Workplace Risk Management Essay: Identifying Hazards, Assessing Risks, And Controlling Hazards.

Section 1: identify hazards

Q1: What does the law say about your responsibility to manage workplace risks?

Q2: List five situations when you should assess safety hazards and conduct risk assessments.

Q3: List three examples of hazard identification and risk assessment tools or templates you can use.

Q4: List four methods you can use to identify actual or foreseeable hazards that have the potential to harm the health and safety of workers or anyone else in the workplace.

Q5: What should you do if you’re new to a work area and uncertain about the type of hazards to look out for?

Q6: List three people you can consult in the hazard identification.

Q7: Why is consultation with others important at each stage of the hazard identification and risk assessment process?

Q8: What does the law require in relation to health and safety representatives (HSR)?

Q9: List three potential hazards that relate to working practices

Q10: List three potential hazards that relate to the physical environment.

Q11: List two reasons why it’s important to keep records of hazards.

Q12: What is a risk?

Q13: What is the four-step risk management process recommended by state/territory WHS authorities?

Q14: List two situations when it’s recommended to undertake a risk assessment?

Q15: Other than health and safety representatives (HSRs) and the health and safety committee (HSC), who can you consult for assistance in assessing risks?

Q16: A template for simply recording a list of hazards and risks is not a complete risk assessment document. What other information is required to make it an effective assessment tool?

Q17: Outline the steps you would take following a systematic method of risk assessment.

Q18: Outline the three steps to follow to determine the type and level of risk posed by a hazard.

Q19: You’ve conducted a risk assessment and identified a risk that’s likely to result in a major injury. What must you do?

Q20: What is ‘risk control’?

Q21: List three types of risk assessment records or supporting information you should keep on file.

Q22: List two reasons why it’s important to keep records of risk assessments.

Q23: Outline the hierarchy of risk control from most effective to least effective.

Q24: You notice customers are regularly slipping on the stairs leading to the establishment’s entrance. Your manager says they can’t get rid of the stairs, and using an alternative entry is not an option. What would you suggest as the best alternative following the recommended hierarchy of risk control?

Q25: List two questions you might ask yourself when deciding which control measure to recommend.

Q26: List two benefits of consulting staff before implementing any changes.

Q27: The WHS Act requires every workplace to take a systematic approach to WHS consultation in certain situations. List three situations when consultation is required.

Q28: What measures can you take to eliminate or control risks where the suggested action falls outside your level of authority or experience?

Q1: What does the law say about your responsibility to manage workplace risks?

The Work Health and Safety Act 2011 and Regulations require the persons who are obligated to ensure the health and safety of the workplace minimises all the safety and health related risks as far as it is practicable.

The persons responsible for ensuring the workplace safety must follow the four steps to eliminate any such workplace risks.

Firstly, he must identify the risks;

Secondly, the risks must be assessed;

Thirdly, the most effective control measure must be implemented.

Lastly, the control measures must be reviewed regularly.

Q2: List five situations when you should assess safety hazards and conduct risk assessments.

1. When any person starts a new business;
2. If there is any change in the work practices or change in the work procedures;
3. If any new information about the workplace risks comes to the knowledge;
4. While responding to any reported workplace;
5. While responding to concerns that are raised by the health and safety representatives, workers and other persons at workplace.

Q3: List three examples of hazard identification and risk assessment tools or templates you can use.

The hazards in the workplace can be found in situations and things that may cause harm to the people at workplace. Workplace hazards may arise from physical work environment, equipments, substances and materials used at workplace.

From the type of machineries and equipments used in the workplace, risk may arise if any person is hit by the machineries or get caught by the moving parts of the equipments. It may result in fractures or severe injuries to any person.   The management must inspect the workplace, consult the workers and review the available information about workplace related hazards.

The risk assessment tools used for assessing any such workplace related hazards shall include the following considerations.  Firstly, the severity of the risk must be assessed;

Secondly, to assess whether there are any risk control measure available to reduce or eliminate the risks;

Thirdly, to ensure how quickly any such control measure may be implemented to curtail such hazards.

Q4: List four methods you can use to identify actual or foreseeable hazards that have the potential to harm the health and safety of workers or anyone else in the workplace.

1. Assessment of the workplace- the workplace must be regularly inspected by thoroughly observing the work and its procedure as it enables to foresee what could be done to avoid any unwanted workplace hazards.
2. Consultation with the workers- the workers of the organisation may be consulted to know whether they have faced any workplace hazards while performing their work. Worker surveys may be conducted to know if they have faced any workplace bullying and muscular pains which may indicate potential hazards.
3. Review available information – advises and information with respect to workplace hazards may be obtained from industry associations, unions, safety consultants and technical specialists.
4. Monitoring workplace health and safety- the management must conduct regular supervision of the workplace health and safety tools, workplace incidents, results of any investigations or inspections as it would enable them to identify the potential hazards of the workplace.

Q5: What should you do if you’re new to a work area and uncertain about the type of hazards to look out for?

If any person is new to the work area, he/she must ask the superiors to provide him/her with the workplace health and safety compliance reports.

The new person may discuss with the workers at workplace about the existing rules of the workplace.

The industry associations, unions, safety consultants may provide additional information about the workplace related hazards and safety measures.

Section 2: assess the safety risks associated with a hazard

If the new person is part of the management, he may review the information available related to the workplace and inspect the activities that are carried out within the organisation.

Any person must act in compliance with the workplace health and safety Act and regulations to ensure safety at workplace.

Q6: List three people you can consult in the hazard identification.

