Risk Assessment and Control Management in Libraries

This essay discusses the risk assessment and management strategies in libraries, including the identification of potential hazards, risk planning, and control measures. It also provides a risk assessment matrix and a reassessment of the risk after implementing the management plan.

Running Head: Risk assessment and control management 1
RISK ASSESSMENT AND CONTROL MANAGEMENT
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Risk assessment and control management 2
Introduction
There are many hazards associated with risk in the industrial workplace. With new
machinery, technology and constant updates with regulations it’s important to identify and
produce the risk assessments and management criteria that will make sure people are well
protected in their leisure’s or workplaces. Furthermore, good risk assessment and management
reduces fatalities and hazards in areas which are dangerous in the workplace and their
environments according to Muir & Shenton (2002 p.116) risk cannot be completely removed as
they will have to exist in where activities concerning human are taking place but much can be
done in order to mitigate their effects. An effective risk assessment always makes all
stakeholders in their workplace their surrounding business environment feel safer and
empowered hence promoting business structure within the company. Therefore, the essay seeks
to establish the assessment and management of risk that occurs in libraries and the course of
actions taken against them to make a conducive environment for learning and employees of the
library.
Activity Description
All activities taking place in the libraries have risks associated with the workers and
customers who interact with the environment often. The risk may range from low to high
depending on the probability at which they occur. In an instance, a library which is congested has
a high probability of risk occurrence. Furthermore, People who frequently walk often in libraries
may find themselves sliding over slippery floors; others may break or steal the library
equipment. The poor library structures, lack of proper education of library safety rules or staff
relaxing are the reason to why the risk is still occurring despite mitigations(Joint 2007, p.543-
551). The decision-making processes in libraries are not the same as different libraries have

Risk assessment and control management 3
different risk and management plan. The risk planning in libraries that prevents the current and
future occurrence of risk include planning about how to mitigate risk, effective prevention of
risks, responding to the risk, recovering after risk, preparedness of risk occurrence and training
the stakeholders about the measure to uphold in order to completely mitigate the risks. The risk
planning and assessments involve identifying potential disasters, surveying the building and staff
practices, prioritizing collection in terms of values and developing library floor plans (Kahn 2012
p. 4). Therefore, the library risk assessment department needs to select appropriate library
response team and develop a disaster response plan.
Preliminary Risk Assessment
According to to Chernysheva (2013 p. 220) preliminary risk assessment involves evaluating the
level of quantitative and qualitative risks involved in clear situations involving potential hazards.
Furthermore, risk assessment is carried out prior to activities for specifying all potential
problems areas and develops a plan to meet any challenge that may arise.
Risk issues in library
The risk issues which occurred in the library are classified as individual and
organizational risks (Staley & Malenfant 2010, p.57). The risk issue which occurs in the library
includes moving floors, congestions, theft, lost children fires and inventory risk.
Moving floors
Moving floors or sliding floors risks may occur as a result of wet floors and people
walking carelessness in the library. According to Stanley and Malenfant (2010, p. 175) the
physical structures of libraries such as sliding floors have a high probability of risks as many
people have fallen the victims over past years. The level of risk is very high.

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A large number of children
Many parents like exposing children to libraries at early ages and build their interest in learning.
This has created congestions of children in the library and large numbers of children may lack
control and result to noise around the libraries.
Fire
In libraries, the risk is classified as an organizational risk. Fires outbreaks may occur in the
libraries and endanger people all people who are carrying their activities in or around the
libraries. The probability of risk occurrence is low as the government regulation concerning
library safeness has ensured that libraries are well educated about all measures of avoiding fire
outbreaks.
Theft of valuables
Sometimes theft may occur in the library as a result of people carelessly forgetting their
belongings behind or intentional theft. In most cases, the theft of value is associated with
children’s probability of risks medium.
Reaching high shelves
Reaching high shelves are risk occurred due to strains and falls of materials from the shelves.
The probability of risk is medium as sometimes the falling objects may cause injuries to the
people.
Trailing electrical cables
The trailing electrical cables around the library may result in trips and falls hence raising the risk
of injuries in the library. The probability of risk occurrence is low.

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Electrical equipment and sockets
Carelessly structuring of electrical equipment and sockets in the library may rise to a risk of
people being electrocuted. The risk is very low due to the organizational effective planning of
arranging cables and sockets.
Risk scoreboard
Risk Level score Probability of
occurrence
Severity of
occurrence
Sliding floors Very
high
8 moderate
A large number of children high 6 likely minor
theft medium 5 likely serious
Fire low 2 unlikely catastrophic
High shelves low 4 likely minor
Trailing electric cables low 2 unlikely serious
Electrical equipment and sockets Very low 1 catastrophic
The risk is ranged out of 10 whereby 10 is the highest probability of risk occurrence and 0 is a
low probability
Risk Management Strategy
Risk management strategy offers a coherent and structured approach for the identification,
assessment and the management of risks as it creates a process of regular reviewing and updating
the assessments based on actions taken or new developments. The risk management strategies
taken include prompting maintenance of defects, installation of CCTV and making visibility of

