Safety First !

RISK ASSESSMENT ACTIVITY

There are FOUR steps used to manage health and safety at work:

1. Spot the Hazard (Hazard Identification)

2. Assess the Risk (Risk Assessment)

3. Make the Changes (Risk Control)

4. Monitor the changes are working (Monitor/Review Control Measures)

1. Spot the Hazard (Hazard Identification)

A hazard is anything that could hurt you or someone else. Examples of workplace hazards include:

frayed electrical cords (could result in electrical shock)

speakers stacked precariously (they could fall on someone)

a noisy "sound" environment (could result in damage to your hearing)

During work experience, you must remain alert to anything that may be dangerous. If you see, hear or smell anything odd, take note.

2. Assess the Risk (Risk Assessment)

Assessing the risk means working out how likely it is that a hazard will harm someone and how serious the harm could be.

Hazard = Lots and lots of unsecured and tangled audio cables on the stage and backstage. What is the probability of this hazard causing harm - the risk?

You as the assessor rate the likelihood as high. The stage is frequently used by both performers, technicians and stage crew, therefore there is a high probability  that someone will be exposed to the hazard. You as the assessor rate consequences of a trip on the stage as moderate to high – with a sprain or break the worst foreseeable outcome. Therefore the risk rating for this particular hazard was assessed as high.

3. Make the Changes (Risk Control)

It is your employer's responsibility to fix hazards. Sometimes you may be able to fix simple hazards yourself, as long as you don't put yourself or others at risk.

For example, you can pick up things from the floor and put them away  to eliminate a trip hazard.

The best way to fix a hazard is to get rid of it altogether. This is not always possible, but your employer should try to make hazards less dangerous by looking at the following options (in order from most effective to least effective):

Elimination - Sometimes hazards - equipment or work practices - can be avoided entirely. 

Substitution - Sometimes a less hazardous thing, substance or work practice can be used. (e.g. Use a non-toxic glue instead of a toxic glue.)

Isolation - Separate the hazard from people, by marking the hazardous area, fitting additional lighting or putting up safety barriers. 

Safeguards - Safeguards can be added by modifying tools or equipment, or fitting guards to machinery.  

Instructing workers in the safest way to do something - This means developing and enforcing safe work procedures.

Students on work experience will be given information and instruction and must follow agreed procedures to ensure their safety.

Using personal protective equipment and clothing (PPE) - If risks remain after the options have been tried, it may be necessary to use equipment such as safety glasses, gloves, masks, and ear muffs. PPE can protect you from hazards associated with jobs such as handling chemicals or working in a noisy environment.

4. Monitor the changes are working (Monitor/Review Control Measures)

All identified hazards and their controls should be documented – usually referred to as a Hazard Register

Controls measures may include:

Ensure audits and workplace inspections are conducted; and

Ensure listed control measures are in use and maintained.

Risk Register reviewed on regular basis. It is an ongoing process and should be integrated into all workplace activities.

Hazard Management is the responsibility of both employees and management.

At work you can use these four steps to help prevent accidents.

Find your initials on the right hand side of each picture and complete a Risk Assessment. Complete this Task in your workbooks.

Use the 4 steps of A Risk Assessment

1. Identify all foreseeable hazards that have potential to harm anyone. That might include handling of unsafe work practice, unguarded machinery, poorly designed workstations, or manual handling tasks.

2. Assess the risk and amount of risk from the hazard. The goal here is to find out how much impact the risk would have on people exposed, and then establish the chance of this risk actually happening. 

3. Control the hazard or, if possible, remove the risk completely. This is done by introducing implementing strategies to eliminate or control the hazard. Good examples are to design equipment differently, brief workers, introduce lifting devices to minimize manual handling, or use personal protective devices.

4. Monitor and improve ‘control measures’ and find safer ways of doing things. A regular system of auditing the workplace to ensure controls are in place and working, is the last step to managing risk.  

 1.Olivia

2.Olivia

3.Oliva4.Mark

5.Mark       

6.Mark

7.Andrew

                                    

8.Andrew

9.Andrew

9.Maria

10.Maria

11.Maria

12.Matt

13.Matt

 14.Matt

15. <MAtt