Footer European Month of Ergonomics 2008 Risk Assessment and Ergonomics FEES disseminate information for Healthy Workplaces - Good for you. Good for business. - A European campaign on Risk Assessment

Footer Are You Ready to Act? Every three-and-a-half minutes, somebody in the EU dies from work-related causes. Every four-and-a-half seconds, a worker in the EU is involved in an accident that forces him/her to stay at home for at least three working days. You Can Do Something - Time to Risk Assessment! Source:

Footer Risk Assessment in occupational health and safety is a process of evaluation to estimate the risk that can be caused by a hazard at work for the health or safety of the employees Risk = Probability x Consequences

Footer HAZARDS CHARACTERISTICS OF A PERSON CIRCUMSTANCES PROBABLE UNWANTED EVENTS INTOLERABLE RISKSUBSTANTIAL RISKMODERATE RISKPROBABLE SUBSTANTIAL RISKMODERATE RISKTOLERABLE RISKPOSSIBLE MODERATE RISKTOLERABLE RISKTRIVIAL RISKUNLIKELY EXTREME HARMMODERATE HARMSLIGHT HARM SEVERITY LIKELIHOOD

Footer Risk assessment is to find out the hazards, to evaluate the probability of an unwanted event and the severity of the harm that such an event could cause for a person.

Footer Phases of Risk Assessment Plan the assessment process Identify the hazards Determine seriousness ConsequencesProbability Determine tolerability Select the action plan and implementation Follow up and feed back

Footer Ergonomics in Risk Assessment THE DEMANDS CAUSED BY MANAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP PRACTICES, WORK METHODS AND EQUIPMENT, PRACTICES OF THE WORKING GROUP AND WORK ENVIRONMENT WORKERS PROFESSIONAL SKILLS, MOTIVATION, AND INDIVIDUAL CHARACTERISTICS Balance produces health, safety, quality and productivity ERGONOMICS

Footer Expertise Area of Ergonomics The work environment is examined from several points of view simultaneously: work environment and circumstances, usability of the equipment, work organization, share of work, leadership and management, co-operation and communication. Solutions, that respect human characteristics – opportunities and constraints – and that utilize human capability comprehensively, can stimulate the worker to improve continuously her or his own work and can be identified through ergonomics.

Footer Challenges for Risk Assessment 1.Willingness to recognize dangers and be aware of the events dangerous/harmful for health and safety 2.Capability to evaluate the events at workplaces, at work that is done in clients homes and at own home and in leisure time activities. 3.Combine the workers knowledge and external expertise of the hazards in the best possible way. 4.The principles of safety management are included. Risk assessment is a part of safety and quality management system. 5.Risk assessments in transformation situations and in unusual conditions require a versatile point of view and expertise.

Footer Professional ergonomist Combines different points of view Interprets pre-indicators and is able to anticipate and act before problems arise The best results can be reached by appropriate timing of risk assessments - in the planning and design phases. Ergonomics risk assessment processes cover the whole activity chain and represent sustainable progress and development.

Footer Good practices for co-operation Analyse – many methods are available Use discussion groups – encourage more information and useful solutions Use available information and knowledge – at least basic information on safety and health situations are needed Teach and use practical demonstrations – people gain a better understanding for the usability of the results Publish and market ergonomics solutions – workplaces get information of services and other specialists acquire a better understanding of the area of ergonomics