European Month of Ergonomics 2008 Risk Assessment and Ergonomics

1. European Month of Ergonomics • 2008 • Risk Assessment and Ergonomics FEES disseminate information for Healthy Workplaces - Good for you. Good for business. - A European campaign on Risk Assessment http://osha.europa.eu/en/campaigns/hw2008/

2. Are You Ready to Act? • Every three-and-a-half minutes, somebody in the EU dies from work-related causes. • Every four-and-a-half seconds, a worker in the EU is involved in an accident that forces him/her to stay at home for at least three working days. You Can Do Something - Time to Risk Assessment! Source: http://osha.europa.eu/en/campaigns/hw2008/why/index_html

3. Risk Assessment in occupational health and safety is a process of evaluation to estimate the risk that can be caused by a hazard at work for the health or safety of the employees • Risk = Probability x Consequences

4. SEVERITY LIKELIHOOD SLIGHT HARM MODERATE HARM EXTREME HARM UNLIKELY TRIVIAL RISK TOLERABLE RISK MODERATE RISK POSSIBLE TOLERABLE RISK MODERATE RISK SUBSTANTIAL RISK PROBABLE MODERATE RISK SUBSTANTIAL RISK INTOLERABLE RISK CHARACTERISTICS OF A PERSON CIRCUMSTANCES HAZARDS PROBABLE UNWANTED EVENTS

5. Risk assessment is to find out the hazards, • to evaluate the probability of an unwanted event • and the severity of the harm that such an event • could cause for a person.

6. Phases of Risk Assessment Plan the assessment process Identify the hazards Determine seriousness Follow up and feed back Consequences Probability Determine tolerability Select the action plan and implementation

7. Ergonomics in Risk Assessment THE DEMANDS CAUSED BY MANAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP PRACTICES, WORK METHODS AND EQUIPMENT, PRACTICES OF THE WORKING GROUP AND WORK ENVIRONMENT WORKERS PROFESSIONAL SKILLS, MOTIVATION, AND INDIVIDUAL CHARACTERISTICS ERGONOMICS Balance produces health, safety, quality and productivity

8. Expertise Area of Ergonomics • The work environment is examined from several points of view simultaneously: work environment and circumstances, usability of the equipment, work organization, share of work, leadership and management, co-operation and communication. • Solutions, that respect human characteristics – opportunities and constraints – and that utilize human capability comprehensively, can stimulate the worker to improve continuously her or his own work and can be identified through ergonomics.

9. Challenges for Risk Assessment • Willingness to recognize dangers and be aware of the events dangerous/harmful for health and safety • Capability to evaluate the events at workplaces, at work that is done in clients’ homes and at own home and in leisure time activities. • Combine the workers’ knowledge and external expertise of the hazards in the best possible way. • The principles of safety management are included. Risk assessment is a part of safety and quality management system. • Risk assessments in transformation situations and in unusual conditions require a versatile point of view and expertise.

10. Professional ergonomist • Combines different points of view • Interprets pre-indicators and is able to anticipate and act before problems arise • The best results can be reached by appropriate timing of risk • assessments - in the planning and design phases. • Ergonomics risk assessment processes cover the whole • activity chain and represent sustainable progress and development.

11. Good practices for co-operation • Analyse – many methods are available • Use discussion groups – encourage more information and useful solutions • Use available information and knowledge – at least basic information on safety and health situations are needed • Teach and use practical demonstrations – people gain a better understanding for the usability of the results • Publish and market ergonomics solutions – workplaces get information of services and other specialists acquire a better understanding of the area of ergonomics