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Element 5
Element 5
W e d n e s d a y, 1 O c t o b e r 2 0 1 4
Element 5
RISK ASSESSMENT:
Physical things which cause harm because of their physical characteristics e.g. electricity, work at height,
radiation, vibration, noise, heat, trip hazards.
2.
Chemical things which can cause harm because of their chemical characteristics e.g lead, mercury, sulphuric
acid, cement dust etc.
3.
Biological living micro organism that cause disease and ill health e.g. hepatitis B virus,
Legionella bacteria.
4.
Ergonomic stress and strain put on the body through posture and movement e.g. frequent repetitive handling
of small boxes.
5.
Psychological things that have the potential to cause injury to the mind rather than the body e.g. exposure to
highly traumatic event.
Risk
The likelihood that hazards will cause harm in combination with the severity of Injury, damage or loss that might
occur for example an electrical flex trailing across a busy corridor in a hospital creates a risk. For example an
electrical flex trailing across a busy corridor in a hospital creates a risk. The degree of risk can be described as
high or medium depending on how likely person might trip over that trailing flex and how badly they might be
injured.
The aim of risk assessment is to ensure that hazards are eliminated of risk is minimized by the correct application
of relevant standards.
2.
3.
The occurrence of breaches of statute law which might lead to enforcement action/ prosecution
4.
Injury accident
2.
3.
Near miss
4.
Dangerous occurrence
5.
Workplace inspection
Manufacturers information
2. Task analysis
3. legislation
5. Incident rate.
Workplace inspection
A formal inspection can help to find out hazards that are present at site.
Task analysis:
This method help to identifying hazards before work start. There is useful acronym for tasks analysis:
1.
3.
5.
Legislation:
Knowledge of the legal standards that apply to a particular workplace is an important.
Manufacturer information:
When new substance is purchased it comes with labels and MSDS that clearly identify hazards.
Incident Data:
Internal accident and near miss data can be useful in identifying hazards
3. Falling objects
6. Manual handling
9. Transport
12. Violence
Physical things which cause harm because of their physical characteristics e.g. electricity, work at height,
radiation, vibration, noise, heat, trip hazards.
2.
Chemical things which can cause harm because of their chemical characteristics e.g lead, mercury, sulphuric
acid, cement dust etc.
3.
4.
Biological living micro organism that cause disease and ill health e.g. hepatitis B virus, legionella bacteria.
Ergonomic stress and strain put on the body through posture and movement e.g. frequent repetitive handling
of small boxes.
5.
Psychological things that have the potential to cause injury to the mind rather than the body e.g. exposure to
highly traumatic event.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Identifying Hazards:
Hazards are the things with the potential to cause harm. It is important to identify both safety and health hazards.
The hazards identification might be done by task analysis, manufacturers information of inspection of workplace.
1.
Employees
2. Maintenance staff
3. Cleaners
4. Contractors
5. Visitors
6. Public members
Discussed the principle of rating risk using a simple scoring system for likelihood and severity?
Evaluating the Risk and Deciding on Precautions:
Risk can be scored or rated using a simple formula Risk = Likelihood X Severity
Semi quantitative risk rating system
Likelihood
Severity
1 = extremely unlikely
2 = unlikely
3 = possible
4 = likely
4 = hospital treatment
5 = very probable
5 = disabling injury
Clarity of thinking
2.
Consistency of approach
3.
Prioritization
4.
Timescale
1.
Clarity of thinking:
People are more carefully think about likelihood and severity of injury. It is giving accurate result.
2.
Consistency of approach:
Different people can use this system and will get similar result.
3.
Prioritization:
It is possible to easily separate out the various risks presented by several hazards and rank them in order
4.
Timescale:
It is even possible to allocate particular timescales to the risk rating that are calculated using this type of system.
Residual risk:
If the residual risk is low then it might be considered
Acceptable Risk:
The existing control are adequate nothing more need be done.
Tolerable:
Tolerable implies that it is not acceptable but can be tolerated for a short time while interim control are put into
place.
Unacceptable:
Implies that the risk level is too high for work to be allowed
State the principles which underlie the order of the general control
hierarchy?
General Control Hierarchy:
If the risk is unacceptable then controls must be introduced to either eliminate hazards or create safe place or a
safe person. Any residual risk must be acceptable
1.
2.
3.
Use of standards:
Legal standards can often be used to indicate what level of risk is acceptable.
If there are clear legal standards about the control that should be applied to particular hazard in a workplace then
the use of scoring system and risk prioritization and timescales will become unneeded.
substances
equipment
personnel
legal standards
Workplace environment
2.
1.
Accident
2. Near miss
3. ill health
1.
2.
Enable the employer to identify and prioritize the measures that must be taken to protect people from harm.
3.
Young person:
A young person is defined by law under 18 year age. There are several reason why a young person might be
vulnerable to risk in workplace
o Lack of experience
o Physical and mental immaturity
o Poor perception of risk
o Heavily influenced by peer group pressure
o Eager to show a willingness to work.
It may necessary to;
Prohibit a young person form carryout certain high risk activities
Restrict their work patterns and hours
Train and supervise them
2.
3.
4.
Extremes of temperature
5.
6.
Ionizing radiation
7.
8.
Stress violence
Disabled workers:
During the risk assessment process it may be necessary to:
Identify certain health and fitness criteria for some jobs then screen staff against these criteria
Identify workers with known disabilities and consider what the implications of their particular type and level of
disability
Lone workers:
People who work entirely on their own for periods of time like service engineers who spends four hours alone in a
plant room servicing machinery is a lone worker.