Risk Assessment Flashcards
Risk assessment in OH
1
Q
What is a suitable and sufficient RA?
A
- Considering all the risks which arise because of work and work activities
- Should enable the Manager to develop and implement systems to manage the risk
- It should be appropriate to the nature of the work
- It should remain valid for a reasonable period of time
2
Q
Purpose of risk assessment?
A
- Maintain good health
- Ensure a productive workforce
- Save on financial loss due ill-health/inappropriate control procedures
- Spend resources more effective
- Reduce harmful effect of substances
- Select and place employee appropriately
- Provide appropriate OH education
- Match health outcome to exposure
- Reduce possibility of civil suite
- Comply with legislative requirement
3
Q
Benefits of OH RA?
A
- Encourages team work
- Employers and employees work together towards common goal
- Makes everyone aware of health
- Can serve as evidence in court of law
- Improve image of company
4
Q
What is general principles of OHRA?
A
- Address all relevant risks systematically
- identify major
- consider those aspects of work which are hazardous
- be systematic
- look at all aspects of the work activity - Address what actually happens
- actual practice, not instructions
- consider non-routine operations
- pay attention to changes or interruptions - Include all who could be affected
- Highlight those groups or individuals particularly at risk
- Take into account, and objectively assess, existing health and safety measures and controls
- The level of detail should match the level of risk
- Make a rough assessment first, later become
sophisticated
5
Q
Forms of RA?
A
1. Baseline Risk Assessments What are the major risks? What are the priorities? What system is there for risk control? 2. Issue Based Risk Assessments New machine New procedure or work practice New substances After an incident or a 'near miss' 3. Continuous Risk Assessment Continually as an integral Dart of day to day management
6
Q
Scope of RA
A
- Geographical based (specific defined area)
- Functional based (concerns function to be performed e.g. driving, Blasting)
- Hazard based (created by a specific hazard e.g. machine)
7
Q
Types of RA
A
1. Qualitative risk assessment Subjective Not data (numerical) based Less accurate Immediate objective 2. Quantitative risk assessment Objective Data (numerical) based More accurate Ultimate goal 3. Combination of qualitative and quantitative
8
Q
Definition of hazard
A
“A relative property of any environmental factor. It refers to the ability to produce a harmful effect on the health or well-being of a living organism
9
Q
Definition of risk
A
The probability that an environmental factor will produce harm because of specific conditions and/or
activity.
10
Q
Fundamental decision before doing RA
A
- Facilitator
- Role clarification
- Preparation for meeting (venue. lunch, etc) - Select and train the team (essential to create ‘ownership’)
- From workplace being assessed
- ‘Vertical slice’ including front line supervisor and management
- Specialist expertise if necessary
- Employees representatives - Identify and define before start of risk assessment
- Type of risk assessment
- Form of risk assessment
- Scope of risk assessment - Always consider worst-case scenario
11
Q
RA process: Step 1 - gather info
A
- “Theoretical” assessment
- Manager and supervisor interviews
- Process, number of employees, time and frequency of exposure
- Incident reports
- Audit reports
- Occupational hygiene reports
- Material safety data sheets
- Effect of other substances
- Determine route(s) of exposure
- Standard operating procedures (SOP)
- Health surveillance data (anonymous)
- Organogram
- Process flow - “Practical” assessment during walk-through
- Use survey checklist of all possible hazards
- Analyse work activity
- Compliance to SOP
- Record control procedure
- Subjectively assess effectiveness of control procedures
- Worker interviews
- Recall past experience
- Subjectively verify occupational hygiene results (for qualitative RA only)
- Occupational hygiene evaluation (for quantitative risk assessment only)
12
Q
RA process: Step 2 - evaluate risks
A
Evaluation (use model) consists of:
- “Measuring” the risk
- Prioritize risks
- Categorize risks
- Interpretation of data
13
Q
Dose effect relationship
A
Dose = concentration x time
AND
Effect = toxicity of substance (k) x dose
THUS:
Effect = concentration x time x toxicity
THUS:
Risk = Probability x exposure x consequence
14
Q
RA Process: Step 3 - Existing vs required controls
A
- Impact of control procedures on risks
- Compile list of existing control procedures
- Record the effectiveness thereof
- Re-visit risk ranking
- Compile list of (other) required (legislative) control procedures
THUS
Recommended controls = Required controls - existing controls
15
Q
Critical 7 issues of RA
A
1 . Company organogram - need to establish HEGs
- Draw process flow - list which HEGs are involved where
- List environmental factors per HEG
- Determine level of exposure (probability)
- Determine time of exposure (exposure)
- Determine consequence of exposure (MSDS and other effects)
- Calculate risk (probability x exposure x consequence)