If a person is aware of the existing hazards at workplace, the same must be reported to the following authorities:

1. i) The supervisor;
2. ii) The employer; or,

iii) The Health and safety representative of the concerned organisation

Q7: Why is consultation with others important at each stage of the hazard identification and risk assessment process?

Consultation is important as by obtaining knowledge and experience of workers facilitates to ensure workplace safety more effectively.

It also encourages greater awareness and commitment;

It enhances positive working relationship as comprehending each other’s views leads to greater co-operation and trust;

A safe workplace is achieved if there is cooperation between all the persons which enables to eliminate the potential hazards of the workplace.

Q8: What does the law require in relation to health and safety representatives (HSR)?

The law requires them to safeguard the workplace and the people from workplace related incidents, injuries and provide consultation regarding the safety hazards and its measures.

Their primary role is to develop and implement health and safety policies at workplace in compliance with the legislation governing the particular state.

They are required to ensure effective implementation of these policies.

Q9: List three potential hazards that relate to working practices.

Use of Machinery and equipment

Use of Hazardous chemicals

Psychological Hazards

Q10: List three potential hazards that relate to the physical environment.

Electricity

Radiation

Noise

Q11: List two reasons why it’s important to keep records of hazards.

1. It enables to prepare safe work procedures
2. It allows reviewing risks in case of any change in the business activities or in the legislations prevailing in the workplace health and safety.

Q12: What is a risk?

Risk may be defined as the possibility of harm that may be caused to any person at workplace owing to the exposure of such person to the workplace related hazards. Such risks may include death, illness or injuries.

Q13: What is the four-step risk management process recommended by state/territory WHS authorities?

1. Identifying the risks
2. Assessment of Risks
3. Controlling the risks
4. Review of the Control measures

Q14: List two situations when it’s recommended to undertake a risk assessment?

1. When there is uncertainty about the consequences of any particular form of hazard;
2. when there are several different hazards and there is lack of understanding about the consequence of such hazards, for instance, whether such hazards is going to lead to greater risks.

Q15: Other than health and safety representatives (HSRs) and the health and safety committee (HSC), who can you consult for assistance in assessing risks?

1. Workers who are directly affected by the work activities or undertakings;
2. Other duty holders
3. PCBUs

Q16: A template for simply recording a list of hazards and risks is not a complete risk assessment document. What other information is required to make it an effective assessment tool?

Section 3: eliminate or control the risk

It must also include control measures;

A checklist;

A worksheet;

Relevant training records and plans for changes in the workplace activities.

Q17: Outline the steps you would take following a systematic method of risk assessment.

Every form of hazards has the potential to cause various kinds of harm and the severities of harm may differ from minor discomfort to a serious injury, even death.

In order to assess the severity of harm one must consider the type of harm that may result from any hazard.

Further, the management responsible to ensure workplace safety must figure out ways to avert the severe impact of the workplace hazards on the persons working in the workplace.

Furthermore, the likelihood of the occurrence of the harm may be taken into consideration to avoid the same. The management must have regard to the number of times, people being exposed to the harm`.  

Q18: Outline the three steps to follow to determine the type and level of risk posed by a hazard.

Identification of the hazard;

Consultation about the hazards and its impact with the employees, health and safety representatives and the administrator of the workplace;

Q19: You’ve conducted a risk assessment and identified a risk that’s likely to result in a major injury. What must you do?

The hazard could be substituted with something that is safer;

The hazard could be separated from the people at workplace;

Use of administrative controls;

Use of Personal shielding equipments;

Q20: What is ‘risk control’?

Risk control may be defined as procedures and measures that are undertaken to eliminate the level of risk that is involved in workplace related hazards.

Q21: List three types of risk assessment records or supporting information you should keep on file.

The identified hazards;

The assessed risks;

The control measures;

Any other information as stipulated in the WHS Regulations;

Q22: List two reasons why it’s important to keep records of risk assessments.

1. it allows to review the assessed risks in case of any changing circumstances in the workplace;
2. It signifies that the work health and safety risks are being well-managed.

Q23: Outline the hierarchy of risk control from most effective to least effective.

The most effective control measure includes reducing the workplace hazard and the risks associated with it by not bringing in the hazard into the workplace.

The lesser effective control measure is to substitute the hazard with safer alternatives;

The least effective control measure includes administrative controls and personal defending equipment.

Q24: You notice customers are regularly slipping on the stairs leading to the establishment’s entrance. Your manager says they can’t get rid of the stairs, and using an alternative entry is not an option. What would you suggest as the best alternative following the recommended hierarchy of risk control?

The least effective control measure in the hierarchy of risk may be implemented where the administrative may put up caution sign boards indicating the slippery staircase. In addition, first aid box and medical help must be kept in case of injures.

Q25: List two questions you might ask yourself when deciding which control measure to recommend.

1. Are the control measures effective enough to provide highest level of protection for people?
2. Are the control measures appropriate for the circumstances in my workplace?

Q26: List two benefits of consulting staff before implementing any changes.

1. builds a good employer-employee relationship;
2. More information may be obtained by consulting with the workers which would facilitate the in carrying out the changed activities;

Q27: The WHS Act requires every workplace to take a systematic approach to WHS consultation in certain situations. List three situations when consultation is required.

1. When the existence of the potential workplace hazards is known;
2. When the planning work commences to ensure that health and safety measures are identified and executed from the commencement;
3. When there are any changes in the work procedures or activities;

Q28: What measures can you take to eliminate or control risks where the suggested action falls outside your level of authority or experience?

The information obtained must be reviewed and quality assurance process may be used to design, supply or manufacture the product to check whether it reduces the risk.

Consultation with the workers and the health and safety representatives must be conducted to re-decide the control measures.