Assessment of Health Risks

John M Dobbie
Health Programmes

H S E
 Health Programmes

• Key Features

- Input at design stage!

- Risk assessment and risk management

- Maintenance examination and test of controls!

- Operating procedures

- H S E during inspections
Health Programmes

• Key Features, cont’d

- Audit and review
- Information and training
HSE Policy, Getting HSE Right,
HSE Toolbox, Specific Risks and their Control
- Record keeping

• Leadership - You only get the level of HSE performance that you
demonstrate you want!
• Participation – Utilise the energy that your colleagues can provide
 Drivers

• “No harm to people”

• “Getting HSE right”

• “Legislation”
- European Health and Safety Directives
- COSHH Regulations 1999
Objectives of Risk Assessment
• Assess risks

• Specify steps to achieve control

• Identify what else needs to be done

- Monitoring and health surveillance

- SOPs

- Maintenance

- Training
Hazard and Risk

Hazard = Potential to cause harm

Risk = Likelihood that it will cause harm under

the actual circumstances of use
Hazard and Risk - Bridging
the Gap
RISK ASSESSMENT
A Management Tool
A Practical Exercise
Actual vs Perceived Risk

HAZARD RISK
Research
Production
Product
Distribution
Life
Constant Marketing Changing
Cycle
Consumer
Disposal

RISK = HAZARD * EXPOSURE

Risk

BENZENE * EXPOSURE = RISK

ACETONE * EXPOSURE = RISK

Assessment of Health Risks-
Gather Information
• Nature process / operation

• Substances / agents used and produced

• Form of substances / agents and where present

• Effect of substances / agents on the body

• Types and extent of occupational exposures

Assessment of Health Risks -
Gather Information Cont’d
• Control of substances / agents

• Exposure estimate (versus OEL)

• Observed versus recommended practices

• Worker experience / ill-health

• Other relevant information

Assessment of Health Risks -
Key Inventories
• Workplaces

• Jobs / Tasks

• Substances (inc mixtures)

• Other agents (noise, radiation)

• Control equipment (inc LEV, PPE)

• People
Assessment of Health Risks -
Sources of Information
• Safety data sheets

• Manufacturers labelling

• ACGIH / HSE criteria documentation

• Trade associations

• Technical and scientific literature

• Government guidance

• Company guidance
 Assessment of Health Risks –
Assess Risk
• Assess risk to health
- risk insignificant - no control measures
- risk not significant - effective controls
- risk significant - remedial action required
• Specify steps to achieve control
- hierarchy of controls
- allocate and track
• Identify other action required
- use
- maintenance, examination and test of controls
- monitoring and health surveillance
- information, instruction and training

NB: Must be suitable and sufficient

Assessment of Health Risks –
Assess Risk, Cont’d

• Conducted

• Recorded

• Dated and signed

• Review date allocated

NB: Conducted by a competent person

Assessment of Health Risks -
Occupational Hygiene

Recognition (Identify Hazards) = Observation

and Enquiry

Evaluation (Assess Risks) = No Exposure,

No Risk

Control (Control) = Control

Workplace Monitoring

Types:

• Personal

• Fixed Position

- area

- leak detection

- vessel
Workplace Monitoring, Cont’d

• An estimate of exposure to facilitate risk assessment

• Initial monitoring (to establish a baseline)

- nothing known

• Periodic

- assurance
Workplace Monitoring -
Initial Monitoring

• To establish the typical exposure situation and

it’s pattern.
• Check compliance with exposure limits.
• Identify areas where high emissions and high
exposures occur.
• Check efficiency of existing control measures.
- recommend additional controls.
 Workplace Monitoring -
Initial Monitoring, Cont’d

• Three stages
- Preliminary or walkthrough survey

- Comprehensive field survey

- A formal report

NB “Measurement does not equate to assessment”

“Measurement is not a form of control”
Workplace Monitoring -
Initial Monitoring, Cont’d

} Usually “Worst Case”

• Personal

• Full shift

• Breathing zone

• Valid sampling and analytical technique

• Comparison against a Hygiene Standard

• Competent person
Workplace Monitoring -
Periodic Monitoring
• Assurance that an acceptable level of control is
being maintained.

• Leak detection - process control.

• Personal monitoring - compliance with OELs.

- epidemiology.

- typical.

- sometimes background monitoring is undertaken.

Workplace Monitoring -
Periodic Monitoring, Cont’d
• Frequency?

OEL 1/10 OEL

Not Required
Frequency
Assessment - Review

• When significant changes to:

- substances/agents and/or their sources

- plant, e.g. modified

engineering/controls

- method of work

- rate of production
Assessment - Review Cont’d

• When indicated by:

- results of exposure monitoring,health surveillance,

process control.

- cases of occupational disease.

- new information on risk to health.

Key Features in the Practical Implementati
of Assessments
• Establish inventories
- hazardous agents
- tasks
• Appoint assessors (competency)
• Assessment plan
• Managable units
- set priorities
• Conduct assessment and draw conclusions
• Specify any action required
• Record assessments and actions required
• Communicate results
• Track action through to completion
• Review every 2 years or forthwith if you believe a
significant change has occurred
Assessment - Key Elements

• Gather information

• Assess risks to health

• Specify any action required

• Record assessment

• Review as necessary