Unit 4:

Lecture 5: Risk
Management
Risk Assessment/Risk Management

Prepared by T. Morgan-Bennett

Risk Management
On completion of this module the student
should be able to :
Define a hazard and a risk
Define and describe risk factors
Define risk assessment
Describe the steps used to carry out a risk
assessment with examples
Explain the principles of workplace control

Hazard:
Anything (e.g. condition, situation, practice,
behaviour) that has the potential to cause
harm,
including
injury,
disease,
death,
environmental or
property and equipment
damage

Hazard Identification:
This is the process of examining each work area
and work task for the purpose of identifying all
the hazards which are inherent in the job.

Work areas
Work areas include but are not limited to
machine workshops, laboratories, office areas,
agricultural and horticultural
environments,
stores and transport, maintenance and grounds,
reprographics, and lecture theatres and
teaching spaces

Risk:
The likelihood or probability that a hazardous
event (with a given outcome or consequence)
will occur.
The risk is the chance, high or low, that
somebody could be harmed by these and other
hazards, together with an indication of how
serious the harm could be.

Risk Assessment:
Can be defined as the process of assessing the
risks associated with each of the hazards
identified so that appropriate control measures
can be implemented based on the probability,
i.e. likelihood that harm, injury or ill health may
occur and how severe the consequences of
exposure might be.

Risk Assessment
Risk assessment

Likelihood of an event (Probability)

XSeverity of outcome

Risk Control
This is the process of identifying and
implementing the most cost effective risk
control measures having regard to the
Hierarchy of Control Principle,

Risk control
Risk control is a method to manage the risk to
an acceptable level.
There is a hierarchy of control measures that
needs to be followed, with the primary
emphasis on controlling the hazards at source.

Risk management
is the identification, assessment, and
prioritization of risks followed by coordinated
and economical application of resources to
minimize, monitor, and control the probability
and/or impact of unfortunate events

Monitoring and Review

This involves ongoing
monitoring of the
hazards
identified, risk assessment and risk control
processes and reviewing them to make sure
they are working effectively

Risk Management

Risk factors
Risk factors are defined as factors associated
with the demands of a job that can contribute
to (by increasing the likelihood and degree of
injury), or aggravate a work related disorder in
the worker(s) performing the action.

Risk factors
Method of work e.g. repeated tasks and unsafe work

practices
Electrical and mechanical hazards
Manual material handling e.g. lifting, pulling and
pushing
Chemicals e.g. corrosive substances
Machinery e.g. unguarded machines
Temporary structures e.g. scaffolds
Environmental conditions, e.g. slippery surfaces,
lighting, unstable soil conditions
Layout and location of equipment

Possible types of accidents, incidents and ill health

include (but not limited to):
Person falling from height
Object falling from height
Slips or falls on the level
Electrocution
Asphyxiation
Drowning
Noise induced deafness
Dermatitis
Collapse of structure
Fire and explosion
Struck by or against object
Soft tissue damage (sprains, strains)

Potential victims or persons-at-risk

include:
Persons directly involved in the operation
Visitors of the workplace
Persons not directly involved in the operation
Members of the public

Risk factors can be grouped

into two categories:
Direct risk factors which directly

stress/injure the workers body

Contributing risk factors and Modifying risk
factors - which affect how the task or action is
done.

Direct risk factors include

Direct risk factors include The level of
muscular "force exerted", "working postures
(awkward, static), "repetition" of actions, and
the "duration" of time these conditions are
sustained.
Other direct risk factors are safety hazards
and health hazards mentioned above
Direct risk factors are identified first. If these
risk factors do not exist, there is no risk and no
need to proceed with an assessment.

Contributing risk factors

Contributing risk factors affect how the action is
done. They are the source of the problem or the
cause of the direct risk factors.
Contributing risk factors include the "work area
design", the conditions of the "work environment",
the handling procedure" being undertaken, and
the characteristics of the job being performed.
Control measures are directed at these risk
factors. It is these risk factors that need to be
redesigned to eliminate or minimise the impact of
the direct risk factors

Modifying risk factors

Modifying risk factors contribute to a further
change in the impact of the direct risk factors.
Modifying risk factors include the "Characteristics of the individual worker", such
as a workers physical capacity, can modify the
effects of the direct risk factors on the body.

