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1 AUSTRALIA CANADA USA UNITED KINGDOM SINGAPORE MALAYSIA Safetycare Australia Pty. Ltd. Telephone (03) Safetycare Inc. Telephone (905) Safetycare Inc. Telephone (800) Safetycare (UK) Limited. Telephone (020) SafetyMax Corp Pte. Ltd. Telephone SafetyMax Sdn Bhd Telephone (603) The information contained in this Facilitator s guide is distributed and sold as a guide and for informational purposes only. Safetycare makes no representation or warranty as to the compliance of this program with any and all applicable laws of the purchaser's jurisdiction. 2. Safetycare's liability for any damages to the purchaser or to any other party shall not exceed the amount paid by the purchaser for the guide. In no event shall Safetycare be responsible for any indirect or consequential damages or loss of profits, even if Safetycare has been advised of the possibility of such damage. Some provinces/states do not allow the limitations or exclusion of liability for incidental or consequential damages, so the above limitations or exclusions may not apply to the purchaser. 3. This Facilitator s Guide is supplied as part of a Safetycare subscription service. This guide is only to be used during a valid subscription period. Where a Safetycare subscription is not valid, this guide may not be used. Facilitator s Guide RISK ASSESSMENT FUNDAMENTALS Copyright - All Rights Reserved

2 Risk Assessment Fundamentals CONTENTS Introduction to the Facilitator s Guide 3 Introduction to the Video Program; Risk Assessment Fundamentals 4 Transcript of Video Program 5 Part 1 - Risk Assessment Introduction 12 Part 2 - Elements of a Risk Assessment 13 Part 3 - Identification of Hazards 14 Part 4 - Who can be harmed? 15 Part 5 - Evaluating the Risks 16 Assessment 17 Answers 20 2

3 INTRODUCTION TO THE FACILITATOR S GUIDE Risk Assessment Fundamentals The aim of this Facilitator s Guide, when used in conjunction with the Video program, is to provide the facilitator with discussion points important to the overall development of the program and to allow participants the opportunity of discussing the impact the program may have on current work practices and whether in fact changes may be required. The time allocated to the program will be determined by which areas are seen as important to each Organisation, the time taken to develop the points made in the program and whether other data specific to your own environment is included in addition to, or instead of, the program examples. EACH FACILITATOR SHOULD CAREFULLY READ THE GUIDE DISCUSSION NOTES SUGGESTED AND PREPARE THEIR OWN INPUT ACCORDINGLY. The program transcript is included to allow your Organisation to fully research the program content and develop specific examples critical to the performance of your own workforce. Where the Video program is made available to small or remote sections of your Organisation, some other examples or discussion points may be preferred to suit the needs of these people and if so, should be developed prior to distribution of the program. Maximum benefit will then be obtained by your people. All information included in the Facilitator s Guide may be copied and distributed with the exception of the transcript of the Video program. Any information which is copied or distributed must only be used internally by the Organisation that purchased the guide. SCREEN SHOT FROM THE VIDEO PROGRAM 3

4 INTRODUCTION TO THE VIDEO PROGRAM Duration: 18 minutes In simple terms a risk assessment requires the identification of workplace hazards and an evaluation of the risks they present. The purpose of an overall workplace risk assessment is to establish whether the level of risk arising from workplace activities is acceptable, or whether additional measures need to be taken to control workplace hazards to further reduce or remove unacceptable risks. The program includes the following Elements of a Risk Assessment: Identify all the hazards that are present Decide what are the possible consequences related to these hazards and who may be harmed. Evaluate the risks and decide whether the existing precautions are adequate or more needs to be done. Make a record of the findings, and Review and if necessary revise the assessment from time to time. Regardless of the hazards present, the proper application of the risk assessment process will result in a safer workplace. 4

5 TRANSCRIPT OF THE VIDEO PROGRAM Risk Assessment Fundamentals Copyright Safetycare. All rights reserved A risk assessment is an integral part of the management of health and safety in the workplace. In simple terms a risk assessment requires the identification of workplace hazards and an evaluation of the risks they present. It is therefore crucial to understand the difference between a hazard and a risk. A hazard is anything that has the potential to cause an accident, injury, illness or disease. A risk is the likelihood that a specific hazard will actually result in an accident, injury, illness or disease occurring. More simply, a hazard is the potential for an unplanned and unwanted event and a risk is the likelihood the event will occur. Many hazards which are generally seen as potentially very dangerous actually present a low level of risk in some situations. For instance, electricity is a potentially dangerous energy source, but, in an office environment is generally seen as safe. Conversely, many hazards that are sometimes considered insignificant often lead to accidents and injuries, the most common example being the hazards associated with manual handling tasks. The purpose of an overall workplace risk assessment is to establish whether the level of risk arising from workplace activities is acceptable, or whether additional measures need to be taken to control workplace hazards and further reduce or remove unacceptable risks. Elements of a Risk Assessment To conduct a risk assessment of the workplace, certain steps should be followed 1. Identify all the hazards that are present 2. Decide what are the possible consequences related to these hazards, and who may be harmed. 3. Evaluate the risks and decide whether the existing precautions are adequate, or more needs to be done. 4. Make a record of the findings, and 5. Review and, if necessary, revise the assessment from time to time. 5

