Phillip Crisp EcoSolve Australia Pty Ltd Student RiskAssess: an easy way to meet the safety requirements of the new Australian Curriculum Phillip Crisp EcoSolve Australia Pty Ltd

Advantages of risk assessments • reduced frequency of injuries to students to school staff • reduced costs for paperwork, litigation and payouts • compliance with the law (c.f. industry) • helps maintain variety of chemicals and equipment • compliance with the Australian Curriculum

Safety requirements in the Australian Curriculum for Science Years 4-12 Students to take increasingly active role in consideration of risk and safety Years 9 &10 “Assess risk” (Content description) “identify potential hazards of chemicals and biological materials . . .” (Elaboration) Years 11 & 12 “Conducting risk assessments (Inquiry skill)

Australian Curriculum for Science Implementation dates: South Australia DECD 2013: Year 8 2014: Year 9 2015: Year 10 Completion: R-7 in 2015 & 8-12 in 2017 Other States and Territories 2012-2014 depending on school system

way to meet the safety requirements of the Australian Curriculum Student RiskAssess is a fun interesting instructive way to meet the safety requirements of the Australian Curriculum

NEW in 2013 to meet Aust Curriculum RiskAssess “RiskAssess” “Student RiskAssess” for Staff for Students Started 2008 NEW in 2013 to meet Aust Curriculum

Student RiskAssess • web-based risk assessment tool • tailored to the school situation • customised for students • provides electronic templates (AU/ISO) database information on risks (chemical, equipment, biological) equipment ordering lab scheduling • easy for teachers, especially RA users

Logic • separate sections for student, teacher and laboratory technician • initial assessment of inherent risk if low, go to end if medium or more, record control measures if high or extreme, third reviewer required • cross-checking by teacher/labtech/reviewer • scheduling and ordering system to save time • inexpensive ($160 + GST per school per year)

Details • access from school/home • nothing to install on computer (instant update) • unlimited number of simultaneous users and risk assessments (virtually) • minimal data entry • complements MSDS/SDS • continuing input from science staff • multiple backups of data & backup server • support and advice

Electronic devices • computers • laptops • iPads (and other tablets) • smart phones (iPhones, Android, etc) Digital technologies* are emphasised in Science Inquiry Skills, Years 7-10 *technology systems that handle digital data including hardware and software for specific purposes

Summary of benefits • student engagement • uses newest technologies • training in life skills • inexpensive • happy students and teachers!

Work Health & Safety Act 2012 . . . a duty . . . to eliminate/minimise risks to health and safety as far as is reasonably practicable. . . . taking into account and weighing up all relevant matters including: (a) the likelihood of the hazard or the risk concerned occurring; and (b) the degree of harm that might result from the hazard or the risk . . . . Part 2, Sections 17 and 18

DECD Risk Management Framework Based on ISO 31000 Risk Management Context, Identify/Analyse/Evaluate/Treat risks Review risks at least annually Risk Assessment template + Risk Matrix DECD, Procedure No: 07/4385 Risk Management Framework, 1 Feb 2011.

You should: risks Before: Establish the context identify analyse evaluate treat Risk assessment Risk control risks Before: Establish the context After: Monitor and review Always: Consult and communicate

Risk identification • history of “accidents” and “near-accidents” at school at similar schools • brainstorming, preferably with colleagues • checklists of possible risks

Risk analysis To assess the severity of a risk, you need to consider: • the consequences of the event, and • the chance that it will occur (likelihood) AU ISO 31000:2009 “Risk management” HB 89:2012 “Risk management guidelines”

Risk evaluation To evaluate the severity of a risk, you need to use a decision matrix, known as a “risk matrix”. Severity of a risk is the output of a table, based on: • the consequences of the event, and • the chance that it will occur (likelihood)

personal protective equipment Risk treatment Hierarchy of options: elimination substitution isolation engineering administration personal protective equipment

Advantages of risk assessments • reduced frequency of injuries to students to school staff • reduced costs for paperwork, litigation and payouts • compliance with the law (c.f. industry) • helps maintain variety of chemicals and equipment

