Organisational Risk and Health & Safety Flashcards
Define ‘risk’.
“The effect of uncertainty on objectives”.
What do we need to think about when determining how to manage risk?
- What could prevent or delay us from achieving objectives?
- Would could happen that could increase our chances of achieving objectives (uncertainty also creates opportunity… whatever that means)
What is the difference between a hazard or threat, and a risk?
Threat or hazard is chiefly known about and contributes to a risk, whereas a risk is uncertain. Eg, a hole in the ground is a hazard, the risk is someone may fall into it and hurt themselves. Take a hazard, consider the risk(s), inform action.
Why is it important to understand the timely reporting and escalation of risks?
- Ensures we are supported to carry out our roles
- Enables us to have confidence in BAU processes
- Gives Executive assurance that risks across the Police are being managed effectively
What are the four types of risk?
- Operational
- Corporate
- Portfolio
- Strategic
The ‘risk management process’ contains seven parts, including five steps. Name the five steps and the two parts that go across all steps.
- Establish context
- Identify risks
- Analyse risk impact
- Evaluate risk
- Take action
- Communicate and consult
- Monitor and review
Establishing context includes understanding what? (2 points)
Internal context - things within Police that influence how we manage risk
External context - things outside Police that affect our ability to manage risk, eg. social cultural, political environment
Depending on the outcome of a risk evaluation, what four actions or outcomes are available to you? (what might you decide to do?) And if the risk cannot be managed at your level, what then might you need to do?
- Act
- Monitor
- Accept or
- Achieved (acknowledge effective management is achieved)
If you cannot manage the risk at your level, you may need to escalate the risk within line management or to relevant Governance Groups.
How might you incorporate risk management in to the operational environment?
Risk should be a consistent agenda item on work group or project leaderships team meetings, review meetings or governance meetings.
Describe the ‘three lines of defence’ against risk?
Everyone acts as the first line of defence - identifying and discussing potential risks. The first line applies controls such as policy, process, procedures & standards to their activities. (All Police personnel).
The second line is Districts, Service Centres and PNHQ work groups that provide a robust management environment for discussing and acting risks. (Management processes and controls).
The third line is Assurance Group providing assessment, verification and certification that controls are operating as intended. (Internal audit and assurance).
Why do you need to know about health and safety?
- It’s the law (legal)
- Ethical - looking after our people is the right thing to do
- Our Business - good health and safety is good business
In relation to s36 of Health & Safety at Work Act 2015, Police have a primary duty of care for people’s health and safety at work. Who are included in this - what is the extent of people included?
- Police employees (constab & non)
- Contractors, volunteers, SAR orgs, consultants & temps
- Other people who could be put at risk by our work, for example detainees and the general public
What is defined as the ‘work environment’?
Includes physical and psychological work environment. Duty of care applies wherever Police are working - eg. vehicles, people’s homes, courts, the street. Health includes mental and physical health.
You must do what is ‘reasonably practicable’ to ensure the health and safety of yourself, your people and others. There are two parts to deciding what is ‘reasonably practicable’ - what are they?
First - Consider what is possible in your circumstances to ensure health and safety. Then;
Second - Of the possible actions, consider what is reasonable to do in your circumstances
There is an upside down triangle of hierarchy of controls to mitigating hazards. What are the five sections of the hierarchy and their descriptions?
- Elimination - Physically remove the hazard
- Substitution - Replace the hazard
- Engineering Controls - Isolate people from the hazard
- Administrative Controls - Change the way people work
- PPE - Protect the worker with personal protective equipment
