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Hazards and Risks

A Hazard is

a condition or changing set of circumstances that presents a potential for injury, illness or property damage.

A hazard is any thing or situation with the potential to cause harm – anything which could hurt workers or effect their health.

A tiger is a hazard, in that it has the potential to cause harm.

A Risk is

the potential or inherent characteristics of an activity, condition or circumstances which can produce adverse or harmful consequences.

A risk is a combination of the likelihood of actual harm from the hazard and the consequences of that harm.

However, unless there are people around for the tiger to cause harm to, there is no risk.

Note that "hazard" and "risk" have slightly different meanings.

Risk is a combination of the extent of the hazard, and the amount of exposure to the hazard.

RISK = [HAZARD] x [EXPOSURE]

A hazard need not be much of a risk.

For example, if a hazardous chemical is sealed away in an airtight container and buried in a concrete bunker its capacity to cause harm is reduced. If people were exposed to it they would still get sick,– but because the likelihood of coming into contact with it has been restricted, the risk of harm is low.

To work out the degree of risk associated with a hazard, both factors have to be considered.

Extent of the Hazard

This depends on the "inherent characteristics" of the hazard.

For example, the tiger would be less of a hazard, if it were very old, or very tame, or disabled in some way.

A hole in the ground is a hazard, but the extent of the hazard depends on how big the hole is, whether it's fenced off, whether it's easily visible, etc.

Exposure

This is a question of

how people are exposed to the hazard,
how many people are exposed to the hazard,
how often they are exposed to it, and
how long they are exposed to it.

Risk is a measure of the possible consequences of a hazard. It includes an assessment of the probability of injury or illness, and the likely or possible severity.

Hazard and Risk Management

Hazard Management is the process of identifying and controlling hazards in the workplace.

Hazard Identification

Risk Assessment

Risk Control

Implementation of Controls

Consultation

should be ongoing between Employer, Workers, Health and Safety representatives and Health and safety committee through out this process

The goal of any health and safety strategy is to create a safe workplace – to reduce the risk from hazards as much as possible.

Elimination of the hazard is the best option wherever possible.

A systematic risk management process allows for

the systematic identification of hazards and
the assessment of how much of a risk they actually are,

so that risks can then be eliminated or minimised.

Three Stages of Hazard Management

Hazard Identification

Are there any problems (hazards)?

Analyse workplace accident/incident/injury/sickness records.
Consult with employees.
Observe directly - worksite inspection or other planned observation.

Risk Assessment

Do the hazards identified present risks?

Detailed investigation of specific factors, either by direct observation (usually with a checklist) or research using written material (e.g. Material Safety Data sheets).

Risk Control

How can the risks be eliminated or reduced?

First aim is to eliminate the risk - see OHS&W Act, Section 3 (Objects).
Follow the steps in the Hierarchy of Control.
Ensure that the controls are both appropriate and adequate, and ensure that they do not create further hazards, or shift the risk elsewhere.

Identifying Hazards

The first step involves identifying all the possible hazards which could harm workers in the workplace.

Hazards may come from many sources

Examples of Types of Hazards

Machinery & Equipment

sharp edges,
inappropriate equipment,
pinch points,
poorly maintained equipment,
mechanical movement,
hot surfaces,
electricity.

Material

toxicity,
corrosiveness,
flammability,
inappropriate storage
inappropriate disposal,
shape,
weight,
reactivity,
radioactivity.

Physical Work Environment

slippery or irregular floors,
uneven treads,
cluttered walkways,
blocked exits,
noise,
lighting,
air quality,
excessive cold & heat,
outdoor environment,
UV radiation,
space per person.

People and Tasks

fatigue,
lack of experience
lack of training,
morale,
job design,
excessive reaching,
awkward posture,
lifting,
bullying
harassment.

Organisational

policy,
procedures,
maintenance schedules,
training,
shift work,
work schedules,
lack of consultation.
workplace change or restructure

Methods of Hazard Identification

Workplaces should have a process through which employees are able to quickly and easily report hazards to both the Health and Safety Representative and the supervisor.

