Into STC SA Flashcards
What are the Function of a Management system?
• Planning: You cannot achieve what you do not plan. That is why the ability to plan is at the forefront of the management function.
• Organizing: Management needs to ensure that there are sound structures in place.
• Leading: Leadership is a key requisite in any management function.
• Controlling: Management needs to be in control
(POLC)
Who is needed in a Management system?
In short, everyone – to varying degrees, perhaps, yes, but still – everyone is needed to make an HSE management system successful
What are the responsibility of Management (Employer)?
Management must ensure that:
• a meaningful HSE policy is developed
• a framework is established, in the form of a formal structured HSE system covering all the basic areas of compliance, with the appropriate standards to be adopted, together with legislative requirements, other requirements and relevant areas of risk assessment and control
• risk assessments are conducted and standards developed
• HSE appointments are made according to legal requirements, for example, HSE representatives and committee members, as well as non-legal appointments, for example, HSE management system requirements
• the system is established and maintained on a basis of continuous improvement
• the necessary training and education schedules are implemented
• employees are consulted and made aware of the HSE system requirements and the role they play in its effective implementation and success
• reporting and investigation procedures are established
•fund ing (the budget) is available to ensure that HSE targets and requirements are attained and maintained.
What are the Employee’s responsibly in a management system?
- All employees should take responsibility for occupational health, safety and the environment.
- Employees should ensure that they are aware of, and understand, theprinciples, philosophy and importance of a comprehensive HSE system.
- Employees should participate in identifying and reporting hazards and risks in the workplace.
- Employees must co-operate and adhere to all HSE policies, procedures, directives and other aspects of the HSE system to ensure everyone’s adherence to HSE requirements.
Define Ambit?
A sphere of operation or influence, range, scope: the ambit of such an action. One speaks of a particular issue being within the ambit of the law.
Define Liability?
The state of being legally responsible for a certain act (what you did) or omission (what you did not do).
Define Vicarious liability?
This legal principle applies where the law holds one person liable for the actions or omissions of another, when they are engaged in some form of joint or collective activity; for example, the chief executive officer (CEO) is held responsible for the actions of an employee.
Define Delict?
Misdemeanour; an offence. In South Africa, it derives from Roman and civil law. It is a civil wrong (i.e. not a crime and one that occurs between two or more people or two or more ‘parties’), which may require compensation or some other form of redress in order for the wrong to be addressed and corrected.
What is the difference between an Act and a Regulation?
- An act is usually passed by Parliament. Acts set out the broad legal/policy principles.
- Regulations, rules, and codes are commonly known as subsidiary legislation. They fill in detailed procedures left out of the act and are known to be ‘pursuant’ (applicable) to that act. Regulations are the guidelines that dictate how specific provisions of the act (to which they are pursuant) should be applied. They may also contain pro forma official forms that are required under the act. Regulations and schedules to Acts can only be amended by a notice published in the Government Gazette.
What is the correct way of referring to a section of an act?
s24(1)(c)(i), is as follows:
• Refer to the number of the section – 24
• This is followed by the subsection – (1)
• Next comes the paragraph – (c)
• Finally, provide the subparagraph – (i)
How many Sections are there in the OSH Act 85 of 1993?
50
Define Employer?
Someone who provides work to a person (employs) and remunerates that person for the work done
Define Employee?
Any person who is employed and receives remuneration for any work they have performed
Define Hazard?
A source of exposure to a potential danger
Define Danger?
Anything that may cause injury or damage to persons or property
Define Incident?
An undesirable event that takes place because the necessary HSE controls were not in place or failed. An incident causes an injury, illness or disease, or damage to plant
Define Reasonably practicable?
Appropriate steps must be taken, but they must also take the following into account:
- The size and type of hazard or risk
- The knowledge that is available to find a solution
- Suitable means and availability to remove the risk or hazard
- The costs involved in relation to the benefits (budget)
What are the employers duties in accordance to Section 8 of the OSH Act?
- maintain a safe and risk free work environment
- ensure that all machinery operated is maintained and kept safe and risk free
- reduce any hazard to the best of their ability before resorting to PPE
- ensure that the production, handling, processing, use, storage or transport of substances is safe and risk-free
- understand all hazards and the measures that should be taken to protect all on a site from such hazards
- provide all the information, instruction, training and supervision relating to the health and safety of employees at work
- prevent any work from being done unless all precautionary measures have been taken
- ensure that all persons comply with the Act while on the premises
- enforce any procedures or other measures required to ensure the health and safety of all in the workplace
- inform all employees of the scope of their authority.
