Guidance: HSW Risk Assessment Methodology HSW-PR09-WI01. Objective. Implementation

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1 1.0 Objective This Work Instruction is designed to assist in the assessment of health and safety and wellbeing (HSW) risk and suggested controls associated with hazards identified while working throughout RMIT. The purpose of a HSW risk assessment is to identify hazards associated with task / equipment and implement controls to reduce the risk of injury or illness. 2.0 Implementation Risk assessment is the process of: Determining the hazards to HSW that exist for a particular task, item or work environment; Determining the importance of each hazard by assigning it a risk rating; Formulating risk control measures that are reasonably practicable to apply, that will reduce the risk rating/score to an acceptable level; Documenting all these matters, usually on a risk assessment form. Risk assessments must be conducted: Before new or altered systems of work are established Before new plant and equipment or regulated plant is acquired Before new chemicals and substances are acquired Before buildings are acquired or leased Before businesses or operational entities are established or acquired When work environments are altered (for example: refurbishment or new building) When new information about workplace risks become available Page: Page 1 of 10

2 When responding to HSW concerns raised by staff, HSRs or others at the work and learning environment. When required by legislation for specific hazards. Leaders and supervisors must ensure that all reasonably foreseeable or identified hazards in their work area are risk assessed using the HSW-PR09 - HSW Risk Management process and guidance tools. Risk assessments should involve consultation with staff, students and Health and Safety Representatives 1 (HSRs) where applicable, who are undertaking the task or activity, so that they can provide input and advice. This is outlined in the HSW-PR07 Consultation & Communication process. Other persons with specific technical skills may also be required to be involved in the risk assessment process and to assist with recommending risk control measures. 3.0 Methodology When conducting a risk assessment there are 10 steps involved: Identify the activity and location Identify who is at risk Identify the hazards Identify the associated risks Rate the risks with existing controls Identify appropriate controls to be added Re-rate the risks Implement the risk controls Authorisation of risk assessment Review and monitor controls 1 HSRs are a legislative requirement in Victoria and Australia. Other jurisdictions can choose to follow these consultation requirements, if local legislation does not exist. Page: Page 2 of 10

3 3.1 Identify the Activity and Location The activity to be controlled must be described in full. Academic supervisors, laboratory/technical managers and relevant others should be consulted to ensure that all steps in the activity are identified. The location where the activity is taking place must also be identified. The location where the activity is taking place may influence the controls required. 3.2 Identify who is at Risk A staff/student may think that as they are conducting the work that they are the only person at risk. In a laboratory, for example, staff and students in the vicinity of that work are at risk also. On field trips other participants may be at risk, for instance in quarries, in boats, etc. The public may be at risk when monitoring traffic movements or when constructing research sites. The impact of an activity on others influences the type of risk controls that may need to be in place. Consider all the people who could be affected by the work e.g. staff, contractors, students, visitors, members of the public. It may be useful to consult with other persons that could be affected by the work. 3.3 Identify the Hazards A hazard is a source of potential harm or a situation with the potential to cause harm. Hazards can arise from: The work and learning environment The use of plant, chemicals and substances Page: Page 3 of 10

4 Poor work design or practices Inappropriate management systems and processes Human behaviour Emergency situations Numerous methods and sources of information can be used to identify hazards associated with the activity: Talk to supervisors about the substances and methods that are to be used Information from manufacturers of plant and equipment Information from suppliers of chemicals, e.g. Safety Data Sheets (SDS s) Australian and International Standards National, State and Industry Codes of Practice Local workplace inspection reports Incident data for the local area Inspection and Testing Reports 3.4 Identify Associated Risk of the Task/Activity Risk identification is a similar process to hazard identification except that you need to identify the harm that can be caused. For example, an identified hazard may be a chemical, however the associated risk is from exposure to the chemical such as burns to skin, eyes or inhalation whilst the chemical is being used. 3.5 Identify the risk rating Rating the risk helps to prioritise the implementation of control measures e.g. if an assessment identifies a trip hazard as low and a fire hazard as very high, then controlling the fire hazard is the priority. To identify the risk rating: consider what the consequences and likelihood would be. Page: Page 4 of 10

5 3.6 Consequence When estimating the consequences of harm from each hazard, consider: What type of harm will occur (e.g. strain, laceration, burn, amputation, death); How many people are exposed (e.g. a crane collapse on a busy road will be more severe than a collapse in a remote location due to the number of people who could be harmed); Could one failure lead to another (e.g. failure of electrical supply will stop local exhaust ventilation); Could it escalate to a more serious event (e.g. a small fire could get out of control in an area where there is a lot of combustible material). 3.7 Likelihood When estimating the Likelihood of harm occurring consider exposure and Probability: How often is there exposure (e.g. once a day/once a month); How long are people exposed to the hazard (e.g. 5 minutes or several hours); How close are people to the hazard (e.g. there may be a moving part but people don t go near it); Could any changes increase the likelihood (e.g. deadlines causing people to rush); Does the environment affect the hazard (e.g. very poor lighting); What are the behaviours or attitudes of the people exposed (e.g. young people may be less risk-aware, or shift-workers may be fatigued); How effective are current control measures. the likelihood that the consequence will occur once the individual is exposed; Has it caused an injury in the past, at RMIT or elsewhere; Page: Page 5 of 10