Modifying risk factors

This means that a task/action might have
adverse health effects for one worker, but not
another.
Work organisation" modifies the exposure to
the direct risk factors. It cannot change the
actual design of the task/action, just the
conditions under which it is done

Risk Assessment
Risk Assessment is an integral part of risk
management. It is the process of:
Identifying and analyzing safety and
health hazards associated with work;
Assessing the risks involved;
Prioritising measures to control the hazards
and reduce the risks.

Risk assessment
Risk assessment helps to:
Determine if existing control measures are
adequate or if more should be done
Prevent injuries or illnesses when done at
the design or planning stage
Prioritize hazards and control measures

Risk assessment is usually done in eight

steps as indicated below:
Step 1 -Identify the hazards
Step 2-Having gathered information in steps 1

now

determine how likely or probable it is, that the

hazardous event will take place and the person will be
exposed to the hazard.
Step 3--Determine the resulting consequence/impact,

were the hazardous event to occur.

Step 4:-Link the likelihood rating to the consequence

rating to give a risk rating (risk level of the hazard)

Risk assessment is usually done in eight

steps as indicated below:
Step 5 -Based on the risk level determined in

the risk priority step, risk controls should be

selected to reduce the risk level to an acceptable
level
Step 6-Record your findings and implement

them
Step 7-Review your risk assessment and

update if necessary
Step 8-Communication

Step 1-Identify the hazards

1. The first part of identification is to make a list of those tasks

undertaken at the workplace that poses a risk to employees

2. The second part of identification involves identifying the actions

involved in each of the tasks. Breaking the task into its actions
allows all the components of the task to be considered
3. The next part of the identification step is to identify the direct

risk factors associated with each of the actions.

4. The identification step also involves identifying the risk factors

that contribute to or modify the level of risk associated with

each of the actions

Step 2-Determination of likelihood &

probability of the hazardous event
Having gathered information in steps 1 now determine how
likely or probable it is, that the hazardous event will take place
and the person will be exposed to the hazard.
Risk Assessment by British Standards Organization
Likelihoo
Rating
d of Harm

Description

Very
Unlikely
(Remote)

Occurrence of event could happen but probably never will.

Less than I % chance of being experience by an individual
during working lifetime

Unlikely
(Occasiona
l)

Occurrence of the event could happen but rarely typically

experienced once in working lifetime of an individual.

Likely
(frequent)

Occurrence of event could happen occasionally typically

experienced once every 5 years by an individual.

Very Likely

Occurrence of the event will happen and with increase

frequency at least once every six months.

Step 3Determination of the

resulting
consequence/severity
Risk Assessment by British Standards Organization
Conseque
nces/Seve
rity of
harm

Rating
Description

Minor

No injury , injury or illness requiring first aid treatment only

Moderate

Injury requiring medical treatment or ill -health leading to

disability

Major

Serious injury or life threatening occupational disease

Extreme

Accidents or illnesses causing grave/or permanent distress

or death

Step 4:-Link the likelihood rating to the

consequence rating to give a risk priority (risk
level) of either:
Using a 4 x 4 Risk Analysis
Risk Assessment of Booth
Done by: T. Morgan-Bennett

Date: 31/10/2012

Task

Hazard

Moving
metal
drums to
spray
Falling
booth
object

Risk

Likelihood
Existing
Control
Measures

Workers
feet can
be crushed
by metal
drum
causing
injury
None

Manual
handling of
Unsafe drum can Training In
work
cause back Manual
practice injury
Handling

Risk
Rating/Priority

Severity
4

Step 4:-Link the likelihood rating to the

consequence rating to give a risk priority (risk
level) of either:
4 x 4 Risk Matrix
No. Hazard
FOFalling
1
object
UWP Unsafe
work
2
practice

Medium(G)

High (K)

High (N)

Low (D)

Medium(H)

High (L)

Critical(P)

Extreme (4)
High (O)
FO

SEVERIT
Y

UW
P

Major (3)
Low(B)

Medium(E)

Medium(I)

High (M)

Low (A)

Low (C)

Low(F)

Medium(J)

Remote (1)

UnLikely (2)

Likely (3)

Very Likely (4)

Moderate (2)

Minor (1)

LIKELIHOOD

Step 2-Determination of likelihood &

probability of the hazardous event
Having gathered information in steps 1 now determine how
likely or probable it is, that the hazardous event will take place
and the person will be exposed to the hazard.
Likelihoo
d of
Harm

Ratin Description
g

Remote

Occurrence of event could happen but probably never

will.

