1.

Risk Assessment

The intent of the risk assessment is to identify key hazards and risks and to identify appropriate risk management to mitigate or
minimise the identified risks. The hazard assessment and risk management strategies identify and rate the hazards involved with the
design and construction of the project with respect to risk on people, assets, costs, and timing. For every assessment, it is equally
important to ensure that those affected are informed of the risks and of the proposed control measures to ensure that they are not
placed at unnecessary risk.

Legal Requirements

Employers are required to carry out risk assessments by law. The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 and
the local government regulation, specifically require employers to undertake an assessment of the risks to, not only their own
employees, but also to other persons not in their employment, who may be affected by their activities. This requirement applies
generally to all of the activities and work carried out by an organisation.

Further to this, more specific requirements are also placed on employers under the following legislation:

 Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992

 Personal Protective Equipment Regulations1992
 Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992
 Noise at Work Regulations 1989
 Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002
 Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006
 Control of Lead at Work Regulations 2002
 Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005
 Work at Height Regulations 2005
 Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998

Definition of the key terms:

 HAZARD Something with the potential to cause harm.

 LIKELIHOOD The probability of a hazard being realised.
 SEVERITY A measure of the harm caused by the hazard.
 RISK This is a combined assessment of the likelihood and severity
for any given hazard.

When assessing the likelihood and severity, the following table is used for guidance:
 Risk Assessment Matrix

Increasing Probability 
1 2 3 4 5
CONSEQUENCE  Rare Unlikely Possible Likely Almost certain
1 Negligible 1 2 3 4 5
2 Minor 2 4 6 8 10
3 Serious 3 6 9 12 15
4 Major 4 8 12 16 20
5 Catastrophic 5 10 15 20 25

Total Level of risk Time scale

1-5 Low risk No priority
6 -10 Medium risk 12 Months
12 - 25 High risk Immediate

The following model is used for hierarchy of risk control.

Elimination
Substitution
Engineering
Administrative
Behavior

PPE
Figure: Hierarchy of risk control
5.1 Health and Welfare Hazard

Description:

Exposure to extreme heat can result in occupational illnesses and injuries. Heat stress can result in heat stroke, heat exhaustion,
heat cramps, or heat rashes. Heat can also increase the risk of injuries in workers as it may result in sweaty palms, fogged-up safety
glasses, and dizziness. Burns may also occur as a result of accidental contact with hot surfaces or steam.

Workers at risk of heat stress include outdoor workers and workers in hot environments such as fire fighters, construction workers,
boiler room workers and others. Workers at greater risk of heat stress include those who are 65 years of age or older, are
overweight, have heart disease or high blood pressure, or take medications that may be affected by extreme heat.

Reference & Publications:

This risk assessment and control measures has been developed in reference to the following:

 Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Safety and Health Topics: Heat Stress: provides a guide to
information regarding the recognition, evaluation, control, and compliance actions involving heat stress.
 NIOSH: Criteria for a Recommended Standard: Occupational Exposure to Hot Environments (Revised Criteria 1986):
Provides the criteria, techniques, and procedures for the assessment, evaluation, and control of occupational heat stress by
engineering and preventive work practices.
 INDG147-Keep Your Top on , Health Risks From Working in the Sun
Advice for outdoor workers to protect from UV radiation
 INDG337-Sun Protection, Advice for Employer of Outdoor Workers: provides the legal duty of the employer for the employees
those evolve in outdoor activities.

Legislation & Standards:

Employers have a duty under Kuwait environment protection authority in Appendix 6: Limits allowed for Heat Stress in Industry to
take every precaution reasonable in the circumstances for the protection of a worker. This includes developing hot environment
policies and procedures to protect workers in environments that are hot because of hot processes and/or weather.

Section 5(a) of the OSH Act of 1970 states that, "each employer shall furnish to each of his employees employment and a place of
employment which are free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to his
employees." This means that any amount of heat in the workplace that threatens the safety or life of an employee is forbidden.
 Alternatively, if an employer provides no heat in an indoor environment, the indoor temperature must not have the capacity to cause
injury or death to an employee.

