Ventilation Risk Assessment Tool
(Document Cut and pasted from, the Safety Office…
https://universityofcambridgecloud.sharepoint.com/sites/COVIDRecovery/SitePages/Staff.aspx
or down load them from our website…
https://uniteuoc.org.uk/ventilation-test-pdf-word-file/ )
Airborne.cam is a “put in your numbers” Ventilation tool,
Find out more about it here, https://www.cam.ac.uk/research/news/free-online-tool-calculates-risk-of-covid-19-transmission-in-poorly-ventilated-spaces
Ventilation Risk Assessment Tool
| Version | Reviewed by: | Title | Tracking | Date |
| Alison Gower | HSD211M Ventilation Risk Assessment Tool | December 2020 | ||
| Rev 1 | Alison Gower | HSD211M Ventilation Risk Assessment Tool (COVID-19 Multi occupancy spaces) | P 6 Adjusted face visor risk factor in Table 2 – Face | February 2021 |
| Rev 2 | Alison Gower Andrea Eccles | HSD211M Ventilation Risk Assessment Tool (COVID-19 Multi occupancy spaces) | Due to decreasing local infection rates; Addition of table 7. Cambridge COVID case rate mitigating factors. Increased individual risk of infection rate from 1% to 6% in Airborne.cam | March 2021 |
Ventilation Risk Assessment Tool – Multi Occupancy Spaces
This tool is an indicator and provides a guide to risk factors. Should a medium or high risk be calculated you should contact the Safety Office for further advice. If very high risk factors are calculated specialist technical help and analysis will be necessary.
Is face to face contact essential?
Acceptable work examples
- Practical sessions e.g. music or science based
- Physical work activity e.g. maintenance teams
- Mental health need – counselling session, persons who live alone.
- Privacy need e.g. Confidential discussion that cannot be done online
- Unable to work from home due to home circumstances – Personal safety reasons, children at home.
- To pick up essential equipment
- Supervisions that cannot be completed online
- Work that cannot be done from home
Unacceptable work examples
- Administration/computer based work
- Non-essential face to face meetings
- Socialising – team coffee breaks, introduction meetings
| Yes | No |
| Proceed to Risk assessment tool | Do not use space for face to face contact |
Ensure that the need for the space use is detailed on the risk assessment.
Risk assessment tool for assessing a physical space– Hands, Face, Space, Ventilation, Duration
Ventilation cannot be assessed without first ensuring that other key control measures are in place.
1. Hands
| Control measure | ||
| Hand sanitiser/washing facilities at entrance/visual reminders in place | 0 | |
| Hand wash facilities in toilets and kitchens only /no visual reminders | +10 | |
| No hand sanitiser available/no handwashing facilities at all/no visual reminders | +20 |
2. Face
Assumption – everyone is wearing the same face protection in the space
| Control measure | Score | |
| FFP3 mask/half mask with filter (un-valved)/air-fed hood | +0 | |
| FFP2 mask (un-valved) | +0 | |
| Any valved mask | +5 | |
| Type II face covering | +5 | |
| Fabric face covering (non- rated) | +5 | |
| Face shield/visor | +10 | |
| No face coverings worn | +20 |
3. Space
A. This relates to the physical distance between people in the space
| Control measure | Score | |
| >5m | 0 | |
| 2-5m | +5 | |
| 2m | +10 | |
| <2m | +20 |
* Social distancing of 2m must be maintained at all times unless specific essential reasons for working closer are identified, risk assessed and controlled by other measures. E.g. Clinical setting, use of shared laboratory equipment.
B. Occupancy level (persons)
| Control measure | Score | |
| 1 | 0 | |
| 2 | +5 | |
| 2-5 | +10 | |
| 6-8 | +15 | |
| 8+ | +20 |
* Occupancy rates cannot exceed any number determined by the 2m social distancing rule.
