Industrial Hazards Management:

Risk Assessment and

Risk Management

Share By, Md. Niamul Islam

niamul.islam96@gmail.com+88 01736786699

 

Risk is the chance or probability that a person will be harmed or experience an adverse health effect if exposed to a hazard. It may also apply to situations with property or equipment loss.

Risk: the probability of suffering injury, disease, death, or some loss as a result of exposure to a hazard

Risks are expressed as a probability or likelihood of developing a disease or getting injured, whereas hazards refer to the possible consequences

Risk

Factors that influence the degree of risk include:• how much a person is exposed to a hazardous thing or

condition,

• how the person is exposed (e.g., breathing in a vapour, skin contact), and

• how severe are the effects under the conditions of exposure.• a measure of threat to humans (typically) posed by a hazard

Risk=

Risk….

Hazard x Exposure x Vulnerability

Capacity or Resilience

________________________________________

Risk….

• Probability- a quantitative description of the likelihood of a certain outcome

• Vulnerability- a measure of the inability of individuals or groups to cope with a hazard/disaster

• Resiliency- a measure of the ability to recover from stressful (hazard) experience capacity to absorb and “return to normal”

• Harmful outcome could be defined as injury, death, environmental damage, economic loss, etc.

• Acceptable risk is a risk that has been reduced to a level that can be tolerated by the organization having regard to its legal obligations and its own OSH policy.

Risk Assessment

• Risk assessment is the process of evaluation of the risks arising from a hazard, taking into account the adequacy of any existing controls and deciding whether or not the risks is acceptable

• Risk assessment is the process or method to risk analysis (identify, characterize) and evaluate the likelihood and severity of adverse effects on workers’ health and to put different risks into priority order.

Risk Analysis

The risk analysis activities involve: • Identification of hazards present in the workplace and

work environment;

• Identification of hazards discovered in previous risk management;

• Identification of potential consequences of the recognized hazards – risks, i.e. the potential causes of injury to workers, a work accident, an occupational disease or a work related disease.

   A logical, objective and quantitative approach to analyzing and interpreting data with the purpose of predicting potential adverse effects.

A formal way to calculate risk so that informed decisions can be made.

Measuring risk is scientific. Judging the acceptability of risk is a value judgment.

. Several methods to perform risk assessment are available ranging from expert to participatory methodologies and from simple to complex methods.

What is a Risk Assessment?

• Risk assessment involves evaluating, ranking, and classifying risks.

• Risk assessment Includes: - identification of hazards,

- analysis, - evaluation of the risk associated with that hazard, and- determine appropriate ways to control, and - avoidance, - minimization, or - elimination of unacceptable risks.

What is a Risk Assessment?

Four Steps to Risk Assessment

• Hazard Identification• Dose-Response Assessment• Exposure Assessment• Risk Characterization

Risk Assessment…

Risk Assessment Framework

ManagemenT

Why Risk Assessment is Performed

Reasons for Performing Risk assessment:• Identifying sources of risks• Assessing the severity and extent of adverse effects• Identifying workers at risk• Creating awareness about risks

• Under taking measures against the risk• Targeting preventive, management and control measures• Putting various risks into perspective and priority ranking

• If the conditions of work are substantially changed, e.g. new machinery, technology, substances or working methods are introduced.

Workplace Risk Assessment Process

Assessment of risks at the workplace requires • good knowledge of the industry

• knowledge of the working processes and working methods,

• knowledge of the typical hazards and risks associated with the sector or industry and

• good knowledge regarding the people whose risks are assessed

Steps of Risk Assessment Process

A risk assessment process includes several steps,

such as-

1) risk identification,

2) identification of exposed workers,

3) characterization of risk,

4) assessment of intensity, severity and extent of consequences, and

5) recognition of especially high-risk activities and vulnerable groups or individuals

Risk Identification involves following process

1) Collect as much information regarding the hazards at the workplace

2) Perform a systematic survey in the workplace

3) Interview the managers, supervisors and workers regarding possible hazards and their control and prevention

4) Use data from surveillance of workers’ health or any other previous record

5) Characterize the risk

6) Evaluate the overall risks

Workplace Risk Assessment Process…

1) Collect as much information regarding the hazards at the workplace

• Typical hazards of the sector/workplace • Data on illnesses and accidents in the past• Material safety data sheets and earlier accident

investigations and audits• Interviews of managers, workers' and employer's safety

representatives, foremen and supervisors, authorities and experts

• Possible hygienic measurements• Information from authorities, external services and

neighborhood

Workplace Risk Assessment Process…

2) Perform a systematic survey in the workplace• Walkthrough visit of the workplace and observe the

whole production and work process. This should be done by OSH experts, together with workers’

representatives, safety representatives, and/ or OSH inspector.