Risk Assessment

Description of task: Occupational Heat Exposure Assessed by: Rabindra Assessment No: H-01

Location: Joint Operation, Wafra Date: 30/07/13 Review Date: 30/07/14

Risk Action
How might be harmed Existing control Proposed control measure (If by
Hazard Persons at risk Rating
be cause measure any) whom?
S L R
Hot humid environment;  Operatives  Ensure that change into dry

Manager Project
plugged sweat glands that  Site Visitors clothes and avoid hot
Heat rash lead to Red bumpy rash 3 3 9 environments. Rinse skin with
 Maintenance
with severe itching. staff cool water.
 Training for the loosen
staff clothing
Too much exposure to the  Operatives  Adequate sun  Move to shade;
sun which can cause Red,  Site Visitors protection if necessary.
painful, or blistering and  Maintenance  Used sunscreen  Apply cold compress or
peeling skin. staff liberally and apply immerse in cool water
often, especially when  Apply moisturizing lotion to
Sunburn sweating excessively 3 4 12 affected areas PM
 Selected SPF 15  Hydrate with fluids
 Proper wear of  Administer analgesics for pain
clothing, cap or fever
 Do not break blisters

Heat Heavy sweating drains a  Operatives  Eat all meals to 4 4 16  Sit quietly in the shade or cool PM
cramps person’s body of salt,  Site Visitors replace salt area
which cannot be  Maintenance  Consume salt-  Massage affected muscle
replaced just by drinking staff supplemented  Drink oral rehydration package
water which lead to beverages if adequate or sports drink
 Painful cramps in arms,
legs or stomach
which occur suddenly at
work or later at home.
Heat cramps are serious
because they can be a
warning of other more
dangerous heat-induced
illnesses.
Fluid loss and inadequate
meals have not been
consumed prior to
prolonged periods of
heavy sweating
 Ensuring adequate
heat acclimatization
 Operatives  Move to a cool area;
 Drink 0.05 to 0.1% salt solution
(add ¼ of MRE salt packet to 1
quart canteen)
 Get medical evaluation if
cramps persist
 GET MEDICAL ATTENTION.

water intake. Sudden
Fainting fainting after at least two
hours of work; cool moist
skin; weak pulse
Heat Fluid loss and inadequate
exhaustion salt and water intake
causes a body’s cooling
system to start to break
down. Heavy sweating;
cool moist skin; body
temperature over 38°C;
weak pulse; normal or low
blood pressure; tired and
weak; nausea and
vomiting; very thirsty;
panting or breathing
rapidly; vision may be
blurred.
Managing
Director
 Site Visitors loosen clothing; make Assess need for CPR.
person lie down; and 4 4 16
 Maintenance
staff if the person is
conscious, offer sips
 Operatives  Allowed for 4 4 16  Initiate active cooling by best PM
 Site Visitors acclimatization means available.
 Maintenance  Monitor by WBGT  Move to shade and loosen
staff  Keep workers in clothing
shade whenever  Lay flat and elevate feet
possible  Pour cold water over casualty
 Followed water and fan for cooling effect or use
replacement guides ice sheets around neck, axilla
 Observe work-rest and groin, if available
cycles  Monitor with the same (one)
 Identify high risk instructor or supervisor
individuals  Assess worker’s mental status
 Maintain buddy several times
system  Have worker slowly drink one
 Eat all meals in full canteen (quart) of cool
garrison and field water every 30 minutes with a
 Not taking dietary maximum of 2 canteens
supplements  Call for Medic evaluation of the
 Modify uniform casualty
accordingly  If no Medic available, call for
 Educated early ambulance
recognition of  Re-evaluate training mission if
symptoms several mild heat injuries occur
  Recognize cumulative
effect of sequential hot
days
If a person’s body has  Provided CALL AMBULANCE. This condition
used up all its water and competent can kill a person quickly. Remove
salt reserves, it will stop supervision excess clothing; fan and spray the
sweating. This can cause person with cool water; offer sips of
body temperature to rise. cool water if the person is
Heat stroke may develop conscious.
suddenly or may follow
from heat exhaustion.
Heat High body temperature
5 3 15 PM
stroke (over 41°C) and any one
of the following: the
person is weak, confused,
upset or acting strangely;
has hot, dry, red skin; a
fast pulse; headache or
dizziness. In later stages,
a person may pass out
and have convulsions.