What Is Risk Assessment
What Is Risk Assessment
What Is Risk Assessment
Identify hazards.
Analyze or evaluate the risk associated with that hazard.
Determine appropriate ways to eliminate or control the hazard.
supervisors and workers who work with the process under review as they are the most
familiar with the operation.
In general, to do an assessment, you should:
Identify hazards.
Evaluate the likelihood of an injury or illness occurring, and its severity.
Consider normal operational situations as well as non-standard events such as
shutdowns, power outages, emergencies, etc.
Review all available health and safety information about the hazard such as
MSDSs, manufacturers literature, information from reputable organizations,
results of testing, etc.
Identify actions necessary to eliminate or control the risk.
Monitor and evaluate to confirm the risk is controlled.
Keep any documentation or records that may be necessary. Documentation may
include detailing the process used to assess the risk, outlining any evaluations,
or detailing how conclusions were made.
the methods and procedures used in the processing, use, handling or storage of
the substance, etc.
the actual and the potential exposure of workers
the measures and procedures necessary to control such exposure by means of
engineering controls, work practices, and hygiene practices and facilities
By determining the level of risk associated with the hazard, the employer and the joint
health and safety committee can decide whether a control program is required.
It is important to remember that the assessment must take into account not only the
current state of the workplace but any potential situations as well.
See a sample risk assessment form.
Include people who work "off site" either at home, on other job sites, drivers,
teleworkers, with clients, etc.
Look at the way the work is organised or "done" (include experience and age of
people doing the work, systems being used, etc).
Look at foreseeable unusual conditions (for example: possible impact on hazard
control procedures that may be unavailable in an emergency situation, power
outage, etc.).
Examine risks to visitors or the public.
Include an assessment of groups that may have a different level of risk such as
young or inexperienced workers, persons with disabilities, or new or expectant
mothers.
Risk
May be unable to call for
help if needed
Priority Control
Increased chance of
collision
Longer working hours
Remember to include factors that contribute to the level of risk such as the:
There is no one simple or single way to determine the level of risk. Ranking hazards
requires the knowledge of the workplace activities, urgency of situations, and most
importantly, objective judgement.
measures, until this has been completed. Considerable resources might have to be
allocated to additional control measures. Arrangements should be made to ensure that
controls are maintained, particularly if the risk levels are associated with extremely
harmful consequences and very harmful consequences.
Very high - These risk are unacceptable. Substantial improvements in risk control
measures are necessary so that the risk is reduced to a tolerable or acceptable level.
The work activity should be halted until risk controls are implemented that reduces the
risk so that it is no longer very high. If it is not possible to reduce the risk, the work
should remain prohibited.
Note: Where the risk is associated with extremely harmful consequences, further
assessment is necessary to increase confidence in the likelihood of harm.
Adapted From:
Occupational health and safety management systems - Guide: British Standard, BS
8800, BSI 2004; and Managing Safety the Systems Way: Implementing OHSAS 18001
using BS 8800, BSI 2004.
Other options include using tables such as Table 3 below.
Table 3
Hazard Control Strategy: A Sample Worksheet
% Employees
Frequency of
Hazard
Affected
Occurrence
Ergonomics
60
H
Back pain
80
H
Noise
30
L
Heat
50
L
Lasers
2
L
H = High, L = Low
Hazard
Potential
H
H
H
L
H
Priority
60-HH
80-HH
30-LH
50-LL
2-HL
Priority
Rank
1 (?)
2 (?)
3
5
4
Medical attention
and several days off
2
3
4
work
First aid needed
3
4
5
From: Hazpak: Making your workplace safer. A practical guide to basic risk
management by WorkCover New South Wales, Australia.[n.d.] .
5
6
For more details, please see the OSH Answers Hazard Control.