Element 3: Managing Risk Flashcards
REVIEW: Explain the following aspects of health and safety culture: ‘What people think’, ‘What people do’, ‘What the organisation has’.
CONSIDER: How effective is health and safety communication in your organisation? What could be done to improve it?
CONSIDER: How effective is the health and safety consultation process in your organisation? What could be done
to improve it?
REVIEW: What actions could an organisation take that would help to establish a positive health and safety culture?
REVIEW: Explain the terms attitude, motivation and
perception and give an example of each.
CONSIDER:
Step 1: Identify the hazards
Walk around your workplace and look at what could reasonably be expected to cause harm.
Check manufacturer’s instructions or data sheets for chemicals and equipment as they can be very helpful in spelling out the hazards and putting them in their true perspective.
Remember to think about long-term hazards to health, for example, high levels of noise or exposure to harmful substances.
REVIEW: What is meant by the terms ‘hazard’ and ‘risk’?
Provide an example for each.
REVIEW: Where might information about health and safety come from? Provide two external and two internal sources.
CONSIDER:
Step 2: Decide who might be harmed
This does not mean listing everyone by name, but by general group, for example, welders, people working at height or the general public.
In each case, identify how they might be harmed and what type of injury or ill-health might occur, for example, falls of objects onto workers or the general public.
Some workers have particular requirements. New or young workers and people with disabilities may be at a higher risk, as may cleaners, visitors, contractors and maintenance workers etc., i.e. those who may not be in the workplace all the time.
If you share your workplace, you will need to think how your work affects others, as well as how their work affects your workers.
REVIEW: What are the safety colours/shapes for the following safety signs: Prohibition, Warning, Safe Condition and Mandatory? Give examples of where they may be used.
CONSIDER: Hierarchy of controls. Think of one practical example for each control measure in the hierarchy, preferably from your own workplace.
CONSIDER:
Step 4: Record your findings and implement them.
Putting the results of your risk assessment in to practice will make a difference.
Writing down the results and sharing them with your workers will encourage you all to make a difference.
Remember, prioritise and tackle the most important things first. As you complete each action, tick it off your plan.
CONSIDER:
Step 5: Review and update your assessment
Few workplaces stay the same. New equipment, substances and procedures could lead to new hazards. Review should be carried out at least annually.
Look at your risk assessment again. Have there been any changes? Are there any improvements you need to make?
Have your workers spotted a problem? Have you taken account of any accidents or near misses?
CONSIDER: A maintenance worker is required to enter a chemical process tank containing a residual amount of a substance that gives off significant quantities of an inert gas that would replace oxygen in the tank when disturbed. The inert gas is heavier than air. The maintenance worker will have to disturb the substance in order to remove it. As much of the substance as possible has been
drained away.
Entry is via an opening at the top of the tank. The worker will have to gain access by a ladder and will need to take temporary lighting. The maintenance worker has been provided with a respirator mask for use while doing the cleaning. The cleaning task is defined as a one-person activity on the job card. Using the risk rating matrix, determine:
REVIEW: What are the four main purposes of first-aid?
● Preserve life.
● Prevent the condition requiring first-aid getting worse/minimise its consequences until medical help arrives.
● Promote recovery of the person requiring first-aid.
● Provide treatment where medical attention is not required.
CONSIDER: What types of emergency could affect your organisation?
Who would need to be contacted if these emergencies occurred?
STUDY QUESTION: What are the additional arrangements employers need to make to meet their responsibility to protect visitors, neighbours or members of the public from their work activities?
STUDY QUESTION: What is meant by ‘health and safety culture of an
organisation’?
STUDY QUESTION: Explain why an understanding of individual
factors is important in the workplace.
(a) Explain the role of worker participation in health and safety
(b) What are the benefits of participation for the employer?
STUDY QUESTION: What are the key stages that need to be followed
in the risk assessment process?
(a) What are two reasons why visitors to a workplace might be at a greater risk of injury than a worker?
(b) What are the measures to be taken to ensure the health and safety of visitors in the workplace?
STUDY QUESTION: What should you consider when developing and
implementing a safe system of work for general
activities?
STUDY QUESTION: Why is it important to develop emergency procedures for the workplace?
STUDY QUESTION: What is the function of a permit-to-work system?
STUDY QUESTION: What are eight items that should be included in a hot work permit-to-work?
(a) What is the purpose of first-aid?
(b) Explain the role of first-aiders.
