Guide
How risk is scored
RAMSPack uses a 5×5 matrix. Likelihood and severity are each a whole number from 1 to 5. The score is those two numbers multiplied. The band is a prompt for this job, not a certificate.
Likelihood
- 1. Rare. Very unlikely on this job
- 2. Unlikely. Could happen, but not expected
- 3. Possible. Might happen on this job
- 4. Likely. Expected if nothing changes
- 5. Almost certain. Will probably happen
Severity
- 1. Negligible. No injury, or a trivial injury
- 2. Minor injury. First aid, back at work
- 3. Lost-time injury. Injury needing time off work
- 4. Major injury. Specified injury or long-term harm
- 5. Fatal. Death or life-changing injury
The matrix
Read across for likelihood and down for severity. The number in the cell is the score.
| Severity | 1 Rare | 2 Unlikely | 3 Possible | 4 Likely | 5 Almost certain |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Fatal | 5 Low | 10 Medium | 15 High | 20 High | 25 High |
| 4 Major injury | 4 Low | 8 Medium | 12 Medium | 16 High | 20 High |
| 3 Lost-time injury | 3 Low | 6 Low | 9 Medium | 12 Medium | 15 High |
| 2 Minor injury | 2 Low | 4 Low | 6 Low | 8 Medium | 10 Medium |
| 1 Negligible | 1 Low | 2 Low | 3 Low | 4 Low | 5 Low |
Bands
- Low, 1–6. Monitor. Keep the controls in place.
- Medium, 8–12. Reduce the risk so far as is reasonably practicable before or during the work.
- High, 15–25. Do not start this part of the work until the risk has been reduced.
A 5×5 matrix does not produce 7, 11, 13, 14, or 17–19. Severity often stays high after controls, because a fall can still kill someone. What should fall is the likelihood, if the controls are real.