What is the 16.1 appointment?
A MANDATORY APPOINTMENT: THE OHSA 16(1) APPOINTEE (THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER (CEO))
In terms of the Occupational Health and Safety Act, section 16(1) designates the CEO with the responsibility and liability to ensure that the duties imposed on the employer are properly discharged. The CEO is to implement an occupational health and safety management system, which will give effect to the provisions within the Act.
What is the 16.2 appointment?
A MANDATORY APPOINTMENT: OHSA16(2) DESIGNATE/ASSIGNEE
The CEO may assign some or all of his/her s16(1) duties and functions to another person, namely an assignee or assignees who must:
• still be subject to the CEO’s direction and control
• manage that which the CEO is not physically/logistically able to do (that is why many organisations have more than one s16(2), with one or more people for a given site, process or division, all at the discretion of the CEO and according to the practical needs of the organisation)
• provide feedback to the CEO on occupational health and safety matters.
Although the designate/assignee in terms of section 16(2) plays a very important function as per the OHS Act, and assumes the specific CEO’s OHS duties and responsibilities as assigned by the CEO, the CEO still remains ultimately accountable for compliance.
What is the GMR2 Appointment?
The employer shall appoint a competent supervisor of machinery GMR 2(1):
• For all machinery on a site
• Seen as possibly the ‘third-most important OHS Act appointment’ after the 16(1) and 16(2)
What is the CR8(1) appointment?
Construction Manager
What is the CR8(2) appointment?
Construction Manager Assistant
What is the CR16(1) appointment?
Scaffold Supervisor
What is the GSR3(2) appointment?
First aider
Ergonomics is also known as?
The human factors engineering and includes: • work design • work environment • machine and equipment design • vibration • manual handling
Name some of the aspects of Manual handling?
- strains
- heavy loads
- repetitive motions
- pushing, pulling motions.
What is Occupatiounal Safety?
- The condition of being safe from undergoing or causing hurt, injury, or loss; the state of not being exposed to danger.
- Occupational safety is the condition of being safe from undergoing or causing hurt, injury or loss in the workplace.
GSR 2B refer to which section?
Colour and Safety signage
Name some of the Basic Rules for Safe use of a Ladder?
- Do not bring metal or alloy ladders into contact with electrical supply sources.
- Place the ladder so that its feet are a quarter of its length to the top support from the surface against which it is resting.
- Unless the ladder is secured at the top, it should always be held in position by another person as long as someone is standing on it.
- Wherever possible, it should extend one metre or at least three rungs above its top support.
- Ladders should be inspected frequently. Defects should be repaired immediately or the ladder replaced.
- Keep ladders clean and do not paint them, as this hides defects.
- Do not leave ladders on wet ground or exposed to the weather.
- Ladders lying on floors may cause employees to trip or fall, or they may be run overby vehicles and damaged.
- Do not use ladders horizontally as walkways or scaffolds.
- Tools and equipment should be hauled up by rope.
- Never leave a ladder standing where it may fall.
- Never place a ladder in front of an unlocked doorway.
- Ladders should be fitted with non-slip feet.
- Store ladders in a cool dry place, either lying on their side, or supported on hooks against a wall. This will help to avoid warping of wooden ladders, and makes it easier to check their length.
- All ladders should be identified and entered on a register. Checks should be regular and any defects must be recorded and reported in the ladder register.
- Only one person should be on a ladder at any one time, and both hands should be used for climbing.
- Do not leave any tools on the ladder.
- Use the correct ladder for the job.
What section is covered under GSR2?
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT
What is covered under ERW 6?
HOUSEKEEPING
What is covered under GSR 8?
SAFE STACKING AND STORAGE PRACTICES
What is covered under DMR 3?
ROTATING EQUIPMENT
Name three types of guards on machinery?
- Fixed guards
- Interlocking guards
- Automatic guards
Name some charactors of a good guard on machinery?
- Provide maximum positive protection
- Block access to the danger zone during operation
- Corrosion and fire resistant and easily repairable
- Hazards such as splinters and nip points should not be created by the guard
- The guard should be a permanent part of the machinery without weakening its structure
What is an earth leakage?