6 3.8 Risk Score Once you have determined the consequence and likelihood, calculate the risk score using the HSW-PR09-WI02 HSW Risk Matrix which will then determine if the risk is low, moderate, high or very high / extreme. The activity must not continue if the risk rating is High or Very High / Extreme unless there are higher level controls put in place. In all cases risk controls must be put in place to reduce the risk to as low as reasonably practicable. 3.9 Identify appropriate controls to be added To identify what control measures are needed: Check if there is legislation that has specific requirements for a control measure Check if a Code of Practice/Compliance Code has any guidance on controlling the hazard Check if there is a relevant Australian Standard on the topic Check the manufacturers guidance and/or any industry standards Check with other Schools/Work Areas and/or businesses if they have a similar hazard and how have they successfully controlled it Ask the workers if they have any solutions to the hazards they face When deciding to implement control measures, you must consult with relevant employees to make sure that the controls are suitable, as employees will know the task/area best and will have to work with the control measure on a day-to-day basis. The HSW-PR09-WI03 HSW Risk Control Work Instruction should be used to identify the appropriate risk controls. The hierarchy of controls is described as: Eliminate Substitute Page: Page 6 of 10

7 Isolate / Engineering controls Administrative controls Personal Protective clothing and Equipment (PPE) 3.10 Re-rate the risk In order to assess if the risk controls will be sufficient to reduce the risk, the activity must be re-assessed. The resulting risk ratings are known as Residual Risk Scores Implement the risk controls The risk controls identified in this instruction need to be implemented and used. If training is required, e.g. for a bio-safety cabinet or piece of plant, then this must be done prior to using it Authorisation of health and safety risk assessment All risk assessments must be authorised by the supervisor of the activity, this must be completed prior to any works commencing. In addition to the supervisor, if works are being conducted in specific work areas, such as laboratories or workshops, and the Residual Risk Scores are assessed as Moderate, then the manager of those spaces must also authorise the activity. If Residual Risk Scores are assessed as High or Very High / Extreme, then the activity is not to proceed until higher level controls are in place Monitor and review the risk controls The risk controls must be working to ensure that the risks have been reduced to the lowest risk level that is reasonably practicable. A monitoring plan such as a Risk Register must be in-place, to ensure the risk controls are operating as designed. Page: Page 7 of 10

8 A health and safety risk assessment is a living document. It needs to be reviewed regularly but particularly when: A change of process occurs A change in a workplace substance, e.g. hazardous chemical, occurs An incident occurs A legislative requirement changes, e.g. storage of gases or chemicals A cause for concern amongst staff and students occurs HSW Risk Assessments should be reviewed every 12 months. 4.0 Responsibilities As per HSW-PR09 HSW Risk Management Process. 5.0 Definitions Defines any key terms and acronyms relating to the process where they apply. Term Hazard Consequence Probability Risk Definition Any situation that has the potential to cause injury or illness, harm to health and/or danger to property or the environment. The most probable result of interaction with the hazard The likelihood that the consequence will occur once exposed to the hazard A risk arises when it's possible that a hazard will actually cause harm. The level of risk will depend on factors such as how often the job is done, the number of workers involved and how serious any injuries that result could be. A risk is the possibility that harm (death, injury or illness) might occur when exposed to a hazard in your workplace. Page: Page 8 of 10

9 Term Risk Control Definition Risk control means taking action to eliminate health and safety risks so far as is reasonably practicable, and if that is not possible, minimising the risks so far as is reasonably practicable. Eliminating a hazard will also eliminate any risks associated with that hazard in your workplace. 6.0 Supporting Documents Lists the supporting and related Processes and Guidance Material, Legislative references, Australian and International Standards etc. that may be useful references for process users Document Number HSW-PR09 HSW-PR09-WI02 HSW-PR09-WI03 HSW-PR09-WI04 HSW-PR09-FR01 HSW-PR09-TM03 HSW-PR09-TM01 HSW-PR09-TM01 HSW-PR09-TM01 HSW-PR09-TM02 HSW-PR07 Document Name HSW Risk Management Process HSW Risk Matrix HSW Risk Control Guidance Work Instruction SWMS Work Instruction SWMS Review Checklist Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) Form Template Risk Assessment Form Template Hazardous Manual Handling Risk Assessment Form Template Hazardous Chemicals Risk Assessment Form Template HSW Risk Register Template Consultation & Communication Process Page: Page 9 of 10

10 7.0 Revision Rev No. Issue Date Nature of Amendment Page No(s) Author Department New Document All HSW Team HSW /7/2017 Revised GSM Document All L. Woods/ J.Saunders HSW Team Page: Page 10 of 10