• Observe the core production processes and also the work and activities of support services and other people

• Identify the sources of hazards, hazardous processes, work practices, accident risks, physical hazards, use of chemical substances, and hazards of the work

environment. • Identify the tasks and workers at the highest risks,

vulnerable groups and their conditions of work.

Workplace Risk Assessment Process…

3) Interview the managers, supervisors and workers 3) regarding possible hazards-

• nature of work, work processes, work tools and the associated hazards and risks.

• important health information, and • information on incidents and near-events which are

not registered anywhere.

Make appropriate documentation on the basis of provided information, competence, experience and observations.

Risk Assessment Process…

4) Use data from surveillance of workers’ health or any other previous record

• Within protection of confidentiality of individual health data, or may summarize the information at group level

• utilize the results of workers’ health surveillance. • make use of information obtained from health interviews

and health examinations of workers.• combine such health outcome data with the data on work

environment and • use such information for risk characterization.

Workplace Risk Assessment Process…

5) Characterize the risk• Identify the typical health effects associated with the

specific hazardous exposures. • Observe the sources of hazardous exposures based on the

knowledge on the typical exposures.• Systematically check all the main hazard types; physical,

chemical, thermal, ergonomic, electrical, mechanical, biological, social, physiological, psychological, etc.

• Compare observations with the knowledge in the records of previous assessments, if available.

• Identify the likely health effects which may occur in the workers under assessment.

Characterize Risk

Characterize the risk……

The result of risk characterization is the conclusion on

- type,

- intensity and

- severity of the adverse effects of workplace exposures and conditions,

- in view of injuries, diseases,

- states of overload or psychological burdens.

Characterize Risk…

6) Evaluate the overall risks• Compare the risk assessment results with the standards • Compare the data with typical findings in the same

section. • If section data are not available, compare with other

workplaces having information. • Consider the views of workers, their representatives, and

employers.• Analyse the possible impact of multiple and combined

exposures. • Also consider the risks of supporting activities, such as

cleaning and internal transportation and possible casual, temporary and other irregular worker

Evaluate Risk

Evaluate the overall risks…

• Identify the most important risks in terms of threats to the health, safety and work ability of workers and for smooth conduct of workplace operations and production.

• Combine data and information from all sources, workplace surveillance, workers’ health surveillance, interviews of workplace representatives, interviews of individual workers at risk and

• consult data from accident and disease records,

• provides an overall evaluation of risk,

- by identifying the priority risk sources,

- activities and

- workers at the highest risks.

The nature and type of risk should be described in detail so that it can be used as a basis for risk management and a control plan of the workplace.

Risk Evaluation Process• Risk evaluation involves the determination of a

quantitative or qualitative value for the risk. • Quantitative risk evaluation requires calculations of

the two components of the risk: the probability that the risk will occur, and the severity of the potential consequences.

This approach is seldom applied in practice. • Qualitative risk evaluation is more common and

usually adopts a methodology based on a matrix, for instance the matrix proposed in British Standard 8800. It is a simple method for estimating risks.

• Risks are estimated according to their likelihood and potential severity of harm, combining the severity and likelihood categories, as shown on table 1.

Risk Evaluation Process…• According to British Standard organizations should adjust

the design and size of the matrix to suit their needs. A simple risk estimator:

Risk management

• Risk management is the identification, assessment, and prioritization of risks followed by coordinated and economical application of resources to minimize, monitor, and control the probability and/or impact of unfortunate events or to maximize the realization of opportunities.

Risk management…• Risk management is a systematic process that includes the

examination of all characteristics of the work system where the worker operates, namely, the workplace, the equipment/ machines, materials, work methods/practices and work environment.

• It is important to know where the risks are in the organizations and control them to avoid putting in risk employees, customers and the organization itself.

• The main goal of risk management is to eliminate or at least to reduce the risks according to the ALARP (as low as reasonably practicable) principle.