6 Identification of hazards Hazard identification is the key to a successful risk assessment. All workplace hazards must be identified. A hazard that is not identified will not be assessed, and could result in unacceptable risks remaining in the workplace. In many cases hazards are easily identified: Untidy work areas Inappropriate or damaged tools Blind corners Slippery floors and so on, are all fairly obvious. Other hazards, however, can be more difficult to identify. An example of this might be establishing the presence of a dangerous fume from a production process. Likewise, the potential for a pipe bursting or a chemical spill occurring are not easily predicted. In these less obvious situations, in order to be able to identify the presence of hazards we may need to know some of the following: Information about the chemistry and especially the toxicity of raw materials, products and by-products Technological information about a process An understanding of the effects of direct contact with specific hazardous substances, and An understanding of the possible routes of entry into the body of specific hazardous substances, and the possible resultant health effects. The identification process is often reliant to a large extent on the knowledge and experience of people in the workplace but it can also be aided by reference to such things as: Relevant legislation Approved codes of practice Established industry practices and procedures Manufacturers and suppliers product information Safety data sheets And statistics from previous accidents and injuries. All of these can indicate the possible existence of workplace hazards. Who can be harmed? Once the process of identifying all the hazards is complete, it is important to consider who may be harmed. Or in other words, who would or could be harmed if accidents actually occurred. 6

7 The possible consequences of all the hazards should be considered when deciding on who may be at risk. Clearly, individuals directly involved with any activity that has been deemed hazardous are at some degree of risk, and others in the vicinity of the activity could also be at risk. People walking through a work area, cleaning and maintenance personnel, sub-contractors and even, in some cases, the general public can all be exposed to workplace hazards that could put their health and safety at risk. Evaluating the risks Every hazard that was identified in the first step of the risk assessment process now needs to be carefully considered, and all the risks associated with each of these hazards must be properly evaluated. Decisions must be made as to whether or not the risks arising from these hazards are within acceptable limits. In many cases the evaluation can be made based on the knowledge and experience of the people on site. Evaluations can also be made based on industry standards, relevant regulations, established safe work procedures and source materials such as Safety Data Sheets. In certain situations scientific measurements may be necessary to evaluate the extent of the risk. For example, testing for noise levels, or atmospheric testing to detect the presence of hazardous airborne contaminants. Outside experts may also be required to make the necessary evaluation in some situations. Risks that are considered low or insignificant do not require any further action to be taken. Other risks, that are deemed to be adequately controlled by existing precautions, likewise will require no further action. However, when the evaluation process indicates a need to control the hazard to reduce the risk, or when the existing precautions are considered insufficient to reduce the risk to an acceptable level, a control strategy should be adopted. This strategy will require the implementation of a control measure or a combination of a number of control measures. 7

8 The ultimate control measure is the complete elimination or removal of the item, substance, process or activity that is regarded as hazardous. Examples of elimination include such things as: Removing sharp edges from plant, equipment and machinery Using good housekeeping practices to remove protrusion hazards Replacing a manual handling task by using a mechanical lifting device, and Having a supplier handle a particular process or activity that they may be better equipped to safely perform. Obviously there are numerous other examples, but clearly not all hazards can be eliminated. The next best option is to employ substitution. We can do this by asking the question: Can we substitute an item, process, chemical or activity for a less hazardous one? For example: Can we have a toxic substance supplied in a different form that will be less hazardous? For instance, replace a liquid with a powder, or a powder with granules. Or, can we have a toxic substance supplied at a lower concentration and still effectively perform the task? Can we reduce the handling of a load by having it delivered to a different location? Can we divide a load to make it easier to handle? Or, can we reduce the level of airborne contaminants, for example by replacing a spraying process with a dipping process? Tackling hazards by employing elimination or substitution measures can often be very effective, and frequently at little or no added expense. Unfortunately, elimination and substitution are only practical and fully effective in dealing with some hazardous situations. To deal with many hazards we must employ engineering and/or administrative control measures. Engineering controls are many and varied. Some common examples include: The general design of the workplace, plant and equipment The installation of additional lighting to provide adequate illumination, and 8