An Earth-leakage circuit breaker is a safety device used in electrical installations with high Earth impedance to prevent shock. It detects small stray voltages on the metal enclosures of electrical equipment, and interrupts the circuit if a dangerous voltage is detected.
An earth leakage trips at an amperage of 30 milliamps (1 milliamp = 0.001 amps).
Define Current?
a flow of electricity which results from the ordered directional movement of electrically charged particles. Current is measured in (I) ampheres
Define Voltage?
An electromotive force or potential difference expressed in volts. Voltage is measured in (V) Volts
Define Resistance?
Flow of electricity. It is the property of substance by virtue of which it opposes the flow of current through it, is known as electrical resistance Resistance is a measure of the opposition to current flow in an electrical circuit. Resistance is measured in (R) ohms
Define Polarity? And Why is it important?
Polarity is a term used in electricity, magnetism, and electronic signaling.
NB!! Polarity is the distinction between positive and negative potentials. If plugs are incorrectly wired, resulting in a connection of positive to negative, the result is that the circuit in a machine/equipment is not broken when the switch is thrown, allowing the equipment to remain live.
What are the important steps to remember when connecting a plug?
When the plug cover plate is removed, and you are looking at the inside of the plug, with the pins facing away from you, the following may help you to remember the colour placement:
• Brown is live – right
• Blue is neutral – left
• Green and yellow is earth – centre top
What does the physcal Enviroment consist of?
The physical environment consists of four spheres:
• The atmosphere: atmos = air
• The lithosphere: litho = rock or earth
• The hydrosphere: hydro = water
• The cryosphere: ice (including sea ice, lake ice, river ice, snow cover, glaciers, ice caps and ice sheets, and frozen ground, including permafrost)
Define polution?
- The presence in or introduction into the environment of a substance which has harmful or poisonous effects.
- Pollution is the presence of any substance, emission, product or by-product of industrialisation that causes or has the potential to cause fouling, contamination or destruction of ground, air or water resources
What are some of the main types of pollution?
WATER POLLUTION
AIR POLLUTION
SOIL/GROUND POLLUTION
What are the four R’s of good waste management?
Reduce
Re-use
Recover
Recycle
Give examples of Health Hazards?
- HCA fumes
- Noise from machinery
- Radiation from X-rays
- Incorrect body posture during repetitive tasks
- Dusty conditions in a mill
Give examples of a Safey Hazard?
- An open manhole
- A slippery walkway
- An unguarded cutting machine
- A frayed electrical cord
- Sharp edges on a blade
- Sparks from welding
Give some examples of Examples of environment aspects?
- emissions of sulphur dioxide into the atmosphere
- ineffective waste water management
- consumption of water in processes
- creation of hazardous waste during manufacturing processes
- carbon dioxide emissions from company vehicles
- leaking petrol from a disused petrol pump.
What are the expectations of a Risk assessment?
• systematic • rigorous • structured • repeatable • consultative • defensible • auditable (expectations = SRSRCDA)
What three aspects should a baseline Risk assessment take into account?
- ‘Geographic’/logistical issues
- Functional issues
- Pure hazards
What is meant by inputs and outputs in the process mapping process?
Process mapping is useful for identifying hazards when related inputs and outputs for a given activity or process are established.
• Inputs: Can be determined using the acronym ‘REM’, namely, resources (e.g. water, materials, chemicals, wood and steel), energy (e.g. electricity, coal, petrol diesel, steam, hydraulic power and pneumatic power), or the machinery used in the process.
• Outputs: These are usually in the form of the product being made or the service rendered, any waste generated (e.g. solid waste and liquid effluent) or hazardous output (e.g. gas, fume, noise and heat) that may result from the given activity or process.
Give some examples of Physical hazards?
Hazards that arise from the general work environment, such as uneven floors, ionising radiation (X-rays), noise, lighting, vibration, extreme temperatures and poor ventilation.
Give some examples Chemical hazards?
Hazards that arise from chemical agents , such as acids, pesticides, herbicides, fumes, dusts, gases, flammable substances, solvents, effluent and solid waste.
Give some examples of Biological hazards?
Hazards that arise from biological agents, such as insects, vermin (rats and mice), pathogens, viruses (HIV/AIDS) and medical waste.
Give some examples of Mechanical hazards?
