9. Organisational risk management / Health & Safety in the Workplace

Question 1

Describe the risk management process

Answer 1

Communicate and consult (overriding)

Steps:
-Establish context
-Identify risk
-Analyse risk impact
-Evaluate risk
-Take action

Monitor and Review (underlying)

Question 2

How do we evaluate risk?

Answer 2

Once we know what our risks are, what controls are in place to help prevent or manage them, and therefore what risk we are carrying, we must consider how comfortable we are with this information and what we need to take action on. Depending on the evaluation we may decide to;

Act
Monitor
Accept
Achieved - Acknowledge effective management is achieved.

Question 3

Monitoring and reviewing risk

Answer 3

After the risk evaluation, when we have decided to;
Act
Monitor
Accept or
Achieved

Risk owner must monitor and review the decision as often as appropriate for the level of risk.

Question 4

Describe the three lines of defence in risk management

Answer 4

Everyone in place is responsible for managing risk.

First line of defence = all Police personnel
Second line of defence = Management processes and controls
Third line of defence = Internal audit and assurance

Question 5

Why must we know about health and safety?

Answer 5

1. Legal - It’s the law
2. Ethical - Looking after our people is the right thing to do
3. Our business - Good health and safety is good business

Question 6

Section 36, Health & Safety at Work Act (HSWA) 2015 - primary duty of care.

Answer 6

Police has the primary duty of care; the primary responsibility for people’s health and safety at work.
We must ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the safety of all;
-Police employees
-any contractors or third parties, and
-other people who could be put at risk by our work, eg. detainees and the general public.

Question 7

What does health include?

Answer 7

Health includes mental health, not just physical injury or illness.

Question 8

What must you do to ensure the health and safety of yourself, your people and others? Use the term reasonably practicable.

Answer 8

1. Consider what is possible in your circumstances to ensure health and safety.
2. Of the possible actions, consider what is reasonable to do in your circumstances.

Question 9

Consider, how likely is the risk and how severe is the harm that might result?

Answer 9

The greater the potential harm, the greater the action required.
However, even for risks that have a low likelihood of occurring; if there is a credible worst-case scenario risk, then measures must be put in place to eliminate the risk.

Question 10

What do you know, or ought reasonably to know, about the hazard or risk and the ways of eliminating or minimising the risk?

Answer 10

You are expected to take all reasonably practicable steps to find out if there are any ways (control measures) to eliminate.
If elimination is not possible, minimise the risk.

Question 11

What is the availability of the control measures, and how suitable are they for the specific risk?

Answer 11

The way you eliminate or minimise a risk will depend on the situation, type of work, work environment etc.
You will need to apply your judgement to figure out the best actions to take.
Be aware that there may still be risks even after you implement control measures.

Question 12

As a final step, what are the costs of the control measure, and are the costs grossly disproportionate to the risk?

Answer 12

Just because something is possible to do, does it mean it is reasonably practicable in the circumstances.
Cost can only be used as a reason to not do something when it is grossly disproportionate to the risk.

Question 13

Health and safety induction
What must I do?

Answer 13

Everyone who joins Police should be inducted into the workplace to ensure they know how to work safely, how to report incidents and hazards, and what to do in an emergency situation like a fire.

Question 14

Reporting health and safety incidents or near misses

Answer 14

All incidents and near misses should be reported using My Police by the person(s) involved in the incident or near miss. If unable to complete the report, their supervisor should make the report on their behalf.

Question 15

What is a near miss?

Answer 15

An unplanned or unexpected event that occurs as a result of Police work activities, and could have resulted in harm to a person but did not.
Includes “loss only” incidents where damage to Police property but no one was harmed.
An opportunity to prevent a future injury before someone is hurt.

Question 16

Reviewing incidents and near misses

Answer 16

All incidents and near misses must be reviewed by supervisor. The purpose of a health and safety review is to identify the root cause so they can be addressed and appropriate preventive controls put in place.

Question 17

When should you notify WorkSafe?

Answer 17

Being admitted to hospital
Serious head injuries
Loss of consciousness