RISK MANAGEMENT

WHAT IS RISK ASSESSMENT?

Hazard Identification, Risk Assessment and Risk Control

WE ARE AWARE OF THE HAZARDS AND THE RISKS IN OUR ACTIVITIES AND HAVE PRIORITISED THEM ON HOW WE WILL MANAGE THE RISKS.

It is the first step to making your workplace Healthy & Safe.

Risk Assessment is Required By Law

All employers must now conduct Risk Assessments in a planned way.

Risk Assessment is a Guide for Employers

It’s a way to identify significant risks in the workplace - and then take steps to
prevent accidents & ensure good health.

Why should we learn about Risk Assessment?

Because keeping your workplace Healthy and Safe requires Teamwork.

WHAT WILL BE ASSESSED?

Depending on the Nature of Your Work, Risk Assessment May Cover:

The Management of Health & Safety

Are safe work systems in place & used?
Are accident & hazard reporting procedures followed?
Are Health checks adequate if used?
Have workers most at risk (due to inexperience, disability, etc.) been identified?

The Workplace
• Are walls, flooring, stairs & passages in good condition?
• Is lighting adequate?
• Is there proper ventilation, heating & cooling?
• Is there sufficient space to work safely?
• Are there adequate facilities for washing, eating, resting, etc?

• Is the workplace tidy & waste disposed off properly?
• Is noise adequately controlled?
• Does everyone know Emergency Procedures & Escape Routes?
Manual Handling

• Is manual handling necessary?
• Are proper Lifting & Moving Procedures followed?

Work Equipment & Work Practices
• Is equipment safe & suitable for the job?
• Is equipment stored & maintained properly?
• Are hazardous substances identified, used & stored properly?
• Do employees have proper Information, Instruction, Training & Supervision?

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
• Does PPE meet current standards?
• Is it suitable for the task?
• Have employees been properly trained to use PPE?
• Is it used, maintained & stored properly?
• Is the PPE issue based on Risk Assessment?

Display Screen Equipment
• Is the work area set up correct for the user?
• Is hardware & software suitable for the task & easy to use?
• Is DSE Risk Assessment
carried out?

How Are Risk Assessments Carried Out?

Most Assessments have these elements in common:

Competent Personnel Conduct the Assessment

In some cases, a group of competent people or one or more specialists may be required.

We Should
• Identify hazards & if possible remove them.
• Evaluate the Risks.
• Control Risks or Reduce them to insignificant levels.
• Record the Assessment.
Hazards are Identified
Anything that could cause harm is noted. e.g.
• Slippery floors.
• Dangerous machine parts.
• Harmful Chemicals Leaks
Managers, Supervisors, Safety
Representatives, etc., should then review
the preliminary report
.
Risks Are Evaluated
The risk of each hazard is analysed in terms
of its:
• Likelihood for causing harm.
• Potential for serious injury.
A risk-rating scale is then used to help decide which hazards are to be given top Priority.

Control Measures Are Evaluated
Methods to reduce risks to insignificant levels are analysed.

The Assessment is Recorded

It becomes a part of your Health & Safety Policy.

Remember!Keeping the Workplace Healthy & Safe takes a Team Effort.

Risk Assessment Reviews
In general, a review is required when:
• New Machinery, Equipment, Process, New Chemicals, etc., is introduced.
• Work flows, Procedures, etc., change.

HAZARD

Hazard is a physical situation or source with a potential for human injury, damage to property, damage to environment or a combination of all.
A Hazard is a source of danger, such as a knife.


RISK

Risk is a measure of both the Probability and Consequences of all hazards in an activity.
A Risk is exposure to danger, such as handling the knife, which could result in a lacerated wound.

LOGICAL APPROACH TO DEALING WITH HAZARD


IDENTIFCATION OF HAZARDS

2. ELIMINATION OF HAZARDS WHERE POSIBLE

3. SEGREGATION OF HAZARDS FROM THOSE AT RISK

4. REDUCTION OF RISK IF ELIMINATION OR SEGREGATION IS NOT PRACTICABLE

5. PROVISION OF INFORMATION FOR THOSE WHO MAY CREATE HAZARDS OR BE AT RISK FROM THEM

6. MONITORING AND REVIEW OF THE HAZARD AND RISK OF EXPOSURE.

IDENTIFY - WHAT CAN GO WRONG?

The first and most important stage in any hazard study is to identify the activities that can go wrong and result in accidents or operating problems.

2. HOW SEVERE WILL BE THE CONSEQUENCES?
We need to know the consequences to the People, Plant, Equipment & Environment.

3. HOW OFTEN WILL IT OCCUR?
We need to know how often the hazard will occur. The best way is to look at past experience, but sometimes there is no record.
Then, we have to use synthetic methods.

4. WHAT SHOULD WE DO?
We should compare the risk with generally accepted Codes and Standards or with the other Risks around us.

5. IS IT WORTH THE COST?

We should also compare the cost of prevention with the cost of the accident, in order to see if the remedy is ‘reasonably practicable’ or if we should look for less expensive solution.


6. PREVENTION (1)
How can we prevent the accident from occurring, or make it less probable or protect people from the consequences ?

7. PREVENTION (2)
Perhaps our method of prevention has disadvantages. We can think of a better method.


8. PREVENTION (3)
Perhaps our method of prevention has disadvantages. We can think of a still better method.