Sources of Information used in identifying Hazards & Assessing Risk

Question 1

List the uses of accident/incident and ill-health data and rates

Answer 1

To classift industries according to risk

To classift workplaces

To classify occupations

To consider accident trends

To consider parts of the body injured

To consider where the fault lies

To measure the effect of preventive/control measures

Question 2

List some of the external sources of information

Answer 2

HSE

HSE Annual Report

HSE H&S Statistics

HSE Inspectors

Death Certificates

The Labor Force Survey

Question 3

List some of the internal sources of information

Answer 3

Accident Reports

Absence Records

Maintenance Records

Question 4

List some of the other national sources of information

Answer 4

INDUSTRY SOURCES
Statistical information which varies in its nature & usefulness.

TRADE UNIONS
Some trade unions produce information on safety and health matters. The interest here may be in making members aware of possible compensation areas.

INSURANCE COMPANIES
These set the premiums and need data to calculate the probable risks of any venture.

Question 5

List some of the international sources of information

Answer 5

The International Labor Organisation

The EU

Both produce literature which is probably most useful to international organisations.

Question 6

Give the reasons as to why care must be taken when comparing data between different organisations

Answer 6

The two organisations may use different definitions for a lost-time accident (some use >1 day lost for internal reporting of LTA rather than the RIDDOR seven-day and three-day definitions)

The figures may be for employees only and may be misleading for an organisation that makes wide use of contractors.

There is no indication of injury severity

Culture differences - one organisation may have a culture where they take time off even after a very minor injury; another organisation might have a very strong back to work culture where an injured worker might be brought back to work on restricted duties in order to avoid recording a lost-time accident.

There may be different risk levels between organisations

There may be different risk management arrangements in place relating to the standards of risk assessment, training requirements and standards of control etc.