RISK ASSESSMENT

Introduction to Safety

What is an Accident?
An accident is any undesired, unplanned event that results in Personal

Injury or in Property Damage.

What are the main causes of accidents?

1 - Unsafe Conditions 2- Unsafe Acts

Unsafe Conditions:- Inadequate guards - Defective tools - Congestion - Fire Hazards - Bad housekeeping - Hazardous atmospheric conditions - Excessive Noise
- Radiation Exposure - Inadequate ventilation - Insufficient illumination - No PPE - Wet and slippery surfaces.

Unsafe Acts:- Operating without authority. - Making safety devices inoperable. - Using defective equipment. - Improper lifting
- Smoking - Horseplay -Servicing equipment in motion. - Use wrong tools

Safe Practices:- Operating with authority. - Use equipment properly and as directed -- No Smoking. - No Horseplay. - Correct Lifting. - Use right tools

Risk Assessment

A risk assessment is a careful examination of what could cause harm to people.

What is a Hazard?
- A Hazard is anything that has the potential to cause harm, e.g. chemicals, electricity, working up a ladder. - Using a crane, forklift .

What is a Risk?
- The Risk is the likelihood that the hazard will cause harm and the severity of the consequence. - For Example: * If you are cleaning the oven with corrosive cleaner without using gloves or apron there is a great risk of being harmed. * If you wear all protective clothing and gloves and adhere to all safety precautions the risk is low. * If you change the chemical to a safer type and adhere to all precautions the risk will be even lower.

Risk Assessment In Practice

Five Steps to Risk Assessment: 1- Look for the hazards 2- Decide who might be harmed and how 3- Evaluate the risks and decide whether the existing precautions are adequate or whether more should be done. 4- Record your findings. 5- Review your assessment and revise it if necessary.

1- Hazard Identification
- Walk around the workplace and look afresh at what could reasonably be expected to cause harm. - Previous Accident Reports - Brainstorming - Knowledge of Employees - Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) - Manufacturers Instruction Books - Ask, What If .?

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The following are examples of plant, equipment or activities that are usually associated with a hazard:
- Work at heights, and access to/from it (roofwork, ladders, scaffolds). - Work below ground level and in confined spaces (tanks, ducts, trenches) - Manual handling of loads. - Work with electricity (portable tools, extension leads) - Hazardous chemical substances.

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- Display screen equipment. - Ionizing, non - ionizing and laser radiation - Pressure vessels / vacuum works - Flammable liquid and gases - Machinery and plant (machinery requiring guarding). - Grinding/milling machines - Woodworking machines. - Portable power tools. - Noise - Vehicles (forklift, cranes) - Disposal of special wastes.

List of Hazards
- Slipping/tripping hazards (poorly maintained floors or stairs). - Fume (from welding) - Dust (from grinding) - Manual handling - Poor lighting - Temperature - Electricity (poor wiring) - Ejection of material (from plastic molding) - Chemicals (battery acids) - Pressure systems (steam boilers).

2- Who Might Be Harmed and How

- Generally it will be staff occupying the workplace. - Attention must be paid to: * Visitors * Contractors * Cleaning staff * Maintenance staff * Inexperienced staff

Likelihood
Very Likely: Could happen Frequently Likely: Could happen occasionally Unlikely: Could happen, but only rarely. Likelihood: The chance of an event (which may cause injury or harm to person) actually occurring. Highly Unlikely: Could happen but probably never will.

Exposure
When evaluating the likelihood of an accident, a factor that will modify the likelihood category, is exposure. Exposure: Is a measure of how often or how long a person is actually exposed to a hazard, some examples are:

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Very Rare: Once per year or less. Rare: A few time per year. Unusual: Once per month. Occasional: Once per week Frequent: Daily Continuous: Constant

Consequences
Consequence is a measure of the expected severity should an accident occur. 1- Fatal: Death 2- Major Injuries: Normally irreversible injury or damage to health requiring extended time off work. 3- Minor Injuries: Typically a reversible injury or damage to health needing several days away from work to recover. 4- Negligible Injuries: Would require first aid and may need the reminder of the work period or shift off before being able to return to work.

Basic Risk Assessment

Consequence

Likelihood

Very Likely Fatality Major Injuries Minor Injuries

Likely

Unlikely

Highly Unlikely

High High High

High High

High

Medium

Medium Medium Low

Medium Medium

Negligible Injuries

Medium Medium

Low

Low

Risk Control
- When a risk assessment has identified a hazard as having unacceptable risks we have to put in place control measures to eliminate the risk or reduce the risk to an acceptable level.

HIERARCHY OF CONTROL
1- Elimination 2- Substitution 3- Isolation 4- Engineering Control 5- Administrative Control 6- Provide Personal Safety Devices