Risk Assessment Steps

Step 1: Identify the risk

•  Agent characteristics
•  Susceptibility and transmission within the host
•  Hazards associated with the equipment and procedures

There are several things to consider when you identify a risk in the laboratory.

You need to understand the agent you are working with. You need to recognize

the hazardous characteristics of the agent, It’s capability to infect or cause disease

in a host, how the agent can spread and its routes of transmission. Do your

procedures create aerosols or require the use of sharps? You also need to be aware

of the hazards associated with the equipment or procedures in the lab while working

with the material.

Once you have identified possible hazards, you need to evaluate how these

risks may factor into your work or working environment. You should consider

the worst case scenario or what kind of incidents could happen in the course

of your work. Do your protocols require specific measurements, handling

procedures or equipment? You should consider how your lab is set up to handle

incidents, from the smallest to the most severe. No one can predict an accident

so it is important to know what actions or steps would need to be taken to

resolve the situation. Your personal acceptance of risk is also something to

evaluate. It is your decision to accept the risks of working in a lab and you need

to be comfortable working in the lab and know what your limits are.

Step 2: Evaluate the risk

•  What could happen
•  Protocol requirements
•  Is the lab equipped
•  Actions needed to resolve the problems
•  Personal acceptance of risk

The next step is to measure the risk. Measuring risk is objective

since it uses the specific guidelines, data and documentation that

is available. Factors such as the frequency of work , the quantity

of an agent, or the length of time are also required when

measuring the risk. It is essential to know where you can find

existing data, documentation and guidelines to measure the

potential risk. Recommendations and guidelines come from entities

such as the National Institute of Health and the Center for Disease

Control, among others.  For further information see the links

provided in the supplemental resources page at the end of the

course.

Step 3: Measure the risk

•  Measuring risk is objective
•  Frequency, quantity, and time
•  Use available data, guidelines, and documentation

Step 4: Mitigate the risk

 Plan to minimize risk

 Develop appropriate safety policies and procedures based on risks

 Proper safety precautions

 Incident preparedness

Once you have identified, evaluated and measured the risk

it is important to develop a plan that includes the safety

policies and procedures necessary for protection. The ideal

safety plan minimizes the risk associated with the work.

By using safe procedures, proper PPE, appropriate equipment,

and knowing how to handle an incident or accident are the

best ways to mitigate the risks involved with working in the lab.