4. Ventilation
| Control measure | Score | |
| Mechanical ventilation with HEPA filtration | 0 | |
| Mechanical ventilation – supplied from fresh air feed | 0 | |
| Positive air pressure in room | +10 | |
| Openable windows/doors– natural ventilation | +10 | |
| Mechanical ventilation – recirculated air/fresh air mix | +15 | |
| Mechanical ventilation – completely recirculated air (including recirculating air conditioning units) | +20 | |
| No ventilation (internal space or no opening windows) | +20 |
5. Duration
| Control measure | Score | |
| < 15 minutes | 0 | |
| 30 minutes max | +5 | |
| 60 minutes max | +10 | |
| 90 minutes max | +15 | |
| >90 minutes | +20 |
6. Mitigating factors
| Air changes per hour above 10 (if known) | -20 | |
| Room left empty for 15 minutes+ prior to occupation with mechanical ventilation that includes outside air running. | -15 | |
| Room left empty for 15 minutes+ prior to occupation with only ventilation from open windows | -10 | |
| Static use (minimal movement – people sat at desks i.e. office, lecture etc.) | -5 |
7. Cambridge COVID case rate mitigating factors
| 0-10 | -30 | |
| 11-20 | -25 | |
| 21-30 | -20 | |
| 31-40 | -15 | |
| 41-50 | -10 | |
| 51-60 | -5 | |
| 61-70 | 0 | |
| 71-80 | +5 | |
| 81-90 | +10 | |
| 91-100 | +15 |
To find this case rate use the following link Cases | Coronavirus in the UK (data.gov.uk)
Scroll down to ‘Recent 7-day case rates by specimen date’ bar graph and click on the furthest bar on the right hand side of the chart as shown in the screen shot below. The case rate will appear in a pop up box.
8. Additional Risk factors
| Low aerosol generating activity e.g. lecture/training | +5 | |
| Temperature below 8 degrees c e.g. cold room | +10 | |
| Medium aerosol generating activity e.g. meeting with discussion, eating | +15 | |
| High aerosol generating activity e.g. Singing, wind instruments, voice projection, drama, loud speaking (e.g. speaking over loud machinery) | +20 | |
| Aerobic activity i.e. Gym | +20 |
RAV1 Form
Essential Use
Reason for room use __________________________
RA – Calculation
| Section | Score |
| 1. Hands | |
| 2. Face | |
| 3. Space A | |
| Space B | |
| 4. Ventilation | |
| 5. Duration | |
| 6. Mitigating Factors | |
| 7. Cambridge COVID case rate mitigating factors | |
| 8. High risk factors | |
| Total |
| Assessor name | Signature | Supervisor name | Signature |
| Risk rating | Score |
| Low | <35 |
| Medium | 35-50 |
| High | 50+ |
| Action needed | |
| Low risk | 1. Record the findings on your risk assessment. Ensure that this is signed by the assessor. 2. Ensure that all control measures are clearly communicated to room users with signage and include in SOP’s. |
| Medium risk | 1. Record the findings of your risk assessment. Ensure that this is signed off by the assessor. 2. Consider changing control measures in the tool and recalculate. 3. If risk is still medium, use the Airborne.cam (not available using Internet Explorer) calculator tool to assess ventilation further. If you require further assistance please contact the Safe Space Team 4. Use the tool to change risk factors, (please ensure you have constant infectious set to 1 at all times) e.g. Occupancy, type of face covering, to reduce infection risk factor to a minimum – under 6% individual risk of infection 5. If infection risk is acceptable proceed to use the room with control measures implemented. 6. Ensure that all control measures are clearly communicated to room users with signage and include in SOP’s. 7. If infection risk is over 6% do not use the room and contact the Safety Office for specialist help. |
| High risk | 1. Record the findings of your risk assessment. Ensure that this is signed off by the assessor. 2. Use the Airborne.cam (not available using Internet Explorer) calculator tool to assess ventilation further. If you require further assistance please contact the Safe Space Team 3. Use the tool to change risk factors e.g. Occupancy, type of face covering, to reduce infection risk factor to a minimum – Below 6% individual risk of infection 4. If infection risk is acceptable proceed to use the room with control measures implemented. Ensuring that all control measures are clearly communicated to room users with signage and include in SOP’s. 5. If infection risk is calculated as over 6% do not use the room and contact the Safety Office who will ensure that you have specialist technical help with accurate assessment. |
* Social distancing of 2m must be maintained at all times unless specific essential reasons for working closer are identified, risk assessed and controlled by other measures. E.g. Clinical setting, use of shared laboratory equipment.
Safety Office
Greenwich House
Madingley Road
Cambridge CB3 0TX
Tel: 01223 333301
Fax: 01223 330256
HSD211M (rev 1)
© University of Cambridge