Hazards that arise from machinery and equipment, such as lifts, cutting machines, electrical hand tools, portable electrical equipment, lifting equipment and forklifts
Give some examples of Ergonomic hazards?
Hazards that arise from the worker machine interface, such as manual handling, repetitive movement, poor design, restricted space, outdated design and technology
Give some examples of Psychosocial hazards?
Hazards that arise from social or work culture conditions, such as shift work, peer pressure, alcohol/drug misuse and stress.
Give examples of Behavioural hazards?
Hazards that arise from worker behaviour or attitude, such as unsafe acts or omissions and tomfoolery
Give examples of Environmental aspects?
- emissions
- sluds
- discharges
- hazardous waste
Aspects that arise from a company’s interaction with the environment, such as contaminated air (emissions), sludge and other solid wastes (discharges), polluted water (discharges), other types of pollution (for example noise), all types of other waste (including hazardous waste) and resource use/depletion.
Broadly speaking, what are the two ways of evaluating risks?
- quantitative assessments
* qualitative assessments
Explain quantitative assessments?
The numerical value assigned to any aspect of the evaluation can be directly aligned to a measurable quality of that hazard; for example, rating a severity aspect as ‘3’ if the measured risk were to result in a reportable injury
Explain qualitative assessments?
Although an assessment may have quantitative components, it may also take into account factors that may not be absolutely and scientifically measurable. These assessments rely heavily on experience and opinion, which makes it critical that the viewpoints of a cross-section of employees are taken into consideration when assigning quality-related values, such as ‘bad’, ‘reasonable’ and ‘strong’.
What is meant with a Consequence Risk?
This relates to the potential severity of the risk. How bad could the potential risk be?
This is an evaluation of the worst conceivable health, safety or environmental consequence of a hazard. Please note how the use of the word ‘consequence’ here should immediately force you to remember that every risk or impact must have a consequence, i.e. be a consequential risk or impact.
What is meant by the Likelihood of Event?
This relates to the probability or likelihood of a risk actually occurring.
Likelihood is based on an objective evaluation of how often a hazard has resulted in a given consequential risk (incident history can assist in establishing this, as can normative experience in a given industry). In the absence of incident history or other certainty on how often a potential risk could occur this estimation can be established based on research of industry standards and a modicum of common sense.
Define Raw Risk?
Is the risk without taking into consideration any mitigation or control.
Raw Risk = The point of intersection between the CONSEQUENCE and LIKELIHOOD axes.
Define Controlled risk?
This is the portion of the raw risk that can be negated by the implemented controls, namely, the risk that now has controls in place.
Define Residual risk?
Is the risk left over once the effectiveness of the control measures have been taken into account, namely, the risk that remains. This will be the second risk assessment that you will need to do in the risk template that you fill in (see the table hereafter).
What does Procedure(s) refer to?
Procedures describe methods of operation within an organisation or between parts of an organisation (for example, departments or sections), and normally remain relatively constant within a department or section regardless of the product described. However, they are usually organisation-wide, and relate to issues that are relevant to most, if not all employees, at all levels within the organisation.
What does Work instruction(s) refer to?
These are detailed requirements for a specific operation or outcome that should clearly identify how the given work (or task) is done, by whom, and where and when it is done. This is a more precise, step-by-step prescriptive document as opposed to a procedure, which is more general, as detailed above. Examples of work instructions include:
• the safe operation (use) of a welding machine
• the safe storage of hazardous chemical substances
• the proper disposal of hazardous waste from a site
• the correct maintenance and internal inspection of lifting gear
• the exact methodology to be used by an OHNP when conducting a lung function test.
What does Record(s) refer to?
This refers to any form(s) or document(s) that validate(s) the physical implementation of the HSE system. It is the documentation that signifies work has been done exactly as required to a prescribed format, usually as a ‘sign off’ process. Examples include:
• registers (a roll-call register required during an emergency drill)
• checklists (pre-use for a long-haul vehicle)
• maintenance records (for a wet scrubber)
• inspection records (for portable fire extinguishers)
• medical surveillance records (for audiograms done for audiometric testing)
• environmental data/statistics (electricity consumption for a given period)
• permits (hot work permit for welding near an HCS storage facility).
What are the steps in a Planned Job Obsurvtion (PJO)?
