Stage Management - Risk Assessment

how is risk assessment done?

Assessments should be done by a competent person or team of individuals who have a good working knowledge of the situation being studied. Include either on the team or as sources of information, the supervisors and workers who work with the process under review as these individuals are the most familiar with the operation. In general, to do an assessment, you should: Identify hazards. Determine the likelihood of harm, such as an injury or illness occurring, and its severity. Identify actions necessary to eliminate the hazard, or control the risk using the hierarchy of risk control methods. Evaluate to confirm if the hazard has been eliminated or if the risk is appropriately controlled. Monitor to make sure the control continues to be effective. Keep any documents 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. 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. By determining the level of risk associated with the hazard, the employer, and the health and safety committee (where appropriate), can decide whether a control program is required and to what level.

How do you know if the hazard will cause harm (pauses risk)?

Each hazard should be studied to determine its' level of risk. To research the hazard, you can look at: Product information / manufacturer documentation. Past experience (knowledge from workers, etc.). Legislated requirements and/or applicable standards. Industry codes of practice / best practices. Health and safety material about the hazard such as safety data sheets (SDSs), research studies, or other manufacturer information. Information from reputable organizations. Results of testing (atmospheric or air sampling of the workplace, biological swabs, etc.). The expertise of occupational health and safety professionals. Information about previous injuries, illnesses, near misses, incident reports, etc. Observation of the process or task. Remember to include factors that contribute to the level of risk such as: The work environment (layout, condition, etc.). The systems of work being used. The range of foreseeable conditions. The way the source may cause harm (e.g., inhalation, ingestion, etc.). How often and how much a person will be exposed. The interaction, capability, skill, experience of workers who do the work.

How do you plan for risk assessment?

In general, determine: What the scope of your risk assessment will be (e.g., be specific about what you are assessing such as the lifetime of the product, the physical area where the work activity takes place, or the types of hazards). The resources needed (e.g., train a team of individuals to carry out the assessment, the types of information sources, etc.). What type of risk analysis measures will be used (e.g., how exact the scale or parameters need to be in order to provide the most relevant evaluation)? Who are the stakeholders involved (e.g., manager, supervisors, workers, worker representatives, suppliers, etc.). What relevant laws, regulations, codes, or standards may apply in your jurisdiction, as well as organizational policies and procedures.

How are hazards identified?

Overall, the goal is to find and record possible hazards that may be present in your workplace. It may help to work as a team and include both people familiar with the work area, as well as people who are not - this way you have both the experienced and fresh eye to conduct the inspection. In either case, the person or team should be competent to carry out the assessment and have good knowledge about the hazard being assessed, any situations that might likely occur, and protective measures appropriate to that hazard or risk. To be sure that all hazards are found: Look at all aspects of the work. Include non-routine activities such as maintenance, repair, or cleaning. Look at accident / incident / near-miss records. 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 organized or done (include the experience 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.). Determine whether a product, machine, or equipment can be intentionally or unintentionally changed (e.g., a safety guard that could be removed). Review all of the phases of the lifecycle. Examine risks to visitors or the public. Consider the groups of people that may have a different level of risks such as young or inexperienced workers, persons with disabilities, or new or expectant mothers.

Why is it important to review and monitor the assessments?

It is important to know if your risk assessment was complete and accurate. It is also essential to be sure that any changes in the workplace have not introduced new hazards or changed hazards that were once ranked as a lower priority to a higher priority. It is good practice to review your assessment on a regular basis to make sure your control methods are effective.

What documentation should be done for a risk assessment?

Keeping records of your assessment and any control actions taken is very important. You may be required to store assessments for a specific number of years. Check for local requirements in your jurisdiction. The level of documentation or record keeping will depend on: Level of risk involved. Legislated requirements. Requirements of any management systems that may be in place. Your records should show that you: Conducted a good hazard review. Determined the risks of those hazards. Implemented control measures suitable for the risk. Reviewed and monitored all hazards in the workplace.

What are methods of hazard control?

Once you have established the priorities, the organization can decide on ways to control each specific hazard. Hazard control methods are often grouped into the following categories: Elimination (including substitution). Engineering controls. Administrative controls. Personal protective equipment.

How are risks ranked or prioritized?

Ranking or prioritizing hazards is one way to help determine which risk is the most serious and thus which to control first. Priority is usually established by taking into account the employee exposure and the potential for incident, injury or illness. By assigning a priority to the risks, you are creating a ranking or an action list. There is no one simple or single way to determine the level of risk. Nor will a single technique apply in all situations. The organization has to determine which technique will work best for each situation. Ranking hazards requires the knowledge of the workplace activities, the urgency of situations, and most importantly, objective judgment. For simple or less complex situations, an assessment can literally be a discussion or brainstorming session based on knowledge and experience. In some cases, checklists or a probability matrix can be helpful. For more complex situations, a team of knowledgeable personnel who are familiar with the work is usually necessary.

Why is risk assessment important?

Risk assessments are very important as they form an integral part of an occupational health and safety management plan. They help to: Create awareness of hazards and risk. Identify who may be at risk (e.g., employees, cleaners, visitors, contractors, the public, etc.). Determine whether a control program is required for a particular hazard. Determine if existing control measures are adequate or if more should be done. Prevent injuries or illnesses, especially when done at the design or planning stage. Prioritize hazards and control measures. Meet legal requirements where applicable.

What is the goal of risk management?

The aim of the risk assessment process is to evaluate hazards, then remove that hazard or minimize the level of its risk by adding control measures, as necessary. By doing so, you have created a safer and healthier workplace. The goal is to try to answer the following questions: What can happen and under what circumstances? What are the possible consequences? How likely are the possible consequences to occur? Is the risk-controlled effectively, or is further action required?

What is risk assessment?

The process of detecting hazards and assessing associated risks. Risk assessment - the overall process of hazard identification, risk analysis, and risk evaluation. Hazard identification - the process of finding, listing, and characterizing hazards. Risk analysis - a process for comprehending the nature of hazards and determining the level of risk. Risk evaluation - the process of comparing an estimated risk against given risk criteria to determine the significance of the risk. Risk control - actions in implementing risk evaluation decisions.Note: Risk control can involve monitoring, re-evaluation, and compliance with decisions.

When should a risk assessment be done?

There may be many reasons a risk assessment is needed, including: Before new processes or activities are introduced. Before changes are introduced to existing processes or activities, including when products, machinery, tools, equipment change or new information concerning harm becomes available. When hazards are identified.