Risk Assessment and Control Management in Libraries

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.

Risk assessment and control management 4
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.