Risk Assessment OSHA 21/09/2011 1

2 WHAT IS RISK ASSESMENT? Risk Assessment is the process of determining the possibility of short and long term unfavorable consequences to individuals or groups of people or properties from the use of a particular agent article or process in a particular area. It is also defined as the classification of the potential adverse health effects of human exposures to hazards Risk Management is the administrative, political and economic actions taken to decide how risk is to be reduced to a certain level and at what cost.

3 WHY IS WORKPLACE RISK ASSESSMENT IMPORTANT? Accidents and ill health can destroy lives, and affect your business output, machinery can be destroy, it can increase insurance costs, or you may be taken to court. It is legally required to assess the risks in your workplace (S. 60 of OHS Act 2003). It is a important tool to decide whether a hazard is significant or not, and whether you have enough control measures in place. Helps to establish effective risk reduction strategy

4 DEFINITIONS? “Hazard is a condition or set of circumstances that has a potential of causing harm or contributing to injury or death” “Safety hazards..those hazards that can cause accidents, injuries, and sometimes even death” “Heath hazards …those hazards that can cause occupational disease or illness” “Risk… combination of likelihood that injury or damage to people’s health, or property will occur and the severity of the consequences of that event.

TYPES/CATEGORIES OF HAZARDS Mechanical hazards Physical hazards Chemical hazards Biological hazards Ergonomic hazards Psychosocial hazards 21/09/2011 5

6 FIVE STEPS OF RISK ASSESSMENT PROCESS Step 1: Hazard Identification (look for the hazards) Step 2: Exposure Evaluation (decide who might be harmed and how) Step 3: Risk classification (evaluate the risks and decide whether the existing precautions are adequate or whether more should be done) Step 4: Preparation of Risk Matrix (risk assessment matrix) Step 5: Recommendation of Control Measures

7 FUNDAMENTAL OF DOING RISK ASSESSMENT The initial step in evaluating workplace safety is conducting risk assessment. Risk assessment is a legal obligation under the Occupational Health and Safety Act,2003 (Section 60). The risk assessment should be performed by a ‘competent person’.

8 EXPOSURE EVALUATION Decide who might be harmed and how. Do not forget special groups who may be at particular risk (Young workers, trainees, new and expectant mothers, etc). Contractors, maintenance workers, etc who may not be in the workplace all the time. Members of the community, or people you share your workplace with, if there is a chance they could be harm by your activities.

9 RISK classification cont… If you find that something needs to be done, draw up an ‘action list’ and give priority to any remaining risks which are high and/or those which could affect most people. In taking action ask yourself: - Can I get rid of the hazard altogether? - If not can I control the risk so that harm is not likely to hapen?

10 RISK ASSESSMENT MATRIX Identify the hazards you can reasonably expect and assess the risks from such hazards. For each and every hazard identified, the hazards are allocated a consequence (hazard severity) score and a probability score.

11 RISK SCORE Risk score provides a qualitative tool that assists in ranking risk. Risk Score Calculator determines the level of risk by defining severity, exposure and probability. Risk = SEVERITY x FREQUENCY x PROBABILITY.

12 HOW TO USE THE RISK SCORE CALCULATOR Step 1 - Identify the Severity (Consequences) Step 2 - Estimate the Frequency (Exposure) Step 3 - Estimate the Probability Step 4 - Determine the Risk

13 Three Factor System 1 Probability is often categorized as: Frequent (Hazard frequently causes harm) 3 Probable (the hazard is likely to cause harm) 2 Occasional (Hazard occasionally causes harm) 1

14 Three Factor System 2 Severity is described as: catastrophic (death and/or severe destruction) 3 critical (serious injury or property damage) 2 marginal (minor injury or property damage) 1

15 Three Factor System 3 Frequency is often categorized as: Full time (workers are exposed for > 6 hrs) 3 Often(workers are exposed 4 to 6 hrs) 2 Occasional(workers are exposed < 4hrs) 1

Prioritization of OHS hazards Why? When? How? 21/09/

Why use a priority ranking system Comparisons between different kind of OHS hazards or impacts are undertaken (it is difficult, but possible) Selection of solutions due to significance of hazards The basic philosophy is to solve the significant subjects first Time and costs will be reduced as an outcome of prioritisation 21/09/

A simple OHS scoring system 21/09/ High Priority Medium Priority Low Priority Three outcomes and assigned colour value

Three Factor System (cont) 21/09/ Total Score = (P)X(S)X(F) Probability (P) x Severity (S) x frequency (F) Score 1,2 or 3 Gives total scores of 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 12, 18 and 27

Total Scores and Action Requirement Total score (problem level)Action requirement Health and safety: 27Crucial (very high) Health and safety: 12 and 18Critical (high) Health and safety: 6, 8 and 9Relevant (medium) Health and safety:1, 2, 3 & 4Insignificant (low) 21/09/

Work sheet to OHS score 21/09/ Company or enterprise: Process or work area: Type (P) (S) (F) Total x x=

Ex. Work sheet to OHS score 21/09/ Company/area/activity: Type (P) (S) (F) Total xx = Bandits 1 3 Customer service

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