Risk assessment and control management 6
safety rules in libraries.
Prompt maintenance of defects
Prompting maintenance of defects in the library will ensure that all flows are well maintained
and shelves well-arranged hence reducing the number of falls experienced in the library. The
maintenance of shelves will reduce the risk of falling objects with electrical equipment’s and
socket maintenance reducing minimizing any possibilities of electrocution.
Installation of CCTV cameras
Installation of CCTV cameras will trace down all incidence of theft which might occur in the
library. The CCTV can also trace suspicious activities taking place in the library like fire hence
generally minimizing risk.
Creating awareness of safety rules
The management with has rules and regulation well displayed in strategic positions in a manner
everyone in the library can read. This will reduce risks such as noises from children and any
other careless risk which might occur in the library as people are able to differential Do’s and
Don’ts in the library.
Risk assessment matrix
hazard Control measure Risk
level
Further action required
Sliding and defective
floors
-Floor inspection on a
regular basis
High Management should
avoid washing floors

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-Prompting on maintenance
defects.
during working hours to
reduce risk associated
with wet floors
A large number of
children
Library staff to create a safe
space which is suitable, for
children
Low Parents should be well
educated on how they
should take care of their
children while at the
library
theft Installation of CCTV
Installation of Tracking
devices
medium The library should impose
heavy fines on those who
will be caught stealing
and people should be
responsible for their
belongings
fire Library staff will cover
emergency procedures in
their introduction.
low Library staff should be
equipped with safety exit
doors and many fire
extinguishers
High shelves -Appropriate kicks tools
provided for access to high
places
high The library should make
sure all items in the
library are well arranged

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~ Storage of heavier items
at lower levels
Trailing electrical cables -Avoiding using extension
leads
sufficient sockets
-Using cable covers where
cables may cause a trip
hazard
low The staff should ensure
the library is tidy
Electrocution by
Electrical equipment and
sockets
-Portable appliance testing
-Visual inspection
-Fixed appliance testing
Very
low
The staff should ensure
sockets are well
positioned on safe places
Reassessment of the Risk
With the risk management factored, fewer incidences of risk have been witnessed.
Incidences of theft have reduced to a minimum as the CCTV camera could monitor all activities
in the library hence helping in the curbing of theft incidences. Potential thefts have also been
diluted since the presence of CCTV cameras intimidates thieves. The arrangement of items on
shelves has been organized in such a way that the heaviest item is placed on the lower shelves
while the lightest items have been placed on the high shelves. This has reduced the fall of books
from shelves and has also reduced the extent of injury in case a book falls on a person.

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Electrical cables and sockets have been arranged in a way that they do not get in the
way of people’s free movement. Open wires have been insulated hence preventing the risk of
electrocution. The slippery floor has been changed to tiles which offer better traction to people’s
feet as they walk around the library hence preventing and minimizing the risk of slipping. The
management has placed notices on strategic places in the library which advice adults to avoid
visiting the library with small children who cause a distraction to other people as they
concentrate on their reading. Additionally, adults have been requested to ensure that the children
who accompany them to the library are of an age which can follow instructions and can maintain
silence in the library. The observation of the risk management procedures has seen risks in the
library being reduced to a minimum.
Risk assessment Matrix figure
Outcome and Management Action
The risk assessment has led to the implementation of a risk plan which will ensure that
operations in the library have a reduced amount of risk and to offer a conducive environment for
reading and revising. Observance of silence has been given the highest priority with the
management being overly restrictive to defaulters, as library discussions have been banned.

Risk assessment and control management 10
Moreover, the management has financially supported the restructuring of the library and
providing the best expert advice for library formations.
Conclusion
Risk assessment is an objective risks evaluation that ends assumptions and uncertainties
are presented and put into consideration (Zhang, Pei & Lin, 2010 pp.645). The risk management
always encounters challenges when measuring the quantities in which risk assessments are
concerned because of anticipated loss occurrence and difficulty in quantifying the probability of
risk occurrence (Ball, 2002 pp.531). Efforts should be made to ensure that risks of injury to the
players have been minimized in the sport of rugby league football.
References
Ball, D.J., 2002. Environmental risk assessment and the intrusion of bias. Environment
international, 28(6), pp.529-544.
Chernysheva, T.Y., 2013. Preliminary risk assessment in it projects. In Applied Mechanics and
Materials (Vol. 379, pp. 220-223). Trans Tech Publications.
Joint, N., 2007. Applying general risk management principles to library administration. Library
Review, 56(7), pp.543-551.
Kahn, M.B., 2012. Disaster response and planning for libraries. American Library Association.
Muir, A., & Shenton, S. (2002). If the worst happens: the use and effectiveness of disaster plans
in libraries and archives. Library management, 23(3), 115-123.
Staley, D. J., & Malenfant, K. J. (2010). Futures thinking for academic librarians: Higher
education in 2025. Information services & use, 30(1-2), 57-90.

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Staley, D.J. and Malenfant, K.J., 2010. Alternative Futures for Academic Libraries. Journal of
Futures Studies, 15(2), pp.173-188.
Zhang, K., Pei, Y. and Lin, C., 2010. An investigation of correlations between different
environmental assessments and risk assessment. Procedia Environmental Sciences, 2, pp.643-
649.