• A key aspect in risk management is that it should be carried out with an active participation/involvement of the entire workforce.

Risk management Framework

The risk management priority vary widely and depends on the type of workplace activity, degree of mechanization and working section. For risk management the priority hazards are related to

– unprotected machine parts– falling from height

– slippery ground or fl oor, – cutting with sharp items,– unprotected circular saw blades, – exposure to high concentrations of highly toxic gases,

vapours, fumes, inorganic toxic metal, dusts or organic dusts, highly toxic pesticides,

– risks of fire and explosion, electrical shock,

– moving and lifting heavy loads, – repetitive movements at a high pace, – violence by customers or clients, etc.

Risk Management Priority

Risk management process includes several steps,

such as-• assessment of possibilities for management and control,

• recommendations for actions, • the implementation of actions for management and

control, • evaluation of effectiveness, and • the impact of management and control measures

Risk Management Process

Risk Management Process

• The employer and workers’ safety representative will undertake actions for risk management

• The persons assessing risks must inform of these risks and the needs and methods for risk management.

• Systematically document the results of risk assessment, the information and advice given, the actions proposed, and implementation of the actions

• After an appropriate period (a few months or a year) the impact of risk management actions should be evaluated, necessary corrections proposed, and advice on corrective actions given.

• Regular reassessment should be carried out, with an interval of no more than one year

Actions for risk management in workplace

Risk assessment provides information on the needs for actions of risk management and control and it is the responsibility of the employer to ensure that such actions are taken. Examples for risk management actions include -

1)total removal of hazards by better workplace design, modern technology or substitution of materials

2)minimizing risks by engineering controls at source or by building up protective structures

3)control technology for ventilation, exhaustion, air replacement, encapsulation, or safety gadgets

Actions for risk management in workplace …

4) safer working practices by using low-impact technologies such as

wet drilling,

enhanced cleanliness of the workplace, and

improved order of the workplace etc.

5) use of personal protective equipment, such as

respirators,

dust

masks,

goggles,

ear muffs etc.

Actions for risk management in workplace …

The capacity of the workplace for risk management may vary widely.

• Some workplaces may be relatively self-sufficient; some others need a great deal of external advice and support.

• The best indicator of the workplace’s capacity is the current safety and health situation

• Main cause of low capacity is the poor awareness of management and workers, rather than a lack of resources. However, economic constrain is often regarded as an obstacle for risk management.

• A short-term investment in risk management is likely to produce long-term benefits in view of health & productivity.

Evaluating risk management capacity

Risk Control• Risk control is the stage where the actions to identify and

implement safety measures to control risks are performed having in mind the protection of workers’ health and safety, as well as their monitoring over time.

• Risk control includes design, planning and implementing of safety control measures, as well as training and workers information

• The safety measures implemented should be the ones that best protect everyone exposed to the risk.

• Additional or different safety measures may be required to protect workers belonging to special groups, namely workers with special needs (such as pregnant women, young workers, aging workers and workers with disabilities) and maintenance workers, cleaners, contractors and visitors.

• Consider the number of individuals exposed to the risk when setting priorities and time-scales to the implementation of safety control measures.

Risk - Control Hierarchy• Avoid the risk –this is ideal, but not always attainable.• Replace the dangerous with the less dangerous –for example,

replace hazardous materials with safer alternatives.• Prioritize the risk–focus attention on the greater risks,

including those where the public is involved. • Control hazards at their source -deal with the hazard directly,

do not use a secondary control; for example, control noise by repairing or maintaining the machine, not by using hearing protectors.

• Adapt work to individuals’ abilities–for example, use stronger people for tasks demanding strength.

• Upgrade work equipment as technology improves–newer equipment may be marked to show that it meets tougher safety standards.

• Implement a coherent control policy – ensure that the specific risk control does not cause a disproportionate problem elsewhere; for example, do not solve the problem of a noisy machine by relocating it.

• Ensure that collective measures have priority over individual measures– for example, it is better to provide a safety roof rather than to rely on individual measures such as hard hats.

• Inform, instruct, train, and supervise the workforce.• Provide Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

Although PPE is often essential, all the higher level controls should be considered first before using PPE as the alternative to solve a problem. Appropriate PPE (for example, overalls, safety boots, gloves, and hard hats) should be required even in the safest environments.

Risk - Control Hierarchy…

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