Workplace Safe Systems of Work and Risk Assessments in Derby

Think about making a hot drink at your Derby workplace. It sounds straightforward, but it shows exactly why every task needs a proper risk assessment before anyone picks up a kettle.

What are Derby employees actually using to heat the water? An electric kettle brings electrical risks into the picture, a commercial boiler involves pressurised steam, and a stovetop adds fire hazards on top of everything else.

Boiling water sits above 100°C, and for Derby workers that means a real risk of serious scalding. Contact with water at that temperature causes burns that need immediate medical treatment, not a quick rinse under the tap.

Once the water is poured and the tea bag is in, Derby staff are still exposed to hazards. A metal spoon heats up fast and becomes a burn risk within seconds of touching hot liquid. A ceramic mug transfers heat through its walls, making it genuinely uncomfortable and potentially dangerous to hold without a handle.

Derby employers are responsible for putting controls in place that stop these injuries from happening. PAT testing keeps electrical equipment such as kettles safe for daily use. Simple behavioural controls, like not holding your face over a cup while pouring, can prevent steam burns that are easy to avoid once you know the risk.

• PAT test the kettle to confirm it is safe to use
• Do not lean over the cup while pouring to avoid steam burns to the face
• Use a plastic spoon to remove the risk of heat transfer from a metal one
• Always use the handle, and if there is no handle, use a cup sleeve
• Let the drink cool before you take a sip to avoid burning your mouth

This Derby example might feel over the top for something as routine as making tea, but the same thinking applies to every single task in your workplace, and that is exactly what a proper risk assessment and Safe System of Work is designed to do.