9 The use of automation and mechanical devices. There are, however, three groups of engineering control measures that are frequently used, and they are: Isolation Containment, and Limitation. Safe welding practice is an example of one type of isolation control. Hazardous light emissions and sparks are isolated through the use of screens. The storage of chemicals is another example, where, for example, oxidizers and flammable chemicals are stored in separate locations. Isolation also involves enclosure, which is often used for the control of noise levels. By enclosing either the hazard or the operator we can effectively isolate the person from the noise. Further examples of the isolation principle include the installation of machine guards, interlocks and warning devices. The containment principle is well illustrated by the use of a local exhaust system. Here we are effectively removing a source of contaminants before they can enter the atmosphere. In other words, we are containing the hazard at its source. The use of the technique best described as limitation is the last of the major engineering control groups. Here, the purpose is to limit the effect of the potential hazard to reduce the risk of injury or damage. For example, to limit a system's pressure build up, a safety pressure valve may be installed. Likewise, the potential of an electrical hazard may be reduced by using batteries instead of normal mains power supply. Or, the potential for a spill may be limited by the installation of an overflow system. Administrative controls involve laying down policies and managing workplace practices and procedures. Examples include: 9

10 Establishing procedures for the on-going maintenance of plant and equipment Monitoring of contaminant levels The placement of warning signs and symbols Organising hazardous operations to occur when relatively small numbers of people are present, commonly between shifts or after normal working hours, and The rotation of people to reduce individuals' exposure to a particular hazard. These are all examples of administrative controls that can contribute significantly to hazard control and risk management. The use of personal protective equipment is the final option available for controlling hazards and hence reducing risk levels. As a control measure, it is recommended only when all other options are either unsatisfactory or not practical. It is however important not to confuse the role of personal protective equipment as a control measure with its more widespread and important role as an additional safeguard, or a last line of defence, should an accident occur. There are, however, two situations where the use of personal protective equipment is vital in risk reduction. First, when carrying out operations such as welding, spraying or working in confined spaces, where the wearing of personal protective equipment is an established requirement, and Second, in emergencies OR when conducting investigations where the levels or even the existence of hazards are unknown. Once all of the risks have been evaluated, and any necessary additional precautions or control measures have been decided upon, it is important to do three more things. Record the findings and inform everyone of the results Implement the necessary improvements, and Review and whenever necessary modify the assessment. All significant hazards that have been identified, groups of people who may be affected, existing control measures that are in place and other precautions that need to be implemented should be documented. Everyone who may be affected should be informed of the findings of the risk assessment. As most risk assessments result in recommendations for improvements to better control various hazards, it is important that these control measures are implemented. 10

11 In practical terms this is best achieved by prioritising the risks that have been identified, tackling the most significant ones first and then working through the remainder over a given time frame. The completed workplace risk assessment should be reviewed regularly. This review process should take into account: The introduction of any new substances Any changes to existing procedures, and The installation of any new equipment or machinery. And it should also confirm that all existing precautions are still effective. The identification of hazards, the evaluation of their associated risks and the implementation of appropriate precautions or control measures are fundamental concepts of workplace safety that should be understood by everybody. Regardless of the hazards present, be they physical, chemical, biological or environmental, the proper application of the risk assessment process will result in a safer workplace. 11

12 PART ONE RISK ASSESSMENT INTRODUCTION A risk assessment is an integral part of the management of health and safety in the workplace. In simple terms a risk assessment requires the identification of workplace hazards and an evaluation of the risks they present. It is therefore crucial to understand the difference between a hazard and a risk. A hazard is anything that has the potential to cause an accident, injury, illness or disease. A risk is the likelihood that a specific hazard will actually result in an accident, injury, illness or disease occurring. More simply, a hazard is the potential for an unplanned and unwanted event and a risk is the likelihood the event will occur. Many hazards which are generally seen as potentially very dangerous actually present a low level of risk in some situations. For instance, electricity is a potentially dangerous energy source, but, in an office environment is generally seen as safe. Conversely, many hazards that are sometimes considered insignificant often lead to accidents and injuries, the most common example being the hazards associated with manual handling tasks. The purpose of an overall workplace risk assessment is to establish whether the level of risk arising from workplace activities is acceptable, or whether additional measures need to be taken to control workplace hazards and further reduce or remove unacceptable risks. DISCUSSION Discuss the difference between a hazard and a risk using a task or activity found in your workplace as an example. 12

13 PART TWO ELEMENTS OF A RISK ASSESSMENT To conduct a risk assessment of the workplace, certain steps should be followed 1. Identify all the hazards that are present 2. Decide what are the possible consequences related to these hazards, and who may be harmed. 3. Evaluate the risks and decide whether the existing precautions are adequate, or more needs to be done. 4. Make a record of the findings, and 5. Review and, if necessary, revise the assessment from time to time. DISCUSSION Together as a group, go through the steps of a risk assessment using a task or process in your workplace as an example. 13

