Assessment Activity Identify hazards and risks

Section 1 Assessment

Assessment activity: Hazards and risks

a) In your own words explain the terms ‘hazard’ and ‘risk’. Your explanation

should make clear the difference between the two.

...........................................................................................................................

Assessment activity: Identify hazards and assess the

risks

Identify two potential hazards related to your workplace tasks. Assess the level

of risk for each, using either:

; the Risk Priority Chart provided as a handout

; a similar risk rating tool used in your workplace (provide a copy)

Hazard 1 .................................................................................

..............................................................................................

Risk rating ..............................................................................

Hazard 2 .................................................................................

..............................................................................................

Risk Rating...............................................................................

Risk priority chart (risk score and statement)

? The State of Queensland (Department of Communities and Disability Services

Queensland) 2007.

LIKELIHOOD CONSEQUENCES:

How likely is How severely would it hurt someone (if it happened)? it to happen?

Insignificant Minor Moderate Major Catastrophic

(no (first aid (medical (extensive (death; toxic

injuries) treatment treatment; injuries; release of

only; spillage loss of chemicals)

spillage contained production)

contained but with

at site) outside

help)

Almost certain

– expected in 3 3 4 4 4 most H H A A A circumstances

Likely – will

probably occur 2 3 3 4 4 in most M H H A A circumstances

Possible – 1 2 3 4 4 might occur at L M H A A some time

Unlikely – could 1 1 2 3 4 occur at some L L M H A time

Rare – may

occur, only in 1 1 2 3 3 exceptional L L M H H circumstances

Risk score and statement

Score and Action statement

4 ACT NOW – Urgent – do something about the risks immediately.

A: Acute Requires immediate attention.

3 Highest management decision is required urgently. H: High

2 Follow management instructions.

? The State of Queensland (Department of Communities and Disability Services

Queensland) 2007.

M: Moderate

1 OK for now. Record and review if any

L: Low equipment/people/materials/work processes or procedures

change.

Workplace Health and Safety Risk Management Advisory Standard 2000 (DEIR)

? The State of Queensland (Department of Communities and Disability Services Queensland) 2007.

Section 2 Assessments

Assessment activity: Hazards and incidents

a) In your own words explain the difference between a hazard and an incident.

Outline any differences in reporting procedures and reporting responsibilities

that apply in your workplace.

...........................................................................................................................

b) Complete the following:

A notifiable incident is ...................................................................................

Notification is the responsibility of ..............................................................

Assessment activity: Report a hazard

a) Describe an urgent hazard that could occur in your workplace. This can be a

hazard that has already been reported and controlled, or one that could occur

in future.

Describe how you would report the hazard according to your workplace

policies and procedures.

Hazard: ...................................................................................

..............................................................................................

Procedure you will use to report this hazard, and why you chose this method:

..............................................................................................

Role/title of person the hazard will be reported to: .........................

..............................................................................................

.............................................................................................. ? The State of Queensland (Department of Communities and Disability Services

Queensland) 2007.

b) Choose a less serious (non-urgent) hazard related to your workplace tasks.

This can be a hazard that has already been reported and controlled, or one

that could occur in future.

Complete a Hazard Report Form using either:

; the Sample Hazard Report form provided as a handout

; a similar Hazard Report Form as used in your workplace

If you have previously completed a Hazard Report form to report a hazard in

your workplace, you can provide a copy of this for the assessment. ? The State of Queensland (Department of Communities and Disability Services Queensland) 2007.

Sample Hazard Report Form

1. Brief description of hazard/health and safety issue:

(Include details, if any, of immediate action taken to ensure the safety of persons who

may be affected.)

2. Where is the hazard located in the workplace?

3. Time/date hazard identified

Date: ___/___/___ Time: am/pm 4. Recommended action to fix hazard/issue

5. Reported to Workplace Health and Safety representative (WHSR)

6. Has the hazard/issue been addressed? YES/NO

7. Do you consider the issue/hazard fixed? YES/NO

Signature:

Date: ___/___/___

? The State of Queensland (Department of Communities and Disability Services

Queensland) 2007.

Assessment activity: Reporting incidents

The following scenario describes a non-notifiable incident that could occur in

your workplace.

Scenario

You are working overtime with a co-worker when she trips over a computer cable

and falls. A monitor attached to the cable then overbalances and falls on her

ankle, which appears to be broken. You take her to the doctor. Her ankle is

sprained and she will be off work for two days.

Demonstrate your understanding of the incident reporting process in relation to this incident:

a) Describe the process that would apply to reporting an incident, i.e. who you

would first report the incident to, who is responsible for investigating the

incident and completing an Incident Report form, and what happens to the

form on completion.

..............................................................................................

b) Obtain the Incident Report form used in your workplace or complete the

Sample Incident Report form provided as a handout. Complete the form as if

you are the person responsible for this task.

? The State of Queensland (Department of Communities and Disability Services

Queensland) 2007.

Sample Incident Report Form

Date of incident: Location of incident:

Accident investigation done by (names):

Details of personal injuries to (name/s):

The incident resulted in:

First aid treatment – yes/no

Lost time – yes/no

Medical treatment (not hospital) – yes/no

Admission to hospital – yes/no

No time lost/no treatment – yes/no

Details of property damage:

Description of what happened:

What factors contributed to this incident?

What was the one key reason this accident happened?

Immediate action taken to stop another incident:

Long-term action needed to stop a repeat or a worse incident:

Recommendations: (Action and person responsible)

To be checked by: Date checked: ___/___/___

Signed: Date: ___/___/___

? The State of Queensland (Department of Communities and Disability Services

Queensland) 2007.

Assessment Activity: Workplace processes

One of the key aspects of the Health and Community Services Industry Action Plan 2004–2007, risk assessment was a key activity in the area of developing workplace health and safety skills.

1. You will need to consider the hazard identification and risk assessment

processes related to manual handling.

; Obtain the workplace procedure related to manual handling.

; If none exists, do some online or library research to find some

appropriate procedures.

2. Identify an area or process at your workplace where a lot of lifting or

carrying takes place. Apply what you know to identify the hazards and

assess the risks.

3. Based on your workplace procedures, how would you go about it and what

action would you take?

Some tips for completing this assessment

; Review manual handling incident and injury reports.

; Observe manual handling work being performed at the location and note

what people do.

; Talk with workers and volunteers who do the manual handling: ask about

their experiences or ideas to reduce risk.

; Apply the hierarchy of control.

; Use the checklist provided with your learning materials.

(ManualHandlingChecklist.pdf)

; Refer to the Department of Employment and Industrial Relations material

at:

http://www.deir.qld.gov.au/workplace/subjects/manualhandling/injuries/

http://www.deir.qld.gov.au/workplace/subjects/manualhandling/people/in

dex.htm

Assessment Activity: Emergency procedures

Obtain a copy of the WHS manual or discuss emergency procedures with an WHS Officer or representative to answer the following questions:

1. Are evacuation procedures posted in your building/near your work area.

Where?

2. How often are fire/evacuation drills practised at your workplace?

3. What are the key roles delegated to staff members? What training do

these officers receive?

4. Describe how the signal to stand by, to evacuate, and to re-enter the

building is given.

? The State of Queensland (Department of Communities and Disability Services Queensland) 2007.

5. During a drill, how do you identify the delegated officers?

6. Following an emergency drill, who gives the ‘all clear’? Who gives the

order allowing staff to re-enter the building?

? The State of Queensland (Department of Communities and Disability Services Queensland) 2007.

DOCSFORD

Assessment Activity Identify hazards and risks