Critical task analysis • Step 1 – Inventory of occupations • Step 2 – Inventory of tasks within each occupation • Step 3 – Identify critical tasks • Step 4 – Analyze critical tasks: o Break tasks down into steps o Pinpoint loss exposures o Conduct an efficiency check o Develop controls Safe operating/working procedures • Step 5 – Write safe work procedures/safe operating procedures/working instructions Planned task/job observations • Step 6 – Implement the safe work procedures and do planned task/job observations • Step 7 – Update and maintain records
What is the hierarcy of conrols?
- Elimination
- Substitution
- Engineering
- Administration
- Personal protective equipment (PPE)
Define Task Observation?
Task observation is when one person observes another person carrying out a task according to a (written) work procedure. Planned task observation is a means that can be used to observe tasks, practices and conditions in a systematic way. The best way to see whether a person can do his/her task correctly is to observe him/her while he/she is doing it.
What is the purpose of a task observation?
- pinpoint practices that could cause accidents, injuries, damage, ineffectiveness and scrap/waste
- follow up whether training that has been given was effective
- determine whether training is needed in specific areas
- enable one to give immediate feedback to correct certain practices
- make a person aware of the working habits of the employees
- evaluate whether the written safe work procedure that is used is adequate
- ensure that a written safe work procedure is followed correctly and that no critical or safety steps are left out
- highlight when a person should be given recognition
- ensure that certain practices are reinforced.
What are the Benefits of a task observation?
- reduce injuries and illness
- reduce damage
- reduce waste
- improve productivity
- employees will feel that the employer cares about them, and this results in higher morale, motivation and improved performance.
The basic causes of incidents?
Personal factors • Lack of knowledge or skill or both • Physical or mental incompatibility • Improper attitude or lack of motivation • Lack of skills Job factors • Inadequate engineering or planning • Inadequate maintenance • Inadequate work standards • Inadequate tools or equipment
Studies have shown that incidents are caused by?
- unsafe acts – the human factor – 88%
- unsafe conditions – the engineering factor – 10%
- acts of nature – the inevitable/uncontrollable – 2%
What does HIRA stand for?
Hazard identification and risk assessment (HIRA)
Explain what HIRA is as a model?
Hazard identification and risk assessment (HIRA) study offers the systematic approach to assess hazards and their associated risks that may offer an objective measure of an identified hazard as well as provide a technique to manage the risk.
WHAT IS A HAZARD IDENTIFICATION AND RISK ASSESSMENT?
Hazard identification and Risk Assessment is a formal process involving the study of work activities, carried out as to:
a. Identifying hazards, which are the potential causes of harm. A hazard is defined as “means a source of or exposure to danger”. When assessing all hazards employers would be required to assess all tasks performed or machines / equipment used;
b. Assessing the risks for each tasks evaluated. Risk is defined as “means the probability that injury or damage will occur”. When assessing the risk associated with the task performed the Risk Rating Sheet as attached and marked Annexure A could be used;
c. Deciding on suitable measures to eliminate or control measures to be implemented. The Occupational Health and Safety Act, 1993 and incorporated Regulations regard the issuing of personal protective equipment as the last resort. Employers should therefore first attempt to mitigate the hazards identified;
d. Recording the information. Without any record of HIRA’s conducted the employer would not be able to prove compliance. The format of the Risk assessment report is not prescribed, but the format as attached and marked Annexure B could be used; and
e. Implementing control measures as to ensure that the workplace is as safe as what would be reasonable practicable. Reasonably Practicable is defined as” means practicable having regard to:
i. The severity and scope of the hazard or risk concerned;
ii. The state of knowledge reasonably available concerning that hazard or risk and of any means of removing or mitigating that hazard or risk;
iii. The availability and suitability of means to remove or mitigate that hazard or risk; and
iv. The cost of removing or mitigating that hazard or risk in relation to the benefits deriving therefrom
What is a Baseline Risk assessment?
A Baseline Risk Assessment would be conducted if no previous Risk Assessment has been conducted.
What is a Issue Based Risk Assessments?
i. After a new machine was purchased.
ii. After an incident - During the incident investigation process weaknesses with internal policies or procedures could have been identified.
iii. When new legislation was promulgated
What is the purpose of doing HIRA?
- To identify all the factors which may cause harm to workers.
- Consider the probability of incidents and assess their severity
- Identify the existing safeguards and controls.