Likely

Occurrence of the event occasionally happen but

rare.

Very Likely

Occurrence of the event will happen and with

increase frequency.

Step 3Determination of the

resulting consequence/severity
Consequen
ces/Severit
y of Harm
Minor

Rating

Description

Occurrence of the event results in a minor injury or illness

requiring first aid. No lost time resulted.

Major

Occurrence of the event results in moderate to serious injury

or illness requiring medical to casualty treatment.

Critical

Occurrence of the event results in serious disabling injury or

death.

Step 4:-Link the likelihood rating to the

consequence rating to give a risk priority (risk
level) of either:
Using a 3 x 3 Risk Analysis
Risk Assessment of Booth
Done by: T. Morgan-Bennett

Date: 31/10/2012

Task

Moving
metal
drums to
spray
booth

Hazard

Risk

Likihood
Existing
Control
Measures

Severity

Risk Rating/Priority

Falling
object

Workers feet
can be
crushed by
metal drum
causing
injury
None

Unsafe
work
practice

Manual
handling of
drum can
cause back
injury

Training in
Manual
Handling

Step 4:-Link the likelihood rating to the

consequence rating to give a risk priority (risk
level) of either:
3 x 3 Risk Matrix
Medium (D)

No. Hazard
FOFalling
1
object
UWP Unsafe
work
2
practice

High (G)

Major (3)

FO

Low(B)

SEVERITY

Critical (I)

Medium(E)

Moderate (2)

High(H)

UW
P

Low (A)

Low (C)

Medium(F)

Remote (1)

UnLikely (2)

Likely (3)

Minor (1)

LIKELIHOOD

Step 5.-Risk control

Based on the risk level determined in the risk
priority step, risk controls should be selected to
reduce the risk level to an acceptable level.
This can be done by reducing the Severity
and/or Likelihood.
As indicated in the risk matrix in the Table
below when the risk level is High, effective and
practicable risk controls must be implemented
to reduce High Risk to at least Medium Risk.

Step 5.-Risk Control

Using a 4 x 4 Risk Analysis
Risk Rating

Risk Acceptability

Recommended Actions

1 , 2 & 3 (A , B, C, D & F)

Acceptable

No additional risk control measures may be needed. However frequent

review may be needed to ensure that the risk rating assigned is accurate
and does not increase over time.

4 & 6 ( E, G, H, I & J)

Moderately Acceptable

A careful evaluation of the hazards should be carried out to ensure that

the risk rating is reduced to as low as is practicable within a defined
time period. Interim risk control measures such as administrative
controls may be implemented. Management attention required.

8,9 & 12 ( K, L, M, N, O)

Not Acceptable

High risk rating must be reduced to medium risk before work

commences. There should not be any interim risk control measures and
risk control measures should be overly dependent on personal
protective equipment or appliances. If needs be the hazard should be
eliminated before work commences. Immediate management
intervention is required before work commences.

16 (P)

Not Acceptable

All work must be stopped and area barricaded to prevent interaction of

people and hazard. All control measures must be put in place before
work commences and must be overly dependent on PPE. If hazard can
be eliminated then this is the best method of control to be used.
Management must intervene before work commences.

Step 5.-Risk Control

Using a 3 x 3 Risk Analysis
Risk Rating

Risk Acceptability

Recommended Actions

1 & 2 (A , B & C)

Acceptable

No additional risk control measures may be needed. However frequent

review may be needed to ensure that the risk rating assigned is accurate
and does not increase over time.

3 & 4 (D , E & F)

Moderately Acceptable

A careful evaluation of the hazards should be carried out to ensure that

the risk rating is reduced to as low as is practicable within a defined
time period. Interim risk control measures such as administrative
controls may be implemented. Management attention required.

