Risk Assessment for Staff in any higher risk group or disproportionately affected by COVID-19

It is the joint responsibility of line managers and staff to complete a risk assessment for those staff at higher risk of COVID-19 infection or possibly disproportionately affected by COVID-19, as set out by Public Health England (PHE) and NHS England. As not all underlying health conditions are routinely declared, staff are encouraged to speak to their managers if they feel they need a risk assessment linked to a previously undeclared issue to enable appropriate support to be provided. The aim of this assessment is to understand the specific risks staff members face who are more vulnerable to exposure to COVID-19 and enable these risks to be mitigated as far as possible. It should be completed in conjunction with the latest guidance from Public Health England.

The following guidance can be accessed with regards to risk categorieshttps://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/people-at-higher-risk-from-coronavirus/whos-at-higher-risk-from-coronavirus/

https://www.rcog.org.uk/globalassets/documents/guidelines/2020-04-21-occupational-health-advice-for-employers-and-pregnant-women.pdf

https://www.nhsemployers.org/covid19/health-safety-and-wellbeing/risk-assessments-for-staff

Hazard: Exposure to COVID-19 and any impact on staff health and wellbeing.

General InformationStaff Name(s): Job Title:

Line manager Manager’s job title

Location / Ward / Area:

Working hours:

Date of Assessment:

Review date:

KCH COVID-19 RA May 2020

1. Assessment of IndividualPlease tick all appropriate boxes: Risk LevelExtremely vulnerable: Notified as on 12 week Shielding (very high risk group)

Extremely vulnerablePregnant: after 28 weeks gestation or with an underlying health

condition

Clinically Vulnerable: age over 70 or PHE underlying health condition PHE high risk health condition are: Chronic lung disease, Chronic heart disease, Chronic kidney disease, Chronic liver disease, Chronic neurological disease, Immunosuppression (whether caused by disease or treatment), Diabetes mellitus, Problems with the spleen, Obesity (BMI>40)

Clinically vulnerable

Pregnant: under 28 weeks gestation

Black, Asian and minority ethnic staff (BAME)* Other

factorsPre-existing mental health condition

Other specific concerns e.g. disability

Individual Assessment Notes (e.g. details of underlying health condition).

* in the absence of any current formal PHE guidance we are identifying possible increased rates of COVID-19 infection amongst BAME communities in particular Black and Asian (African, Caribbean, Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Filipino, Chinese, Japanese).

2. Assessment of EnvironmentCurrent post involves:

Please tick appropriate box: Risk level

Directly caring for COVID-19 patients (tested as positive) and undertakes Aerosol generating procedures (AGPs)

High Risk Environmen

tDirectly caring for COVID-19 patients (tested as positive) – not undertaking AGPs Moderate

Risk Environmen

t

Directly caring for patients not tested / unknown COVID-19 status but within 2 metres of patient – within any setting Directly caring for patients not tested / unknown COVID-19 status but more than 2 metres of patient – within any setting

Low Risk Environmen

t

Proving a service within the care setting but not directly caring for patients (e.g. cleaning, estates, IT) but may have contact with patients not tested/unknown COVID-19 statusProving a service but not directly in the care setting (e.g. training, admin)

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3a. Risk assessment & mitigation for extremely vulnerable or > 28 weeks pregnancy or underlying conditions in any gestation

Extremely vulnerable Shielding. May work from home but must not work on-site.

Pregnant after 28 weeks gestation or with an underlying health condition in any gestation

A more precautionary approach is advised. Women in this category should be recommended to stay at home. For many healthcare workers, this may present opportunities to work flexibly from home in a different capacity, for example by undertaking telephone or videoconference consultations, or taking on administrative duties.

3b. Risk assessment for all other groups

Individual Assessment

Environment Assessment

Not clinically vulnerable

Clinically vulnerable/

pregnant

High risk environment Lower Risk (2) Higher Risk (1)

Moderate risk environment Lower Risk (2) Lower Risk (2)

Low risk environment Very Low Risk (3) Lower Risk (2)

3c. Other factors Weakening of risk Strengthening of risk

Age <50 >50

Gender Female Male

BAME Background No Yes

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4. Mitigation of RiskHierarchy of Control: Top down approach, consider each option before moving to the next

Risk management requires a value judgement to decide whether the existing control measures are sufficient or whether more should be done.

The option, or combination of options which achieves the lowest level of residual risk should be implemented, provided it does not pose an alternative risk to the organisation (e.g. an entire team is unlikely to be able to work from home but a combination of flexible shifts and avoiding on-site work where not absolutely necessary may allow adequate social distancing and mitigate risk)

4. Mitigation of risk for all other groups

Factors for consideration Current work factors Actions to manage risk(mitigation factors)

Are any adjustments already in place for this member of staff? (e.g. social distancing, flexible working hours, working from home where possible and not absolutely necessary to come on-site, restriction from high-risk clinical areas and PPE)

Is the staff member working in an area which requires use of PPE? (Please see PHE KCH guidelines). Factors for consideration – adequate training, confidence with use, fit testing and appropriate PPE / RPE available at all times)

Have any other risk assessments been carried out with this member of staff and a copy saved for review? (e.g. stress risk assessment/pregnancy risk assessment)

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4. Mitigation of risk for all other groups (cont.)

Factors for consideration Current work factors Actions to manage risk(mitigation factors)

Less than 28 weeks pregnant with no underlying medical condition:Offer the choice of whether to work in direct patient-facing roles during the COVID-19 pandemic.

If the employee remains patient facing, avoid, where possible, caring for patients with suspected or confirmed coronavirus infection. If this is not possible, use PPE and ensure a thorough risk assessment is undertaken.

If the employee choses non-patient facing, explore suitable alternative duties (might include remote triage, telephone consultations, governance or administrative roles)

Is the role patient facing? Can it be adjusted to reduce patient exposure?

Is this staff member required to work in an office and what adjustments can be considered? (e.g. social distancing, flexible working hours to minimise amount of staff sharing a space, personal computer use, working from home where possible and not absolutely necessary to come on-site)

Is this staff member required to travel to carry out their role? Do they use public transport or can they drive/walk/cycle? Can shifts be adjusted to avoid peak travel times?

Has advice been sought from Occupational Health?Consider specific questions requiring advice.

Other considerations:

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5. Assessment ActionsPlease tick appropriate box: Date agreed to review actionNo further action needed

Review risk assessment after agreed period of timee.g. 1 week, 1 month, 3 month Refer to Occupational Health with specific questions

Additional notesPlease include action plan agreed based on mitigation factors identified in the table above

Please add any additional notes as appropriate

Line managers should conduct a sensitive and comprehensive conversation with staff. They should identify any existing underlying health conditions or risk factors that increase the risk for the staff member in undertaking the role identified. The conversation should be an ongoing basis (complete review date above) and consider staff member feelings re: safety and mental health and wellbeing. If managers are unclear about any aspects of this form they should seek support from occupational health.

This risk assessment should be held in the department in management files. Please also offer a copy to the staff member for their records.

Individual’s signature Manager’s signature

Print Name Print Name

Individual’s job title Managers job title

Date Signed Date signed

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