- Assess the risks and to make sure they are within acceptable limits.
- Recommendation to effectively counter the possibility of hazards
What are the HAZID Methodology?
- Hazard Identification
- Risk Assessment
- Risk rating. (Consequences & Severity)
- Identify Existing Safeguards
- Control Measures & Recommendations
What are the 4 main categories of a general Risk assessment?
The study method is a combination of identification, analysis and brainstorming based on the hazards identified which is divided into four main sections containing several categories. The generally applicable categories are;
1 External and Environmental Hazard; 2 Facility Hazards; 3 Health Hazards and 4 Assess Risks to: People Asset /Production Environment
What is the likelihood Rating system?
Likelihood Rating:
Most Likely The presumably result of the hazard/event being realized: 5
Possible Has a good probability of occurring and is not unusual: 4
Conceivable Might occur at some time in the future: 3
Remote Has not been identified to occur after several years 2
Inconceivable Is practically not possible and has never occurred 1
Define likelihood?
The state or fact of something’s being likely; probability.
Risk Likelihood is the state of being probable or chance of a threat occurring.
What is the Severity Rating?
The severity of consequences assigns a rating based on the impact of an identified risk to safety, resources, work performance, property, and/or reputation.
What is a Residual risk?
The residual risk is the amount of risk or danger associated with an action or event remaining after natural or inherent risks have been reduced by risk controls.
Define Inherent risk?
In Risk management, is an assessed level of raw or untreated risk; that is, the natural level of risk inherent in a process or activity without doing anything to reduce the likelihood or mitigate the severity of a mishap, or the amount of risk before the application of the risk reduction effects of controls
Explain the severity rating?
Severity Rating?
- Catastrophic Numerous fatalities, irretrievable property damage and productivity: 5
- Fatal Approximately one single fatality or major property damage if hazard is realized: 4
- Serious Non-fatal injury, permanent disability: 3
- Minor Disabling however permanent injury: 2
- Negligible Minor abrasions, bruises, cut, first aid type injury: 1
What is a Risk Rating?
Risk Rating is assessing the risks involved in the daily activities of a business and classifying them (low, medium, high risk) on the basis of the impact on the business.
What is a consequential risk?
The risk of a secondary or further adverse event, following and caused by an initial one
What is a risk assessment?
Risk assessment is a term used to describe the overall process or method where you:
- Identify hazards and risk factors that have the potential to cause harm (hazard identification).
- Analyze and evaluate the risk associated with that hazard (risk analysis, and risk evaluation).
- Determine appropriate ways to eliminate the hazard, or control the risk when the hazard cannot be eliminated (risk control).
What is meant by Risk assessment?
The overall process of hazard identification, risk analysis, and risk evaluation.
- Hazard identification
- Risk analysis
- Risk evaluation
What is meant by Hazard identification?
The process of finding, listing, and characterizing hazards.
What is meant by risk analysis?
A process for comprehending the nature of hazards and determining the level of risk.
Notes:
(1) Risk analysis provides a basis for risk evaluation and decisions about risk control.
(2) Information can include current and historical data, theoretical analysis, informed opinions, and the concerns of stakeholders.
(3) Risk analysis includes risk estimation.
What is meant by Risk evaluation?
The process of comparing an estimated risk against given risk criteria to determine the significance of the risk.
What is meant by Risk control?
Actions implementing risk evaluation decisions.
Note: Risk control can involve monitoring, re-evaluation, and compliance with decisions.
Why is risk assessment important?
Risk assessments are very important as they form an integral part of an occupational health and safety management plan.
They help to:
1. Create awareness of hazards and risk.
Identify who may be at risk (e.g., employees, cleaners, visitors, contractors, the public, etc.).
2. Determine whether a control program is required for a particular hazard.
3. Determine if existing control measures are adequate or if more should be done.
4. Prevent injuries or illnesses, especially when done at the design or planning stage.
5. Prioritize hazards and control measures.
6. Meet legal requirements where applicable.
What is the goal of risk assessment?
The aim of the risk assessment process is to evaluate hazards, then remove that hazard or minimize the level of its risk by adding control measures, as necessary.
By doing so, you have created a safer and healthier workplace.
The goal is to try to answer the following questions:
- What can happen and under what circumstances?
- What are the possible consequences?
- How likely are the possible consequences to occur?