6 (G & H)

Not Acceptable

High risk rating must be reduced to medium risk before work

commences. There should not be any interim risk control measures and
risk control measures should be overly dependent on personal
protective equipment or appliances. If needs be the hazard should be
eliminated before work commences. Immediate management
intervention is required before work commences.

9 (I)

Not Acceptable

All work must be stopped and area barricaded to prevent interaction of

people and hazard. All control measures must be put in place before
work commences and must be overly dependent on PPE. If hazard can
be eliminated then this is the best method of control to be used.
Management must intervene before work commences.

Step 5.-Risk control

Hierarchy of Hazard Control

Step 5.-Risk control

ELIMINATION
Elimination of hazards refers to the total
removal of the hazards and hence effectively
making all the identified possible accidents,
incidents and ill health impossible.
This is a permanent solution and should be
attempted in the first instance. If the hazard is
eliminated, the risk associated of the hazard
will be eliminated.

Step 5.-Risk control

SUBSTITUTION
This involves substituting a dangerous process
or substance with one that is not as dangerous.
Substitution may not be as satisfactory as
elimination as there may still be a risk even if it
is reduced.
E.g. Asbestos can be substituted with nonasbestos materials.

Step 5.-Risk control

ENGINEERING CONTROLS
Engineering controls are physical means that limit the
hazard. These include structural changes to the work
environment or work processes, erecting a barrier to
interrupt the transmission path between the worker and
the hazard. This method has its problems in that the
hazard has not been removed.The barrier or separation
device is always at risk of being removed or
circumvented.
E.g. Isolation or containment of hazards, machine

guarding, manual handling devices/equipment etc.

Step 5.-Risk control

ADMINISTRATIVE CONTROLS
These reduce or eliminate exposure to a hazard by
adherence to procedures or instructions.
Documentation should emphasize all the steps to be
taken and the controls to be used in carrying out the
activity safely. The number of people exposed to the
danger can be reduced through reduction of the
amount of time exposed and providing training to
those people who are exposed to the hazard.
E.g. Permit-to-work systems, scheduling of
incompatible works etc.

Step 5.-Risk control

PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE)
This should be used only as a last resort, after
all other control measures have been
considered, or as a short term contingency
during emergency / maintenance / repair or as
an additional protective measure. It can be used
with other methods to increase control. The
success of this control depends critically on the
protective equipment being chosen correctly,
fitted correctly, worn at all times and
maintained properly.

Step 5.-Risk control

Using a 3 x 3 Risk Analysis
Risk Assessment of Booth
Done by: T. Morgan-Bennett

Task

Date: 31/10/2012

Likihood
Existing
Control
Measures

Hazard Risk
1
Workers
feet can
be
Moving
crushed
metal
by metal
drums
drum
to spray Falling causing
booth
object injury
None

Manual
handling
of drum
Unsafe can cause Training
work
back
in manual

practice injury
handling

Severity

Risk
Rating/Priority

Additional
Control
Measures
Required

Action Officer
Designation
( Follow-up
Date)

Provide
mechanical
lifting device
e.g. forklift

T. MorganBennett
(31/12/12)

Provide
mechanical
lifting device
e.g. forklift

T. MorganBennett
(31/12/12)

Step 6-Record your findings and

implement them
Names and designations of risk assessment team members
Inventory of work activities by process or location, associated

with machinery, equipment and chemicals Hazards identification

for each work activity, and possible types of accident or incident
Existing risk control measures
Risk level for each hazard
Recommendations on additional risk controls required
Persons involved in implementing the measures on risk reduction
Signatures, date and designations of the persons conducting risk
assessment
Signature, date and designation of management approving or
endorsing the assessment

Step 7-Review your risk assessment

and update if necessary
A review follow up is important aspect of any risk management

process.
It is essential to review what was has been done to ensure that the

controls put in place are effective.

Risk assessments must be reviewed at set frequencies to ensure that

controls are adequate and that the risk rating has not increased.
In the event where risk ratings change due to deterioration or

improvement of the work environment, the risk assessment should be

updated to include such changes.
If assessed and the controls implemented are deemed inadequate,

new controls should be implemented and the risk assessment updated.

Step 8-Communication

The risk assessment must be a live process

and must not be done once and confined to

document files.
Results of the risk assessments must be

communicated to managers and employees.

The End