Workplace Health and Safety

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Lesson 8: The process of risk management

Carrying out a risk assessment

Once a hazard has been identified it is necessary to carry out a risk assessment. This involves analysing the hazard to determine its potential severity and the risk that it presents. Once this is done, priorities for action can be set and the most appropriate control measures determined.

A risk assessment should include:

• Analysis of the occupations, tasks and number of people at risk from the hazard
• The probability of the hazard resulting in an injury or disease (near certainty to remotely possible)
• The amount of exposure to the hazard (continuous to very rare)
• The possible consequences that may result from the hazard (for example, disease, injury, fatality).

Deciding on control measures

Hazard control measures are put into place once the risk assessment has been completed. These measures must:

• Adequately control the hazard
• allow workers to do their jobs without undue discomfort or stress
• Not create new hazards
• protect every person who has any risk of being exposed to the hazard
• eliminate the hazard for the surrounding community as a well as for the workforce.
• Control measures need to be selected carefully to ensure that they are appropriate and effective.

 

 

Implementing the control measures

Once appropriate control measures have been determined, the employer should implement these as soon as possible. If the control measures are not implemented, employees should discuss the matter with the employer. If the measures are still not implemented, employees should notify Workplace Health and Safety in the Department of Industrial Relations.

Monitoring and reviewing the control measures

Once the control measures have been implemented, they should be monitored and reviewed on a regular basis to ensure they are effective in controlling the risks.

A risk management process can help to control hazards in the workplace. However, it is still important to remember that safety at work is everyone’s concern.

Occupational health and safety depends on having:

1. The right attitude

2. The right equipment

3. The right procedures.

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