- Is the risk controlled effectively, or is further action required?
When should a risk assessment be done?
There may be many reasons a risk assessment is needed, including:
- Before new processes or activities are introduced.
- Before changes are introduced to existing processes or activities, including when products, machinery, tools, equipment change or new information concerning harm becomes available.
- When hazards are identified.
How do you plan for a risk assessment?
In general, determine:
1. What the scope of your risk assessment will be (e.g., be specific about what you are assessing such as the lifetime of the product, the physical area where the work activity takes place, or the types of hazards).
2. The resources needed (e.g., train a team of individuals to carry out the assessment, the types of information sources, etc.).
3. What type of risk analysis measures will be used (e.g., how exact the scale or parameters need to be in order to provide the most relevant evaluation).
4. Who are the stakeholders involved (e.g., manager, supervisors, workers, worker representatives, suppliers, etc.).
What relevant laws, regulations, codes, or standards may apply in your jurisdiction, as well as organizational policies and procedures.
How is a risk assessment done?
In general, to do an assessment, you should:
1. Identify hazards.
2. Determine the likelihood of harm, such as an injury or illness occurring, and its severity.
3. Consider normal operational situations as well as non-standard events such as maintenance, shutdowns, power outages, emergencies, extreme weather, etc.
4. Review all available health and safety information about the hazard such as Safety Data Sheet (SDS), manufacturers literature, information from reputable organizations, results of testing, workplace inspection reports, records of workplace incidents (accidents), including information about the type and frequency of the occurrence, illnesses, injuries, near misses, etc.
Understand the minimum legislated requirements for your jurisdiction.
Identify actions necessary to eliminate the hazard, or control the risk using the hierarchy of risk control methods.
Evaluate to confirm if the hazard has been eliminated or if the risk is appropriately controlled.
Monitor to make sure the control continues to be effective.
Keep any documents or records that may be necessary. Documentation may include detailing the process used to assess the risk, outlining any evaluations, or detailing how conclusions were made.
How are the hazards identified?
To be sure that all hazards are found:
1. Look at all aspects of the work.
2. Include non-routine activities such as maintenance, repair, or cleaning.
3. Look at accident / incident / near-miss records.
4. Include people who work off-site either at home, on other job sites, drivers, teleworkers, with clients, etc.
5. Look at the way the work is organized or done (include the experience of people doing the work, systems being used, etc).
6. Look at foreseeable unusual conditions (for example: possible impact on hazard control procedures that may be unavailable in an emergency situation, power outage, etc.).
7. Determine whether a product, machine or equipment can be intentionally or unintentionally changed (e.g., a safety guard that could be removed).
8. Review all of the phases of the lifecycle.
Examine risks to visitors or the public.
9. Consider the groups of people that may have a different level of risk such as young or inexperienced workers, persons with disabilities, or new or expectant mothers.
Explain the levels of the Severity Rating and Risk Rating?
Severity ratings in this example represent:
- High: major fracture, poisoning, significant loss of blood,
serious head injury, or fatal disease
- Medium: sprain, strain, localized burn, dermatitis, asthma,
injury requiring days off work
- Low: an injury that requires first aid only; short-term pain,
irritation, or dizziness
Probability ratings in this example represent:
- High: likely to be experienced once or twice a year by an
individual
- Medium: may be experienced once every five years by an
individual
- Low: may occur once during a working lifetime
Explain the levels of the Severity Rating and Probability Rating?
Severity ratings in this example represent:
- High: major fracture, poisoning, significant loss of blood,
serious head injury, or fatal disease
- Medium: sprain, strain, localized burn, dermatitis, asthma,
injury requiring days off work
- Low: an injury that requires first aid only; short-term pain,
irritation, or dizziness
Probability ratings in this example represent:
- High: likely to be experienced once or twice a year by an
individual
- Medium: may be experienced once every five years by an
individual
- Low: may occur once during a working lifetime
Explain the levels of the risk rating?
These risk ratings correspond to recommended actions such as:
- Immediately dangerous: stop the process and implement controls
- High risk: investigate the process and implement controls immediately
- Medium risk: keep the process going; however, a control plan must be developed and should be implemented as soon as possible
- Low risk: keep the process going, but monitor regularly. A control plan should also be investigated
- Very low risk: keep monitoring the process
What are the methods of hazard control?