Advantages of a formalised system • ensures proper consideration of risks and control measures • standardisation • storage of records for legal purposes • communication between teachers and laboratory technicians

Is it practical? Paper-based system NO (almost) Electronic system YES

Paper-based system • time consuming • unwieldy forms many prompts - mostly empty space few prompts - requires knowledge & skill • non-searchable • difficult to update • storage problems

Electronic system • relatively rapid • prompts sensitive to context • reduces paper consumption • easy to review and update • easy monitoring • easy storage • demonstrated to work in schools (e.g. >800 schools in AU,NZ&CA)

RiskAssess • web-based risk assessment tool • customised to the school situation • provides electronic templates (AU/ISO) database information on risks (chemical, equipment, biological) equipment ordering lab scheduling • easy sharing of experiment templates for customisation

Logic • separate sections for teacher and laboratory technician • initial assessment of inherent risk if low, go to end if medium or more, record control measures if high or extreme, third reviewer required • cross-checking by teacher/labtech/reviewer • scheduling and ordering system to save time • inexpensive ($160 per school per year)

Details • access from school/home • nothing to install on computer (instant update) • unlimited number of simultaneous users and risk assessments (virtually) • minimal data entry • complements MSDS/SDS • student subscriptions for Aust Curriculum • continuing input from science staff • multiple backups of data & backup server • support and advice

Summary of benefits • safer laboratories • better communication • meets legal requirements • reduced costs • happy lab techs and teachers!

x ? ?? x = unacceptable risk Risk matrix ? = doubtful Code Consequences Minor Severe OK = acceptable risk x Likely Unlikely ? Likelihood ? = doubtful CONSIDER THE OPTIONS ?? OK x = unacceptable risk DON’T DO IT!

Written procedure Equipment Materials Chemicals Living organisms People Potential hazards Standard operating procedure Manufacturer User instructions instructions Potential hazards Standard handling procedure EXPERIMENT or ACTIVITY RISK ASSESSMENT Potential hazards Standard handling procedure MSDS Potential hazards Standard handling procedure KEY Component risk assessment Potential hazards Standard handling procedure Overall risk assessment

Multi-level scale of consequences Level 1 : first aid treatment at the school (Minor) Level 2: treatment by a doctor (Moderate) Level 3: immediate hospitalization (Severe)

Multi-level scale of likelihood Level 1: known to commonly occur; not unexpected in the class (Likely) Level 2: uncommon, rare, but sufficiently frequent to have been witnessed by self or a known person (Unlikely) Level 3: very rare; have heard of it happening; may possibly have been witnessed by self or a known person (Very unlikely)

x x ? x ?? x = unacceptable risk Risk matrix ? = doubtful Consequences Code Minor Moderate Severe OK = acceptable risk (low risk) x x Likely Unlikely Very unlikely OK ? = doubtful CONSIDER OTHER OPTIONS Likelihood ? x ?? = very doubtful Either DON’T DO IT or PROCEED WITH GREAT CARE OK ?? x = unacceptable risk DON’T DO IT! OK OK

DECD Multi-level scale of consequences Level 1 : incident with or without minor injury (Insignificant) Level 2: first aid or minor lost time injury (Minor) Level 3: serious injury and/or illness (Moderate) Level 4: multiple serious injuries (Major) Level 5: death of adult or child (Critical)

DECD Multi-level scale of likelihood Level 1: less than once in 15 years (possibility < 5%) (Rare) Level 2: at least once in 5-15 years (possibility 5-25%) (Unlikely) Level 3: at least once in 2-5 years (possibility 25-50%) (Possible) Level 4: at least once in a year (possibility 50-75%) (Likely) Level 5: multiple times in a year (possibility >75%) (Almost certain)

DECD Risk matrix Consequences Likelihood Insignificant Minor Moderate Major Critical Almost certain Likely Possible Unlikely Rare Moderate High High Extreme Extreme Moderate Moderate High High Extreme Likelihood Low Moderate Moderate High High Low Low Moderate Moderate High Low Low Low Moderate High