OHS Risk Management - Overview

1. OHS Risk Management - Overview • Risk management is a system that allows workplaces to identify OHS issues and to methodically control them by the best means possible. Risk management is iterative.

2. Hazard ·  anything (including work practices and procedures) that has the potential to harm the health and safety of a person (OHS Regulations 2001) ·  a source of potential harm (AS/NZS 4360:2004)

3. Hazard Identification • The process of recognising that a hazard exists and defining its characteristics

4. Hazard Identification Analysing the work environment to identify hazards: ·  Sourcing a tool (eg HAZPAK) ·  Examining task demands and task environment for impact on personnel to identify situations with a potential for injury or ill health

5. Hazard Identification • Examine workforce structure, organisation of work and work relationships to identify situations with a potential for injury or ill health • Examine work environment for agents with a potential for injury or ill health

6. Hazard Identification • Under legislation hazard identification is required: • immediately prior to using premises for the first time as a place of work, and • before and during the installation, erection, commissioning or alteration of plant in a place of work, and • before changes to work practices and systems of work are introduced, and • before hazardous substances are introduced into a place of work, and • while work is being carried out, and • when new or additional information from an authoritative source relevant to the health or safety of the employees of the employer becomes available • Ref: Regulations Clause 9 (3) • What procedures do you have in place to ensure this happens?

7. Risk ·   anything (including work practices or procedures) that is likely/probably/may or could harm the health and safety of a person · the chance of something happening that will have an impact on objectives • risk is measured in terms of a combination of the consequences of an event (how bad is it likely to be) and the likelihood of it happening (see HAZPAK matrix).

8. Risk Analysis ·  The process of determining the level of risk created by the hazard ·  Systematic process to understand the nature of and to deduce the level of risk (AS/NZS 4360:2004)

9. Risk Assessment • Overall process of risk identification, risk analysis and risk evaluation (AS/NZS 4360:2004)

10. Elimination/Control of Risk Where the risk cannot be eliminated (that is, the hazard cannot be removed), the legislation defines the specified order of controls: a)   substitute the hazard for one that gives rise to lesser risk (a less hazardous chemical) b)  isolate the hazard from the person at risk (install a shield) c)  minimise the risk by engineering means (fail safe switches) d)  minimise risk by administrative means (safe working practices) e)  Personal protective equipment (gloves, goggles) • A combination of controls should be used if it will further reduce risk.

11. Monitor and Review • How do we ensure that controls are put into place? • How do we maintain hazard identification and risk control processes?