14 PART THREE IDENTIFICATION OF HAZARDS Hazard identification is the key to a successful risk assessment. All workplace hazards must be identified. A hazard that is not identified will not be assessed, and could result in unacceptable risks remaining in the workplace. In many cases hazards are easily identified: Untidy work areas Inappropriate or damaged tools Blind corners Slippery floors and so on, are all fairly obvious. Other hazards, however, can be more difficult to identify. In these less obvious situations, in order to be able to identify the presence of hazards we may need to know some of the following: Information about raw materials, products and by-products Technological information about a process An understanding of the effects of direct contact with specific hazardous substances, and An understanding of the possible routes of entry into the body of specific hazardous substances. The identification process is often reliant to a large extent on the knowledge and experience of people in the workplace but it can also be aided by reference to such things as: Relevant legislation Approved codes of practice Established industry practices and procedures Manufacturers and suppliers product information Safety data sheets And statistics from previous accidents and injuries. DISCUSSION Are there any hazards in your workplace that are particularly common compared to other workplaces? 14

15 PART FOUR WHO CAN BE HARMED? Once the process of identifying all the hazards is complete, it is important to consider who may be harmed. Or in other words, who would or could be harmed if accidents actually occurred. The possible consequences of all the hazards should be considered when deciding on who may be at risk. Clearly, individuals directly involved with any activity that has been deemed hazardous are at some degree of risk, and others in the vicinity of the activity could also be at risk. People walking through a work area, cleaning and maintenance personnel, sub-contractors and even, in some cases, the general public can all be exposed to workplace hazards that could put their health and safety at risk. DISCUSSION What hazards exist in your workplace that may put contractors or the general public at risk? 15

16 PART FIVE EVALUATING THE RISKS Every hazard that was identified in the first step of the risk assessment process now needs to be carefully considered, and all the risks associated with each of these hazards must be properly evaluated. Decisions must be made as to whether or not the risks arising from these hazards are within acceptable limits. In many cases the evaluation can be made based on the knowledge and experience of the people on site. Evaluations can also be made based on industry standards, relevant regulations, established safe work procedures and source materials such as Safety Data Sheets. In certain situations scientific measurements may be necessary to evaluate the extent of the risk. For example, testing for noise levels, or atmospheric testing to detect the presence of hazardous airborne contaminants. Outside experts may also be required to make the necessary evaluation in some situations. Risks that are considered low or insignificant do not require any further action to be taken. Other risks, that are deemed to be adequately controlled by existing precautions, likewise will require no further action. However, when the evaluation process indicates a need to control the hazard to reduce the risk, or when the existing precautions are considered insufficient to reduce the risk to an acceptable level, a control strategy should be adopted. DISCUSSION Where are the Safety Data Sheets located in your workplace? 16

17 ASSESSMENT RISK ASSESSMENT FUNDAMENTALS Name: Date:. I.D. (if applicable): Score 1. A is anything that has the potential to cause an accident, injury, illness or disease. a) Hazard b) Risk c) Policy d) Accident 2. A is the likelihood that a specific hazard will actually result in an accident, injury, illness or disease occurring. a) Hazard b) Fine c) Risk d) Audit 3. What is the first step of a successful Risk Assessment? a) Evaluate all the risks b) Decide the possible consequences of hazards present c) Identify all the hazards d) Write a report 17

18 4. Which of these are examples of obvious hazards? a) Untidy work areas b) Blind corners c) Slippery floors d) All of these answers 5. The identification of hazards can be aided by reference to Safety Data a) Cones b) Sheets c) Machines d) Bases 6. Risk Assessment evaluations can be based on a) Industry standards b) Regulations c) Established safe work procedures d) All of these answers 7. The ultimate control measure is. a) Elimination b) PPE c) Substitution d) Administrative Controls 8. Which of these is an example of the elimination control measure? a) Putting more money into workplace safety b) Replacing a manual handling task by using a mechanical lifting device c) Wearing PPE d) All of the above 18

19 9. Which of these is not an example of an administrative control? a) Monitoring of contaminant levels b) The placement of warning signs and symbols c) Establishing procedures for the maintenance of plant and equipment d) Plumbing 10. In evaluating any hazard, we must first ask: is the risk, and do we need to control it? a) Acceptable b) Risky c) Objective d) Airborne 19

20 ANSWERS TO ASSESSMENT 1. A) Hazard 2. C) Risk 3. C) Identify all the hazards 4. D) All of these answers 5. B) Sheets 6. D) All of these answers 7. A) Elimination 8. B) Replacing a manual handling task by using a mechanical lifting device 9. D) Plumbing 10. A) Acceptable 20