A wide range of methods can be used for identifying hazards in the workplace and these can include:

injury and illness records

reviewing workers compensation data and sick leave records

workplace inspections

walk through surveys usually carried out by the Health and Safety Representative with the supervisor

investigating workplace incidents and near hits reports

in some cases there may be more than one hazard contributing to an incident

feedback from employees

they can often provide valuable information about hazards because they have “hand-on” experience in their work area

keeping up to date with information

such as manuals that come with equipment, information sheets on chemicals (Material Safety Data Sheets - MSDSs), articles in the print media, the Internet

liaising with similar workplaces

Hazard Checklist

Inspection Summary Sheet

Assessing the Risk

When a hazard has been identified, the next step is to assess how harmful it is – to assess the risk associated with it.

Risk assessment tables are sometimes used to help come up with an estimate of how serious the risk is.

Here’s one example -

Likelihood Consequence	Very likely	Likely	Unlikely	Highly unlikely

Fatality or major irreversible injuries or illness	Highest	High	Medium to high	Medium
Needing several days off work	High	Medium to high	Medium	Medium to low
Needing first aid only	Medium to high	Medium	Medium to low	Lowest

Those hazards that are very likely to cause harm and would cause a fatality or major irreversible injuries or illness must be given the highest priority.

Those that are highly unlikely to cause harm or would cause only very minor injuries would be a lower priority.

Risk assessment is

a tool for figuring out what to do first.

Risk Control is introducing measures which made:

the hazard less likely to cause harm or
the harm less serious

and so reducing the risk

Risk Factors

are the things that affect the risk
increase or decrease the likelihood and/or the consequences of exposure

Understanding of these can also help in working out how to control the risk.

Some risk factors are related to the nature of the hazard itself.

For example,

the risk of harm from a cleaning product would be higher if it contains a very toxic chemical than if a less toxic one was used – because the consequences of exposure would be more serious.

Some risk factors are related to the task, or the workplace environment.

For example

the risk of harm from keyboard work would be less if there were a variety of different activities involved in the work to break up the time spent just typing;

the risk from fumes and noise from copying equipment would be greater if it was located in the general office area than if it was isolated in a separately ventilated room because constant exposure to a larger number of people at any given time.

So assessing the risk and understanding risk factors means understanding both the hazard (what makes it hazardous) and the work situation (how people are exposed to it and how often).

Methods to Assess the Risk

The methods and processes used to assess the risk are similar to those for identifying hazards:

feedback from employees
look at records of past accidents and “near hits” in the workplace
do regular workplace inspections and,
keep up to date with information

Remember that risk assessment seeks information about the hazard and the work situation:

What is it about the hazard that could

make it more likely to cause harm?
make the consequences more serious?

What is it about the work situation (task, people, environment, etc.) that could

make the hazard more likely to cause harm?
make the consequences more serious?

The Risk Control Process

First: identify the hazards,

Then: assess the risks associated with the hazards,

Next: control the risks

eliminate the hazards altogether or

minimise the risk of harm from them

Then: review the situation to check whether

the control measures have really controlled the risks

any new hazards have been introduced

the whole system is working well to make the workplace safe.

Vital Ingredients in the Process

Consultation
Training
Information

Hazard and Risk Controls Must:

Work
Be appropriate and adequate (or suitable and sufficient) to control the hazard
Protect all workers
Be comfortable and acceptable to workers
Not create new hazards
Not transfer hazard to the community or other workers.

Ask The Question, "What If ?"

For example

What if we install a fan - what about noise?

What if we substitute - is the alternative really safe?

What if we redesign the workplace - what will be the OHS side effects?

What if we install ventilation - will it really remove all the contaminants?

What if we install a new machine - will it create new problems?

Controlling the risk means getting rid of the hazard altogether, or minimising the risk of harm from it - reducing the likelihood of harm and the consequences.

Hierarchy of Controls