Work Health and Safety

Section 5

Vocational Education and TrainingTraining Toolbox Series

ICA11v1.0 Information, Digital Media & Technology

Cert I, II and III

Identifying and Assessing Hazards

and Risks

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Work Health and Safety

Table of ContentsSection 5 – Identifying and Assessing Hazards and Risks  Recognition of Hazards Slide - 04Components of a Hazards Slide - 06Components of a Risk Slide - 07Risk Assessment Slide - 08Risk Control Slide - 10Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) Slide - 11Preparing to Write a SOP Slide - 12Writing the SOP Slide - 13Evaluation of the SOP Slide - 14Distributing SOPs Slide - 15

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Work Health and Safety

Recognition of Hazards

Common methods used to identify hazards include:

  Workplace inspection  Process or task analysis  Review and analysis of past workplace accidents

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Work Health and Safety

Recognition of Hazards

Hazards can occur through:

  A process  An activity  An action A situation An event An arrangement A circumstance

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Components of a Hazards

Hazards can be grouped into six main types:

  Physical hazards  Chemical hazards  Biological hazards Ergonomic hazards Psychological hazard Substance abuse

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Work Health and Safety

Components of a Risk

“Risk is the likelihood that harm or injury from a hazard will occur.” Risk analysis components include:

  Who is susceptible to risk  The number of persons exposed  The degree of individual risk Eliminating or substituting the hazardous

substance The possibility of achieving safe levels The financial risk of hazards Public opinion and pressure groups Social responsibility and business image

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Risk Assessments

Probability of risk can be measured using the following scale:

  H - High risk  M - Medium risk  L - Low risk N - No risk

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These are problems that would or could happen frequently or there is a high or continuous exposure to the hazardDoes or could happen occasionally or occasional exposure to the hazardRare occurrence but could happenExtremely rare occurrences

Work Health and Safety

Risk Assessments

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Work Health and Safety

Severity of consequences can be measured using the following scale:

  V - Very high H - High  M - Medium  L - Low

Serious, disabling or fatal consequences, catastrophic property damage, major environment damage

Requirement of immediate and possible on going medical assistance or treatment, possible irreversible harm, costly property damage, major environmental cleanup

Reversible health damage and limited medical assistance required, time off work required for recuperation, repairable property damage, minor environmental damage

First aid treatment, little or no time off work, little property damage, little or no environmental concerns

Risk Control

‘Hierarchy of Control’ is used as a tool to control risks.

Hierarchy of Control is a process using the following steps to control risks:

  (1) Elimination (2) Substitution  (3) Engineering Controls  (4) Process or Procedure modifications/training (5) Personal Protection Equipment

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Work Health and Safety

Standard Operating Procedures (SOP)

A SOP can be used to define:

  Administrative/office functions/procedures Machinery/equipment/tool use  Manufacturing/assembly/fabrication processes  Purchasing of goods and services Equipment/machinery/tool repair Equipment/machinery/tool maintenance Shipping/transportation Handling and storage of products, materials or

compounds Dealing with contractors/consultants Workplace design

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Work Health and Safety

Preparing to Write a SOP

The writer of a SOP should be part of a team that includes:

  The worker The supervisor/manager  The equipment/tool/machinery supplier  A safety and health professional

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Writing the SOP

All SOPs should contain:

  A title and/or number The authors name and contact information  The product or reason for the procedure  Safety for each step A list of all protective equipment Directions for emergencies

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Work Health and Safety

Evaluation of the SOP

The following criteria may be used to determine the effectiveness of the SOP:

  Were the steps in a logical sequence? Were safety considerations detailed?  Were the steps defined with regard to identified risk?  Was the flow of steps sufficient to maximise

effectiveness? Did the SOP result in an efficient work effort?

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Distributing SOPs

Methods to make the SOP readily available to all workers or employees include:

  Company policy and procedural manuals Addendums to machinery or equipment user manuals  Included in new employee induction manuals  Noticeboards, newsletters or as work area posters

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End of Section 5

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