OHS RISK MANAGEMENT

(Hazard identification, risk assessment, risk control & control review)

University of NewcastleENGINEERING STUDENTS

September 30, 2003

Doug Wakefield MSIA2276

13 10 50

workcover.nsw.gov.ausafemeasure.com.au

SafetyPlusRisk Management Services

Civilisation I

The Law:Empowers ALL parties to

recognise what is acceptable & what is unacceptable in

society

Civilisation II

The Law:Defines what is ‘in-bounds’

& what is ‘out-of-bounds’

Playin’ de Game...

Playin’ de Game...

Playin’ de Game...

Playin’ de Game...

Playin’ de Game...

Playin’ de Game...

Playin’ de Game...

How it all fits together:How it all fits together:

OHS Act 2000

OHS Regulation2001

Codes ofPractice

Australian andNational Standards

Injury Mgt Act

RISK MANAGEMENT

Integral part of good management practice

Repeat process consisting of sequential steps

Based upon continual improvement in decision-making

OHS Risk Management – OverviewWhat it’s all about?

Identify hazard(s)

Assess risk(s)

Control risk(s)

Re-evaluate

New processes

New substances

New plant

New knowledge

Changes to legislation

What’s the difference between a Hazard and a Risk?

What is a HAZARD?

What is a RISK?

A Hazard is ...

Clause 3 of the OHS Regulation 2001 defines a hazard as:

‘...anything (including work practices or procedures) that has the potential to

harm the health or safety of a person.’

A Risk is …

‘...anything (including work practices or

procedures) that is likely/probable/may or could harm the health or safety of a person.’

ASSESS

IDEN

TIFY

CONTROL

HAZARDS

Manage your hazards...

Employer to identify hazards

Clause 9 of the OHS Regulation 2001 states:

“… employers must take reasonable care to identify any foreseeable hazards to:

any employee of the employer any other person legally at the

employer’s place of work.”

What hazards must employer identify?

The work premises Work practices, work

systems & shift work arrangements

Plant Hazardous substances The presence of asbestos Manual handling Layout/condition of

workplace Biological organisms

Physical working environment including: Electrocution Drowning Fire/explosion People slipping, tripping

or falling Contact with moving/

stationary object Noise, heat, cold,

vibration, radiation, electricity, contaminated air, confined space

Workplace violence

Effective hazard identification procedures must be in place:

Immediately prior to using premises for the first time (as a place of work)

Before and during installation, erection, commissioning or alterations to plant

Before changes to work practices and systems of work are introduced

Before hazardous substances are introducedWhile work is being carried outWhen new/additional information is made

available from an authoritative source

Methods of Hazard Identification Part 1 - THE SENSES

& don’t forget:good, old fashioned

INTUITION!

Methods of Hazard IdentificationPart 2 - THE BRAIN

SYSTEMATIC Safety Audit Workplace Inspection Injury & Illness

Records Consultation Incident Management Health/Environmental

Monitoring

INCIDENTAL Complaints Observation

Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS)

Prepared by employer in consultation with employee

Basic SWMS:

ACTIVITY CONTROLHAZARD I/D & ASSESS

Additional pointsResponsibilitiesTraining & CertificationLegislation

WorkCover approvalsMaintenance checksSigned off by all

Employer to assess risks

Clause 10 of OHS Regulation 2001 states:

“… employers must assess the risk of harm to:

any employee of the employerany other person legally at the

employer’s place of work

Risk Assessment Factors

Multiple Factor HazardsLikelihood (exposure)Consequences (severity)Human Differences

OU

TCO

ME

LIK

ELIH

OO

D

FREQUENCY

ASSESS

Consider the risk...

Risk Assessment Tool(Hazpak Matrix)

WORKCOVERHAZPAKMATRIX 

 HOW LIKELY IS IT TO HAPPEN?

  

HOW BAD IS IT LIKELY TO BE?

Very likely: could happen at any time 

++

Likely: could happen some time  

+

Unlikely: could happen, but very rarely  

-

Very unlikely: could happen, but probably never will 

--

Kill or cause permanent disability or ill health

1 1 2 3

Long term illness or serious injury

1 2 3 4

Medical attention and several days off work

2 3 4 5

First aid needed

3 4 5 6

 

Employer to eliminate or control risks

Clause 11 of the OHS Regulation 2001 states:

employers must eliminate any reasonably foreseeable risk to the health or safety of: any employee of the employer any other person legally at the employer’s

place of work

If it is not reasonably practicable to ELIMINATE the risk, the employer MUST control the risk

Hierarchy of Hazard Control

1: Elimination

2: Substitution

3: Isolation/Ventilate

4: Mitigation

5: Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

EN

GIN

EE

RIN

GC

ON

TR

OL

SA

DM

IN.

CO

NT

RO

LS

Employer must ensure …

… all measures (including procedures & equipment) that

are adopted to eliminate or control risks to health &

safety are PROPERLY USED & MAINTAINED

Employer must review risk assessments & control measures...

… whenever:there is evidence that the risk

assessment is no longer validinjury or illness results from exposure to

a hazard to which the risk assessment relates

a significant change is proposed in the place of work or work practices to which the risk assessment relates

“The absence of accidents does not imply the presence of safety...”

“Safe workplaces don’t just happen… someone works to make them that way…”

Safety...