Elimination (including substitution). Substitute Engineering controls. Administrative controls. Personal protective equipment.
What is the difference between a hazard and a risk?
A hazard is something that has the potential to cause harm while Risk is the likelihood of harm taking place, based on exposure to that hazard.
Explain Hazard vs Risk?
A hazard is something that can cause harm, e.g. electricity, chemicals, working up a ladder, noise, a keyboard, a bully at work, stress, etc.
A risk is the chance, high or low, that any hazard will actually cause somebody harm.
ISO 45001 defines risk assessment as follows?
‘A process to assess OH&S risks from the identified hazards, while taking into account the effectiveness of existing controls’.
What is a hazard?
A hazard is something with the potential to cause harm. A hazard has the potential to cause death, injury, damage or other loss.
A hazard could be a substance, machines, activity, method of work or process. Hazards are found in nearly every workplace, home and any environment. At work, we need to identify hazards when we are carrying out a risk assessment, which is a legal requirement.
What is a Risk?
A risk is the chance that somebody could be harmed by the hazard. A risk calculates how likely it is that someone will be hurt, and how severely.
The risk is assessed based on the severity of the harm and the likelihood of harm occurring. A risk may be high or low taking into account these two factors.
Likelihood x Severity = Risk
Explain the Environmental management of risk assessment?
ISO14001: 2015 does not refer explicitly to risk assessment but to the ‘environmental aspects of its activities, products and services that it can control and those that it can influence, and their associated environmental impacts’.
Define Impact with regards to ISO 14001: 2015?
Defines environmental impact as, ‘any change to the environment, whether adverse or beneficial, wholly or partially resulting from an organisation’s environmental aspects.’
Explain a Risk Assessment as a formal process?
- Plan
- Identify Hazard
- Analyse Risk
- Evaluate Risk
- Control Risk
<…formal = PIAEC…>
When evaluating a hazard, consideration needs to be given to the circumstances or conditions under which the hazard is present for a given activity or process, explain?
- Normal (n): This would be normal working conditions and covers usual working operations and routine tasks.
- Abnormal (a): This refers to non-routine tasks, such as shutdown maintenance, the presence of adverse conditions (such as bad weather) or routine tasks taking place in unusual circumstances.
- Emergency (e): This refers to extreme weather conditions (for example floods), power outages and gas leaks, fires, explosions and breakdowns of critical or hazardous machinery.
Explain Processes Mapping?
Process mapping is a technique used to visually map out workflows and processes. Inputs = Outputs
Define Inputs with regards to process mapping?
Can be determined using the acronym ‘REM’, namely, resources (e.g. water, materials, chemicals, wood and steel), energy (e.g. electricity, coal, petrol diesel, steam, hydraulic power and pneumatic power), or the machinery used in the process.
Define what is meant by REM in Inputs?
Resources
Energy
Machinery
Define Outputs with regards to process mapping?
These are usually in the form of the product being made or the service rendered, any waste generated (e.g. solid waste and liquid effluent) or hazardous output (e.g. gas, fume, noise and heat) that may result from the given activity or process.
What is meant by evaluating risks using quantitative assessments?
The numerical value assigned to any aspect of the evaluation can be directly aligned to a measurable quality of that hazard; for example, rating a severity aspect as ‘3’ if the measured risk were to result in a reportable injury
What is meant by evaluating risks by qualitative assessments?
Although an assessment may have quantitative components, it may also take into account factors that may not be absolutely and scientifically measurable. These assessments rely heavily on experience and opinion, which makes it critical that the viewpoints of a cross-section of employees are taken into consideration when assigning quality-related values, such as ‘bad’, ‘reasonable’ and ‘strong’.
Given Examples of health, safety and environmental hazard?
EXAMPLE: CUTTING
HEALTH SAFETY ENVIRONMENTAL
Vibration from cutter Angle iron sharp ends Cutter noise
Cutter noise Frayed electrical cord Angle iron
offcuts
Define a Raw Risk?
Raw risk is the risk without taking into consideration any mitigation or control.
Raw Risk = The point of intersection between the CONSEQUENCE and LIKELIHOOD axes.
Define Residual risk?
Is the risk left over once the effectiveness of the control measures have been taken into account, namely, the risk that remains. This will be the second risk assessment that you will need to do in the risk template that you fill in (see the table hereafter)
