effects, e.g. noise, pollution; x Effect of chemicals on workers, the environment and others, e.g. water treatment chemicals; x Operational risks: o Mechanical or water damage to plant or equipment; o Water-side explosion due to catastrophic failure of the pressure envelope; o Combustion explosion caused by unspent fuel; o Failure of the water treatment equipment to deliver properly treated water to the boiler; o Speed of response to loss o of steam to process. o Numbers of persons likely to be affected; o Proximity to industrial premises/workers; o Proximity to the public especially vulnerable populations - such as in nurseries, schools, hospitals, care homes etc.; o The potential impact on neighbouring sites due to an incident;
BG01 Guidance on the safe Operation of Steam Boilers Edition 2 – © 2019
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