Give the meaning of “risk assessment”.
A careful examination of what, in the workplace, could cause harm to people. It enables a weighing up of whether enough precautions are in place or whether more should be done to prevent harm to those at risk.
Give the meaning of “Perception”.
“The way that people interpret and make sense of presented information”.
What are the HSE “5 steps to risk assessment”?
- Identify hazards
- Who may be harmed and how
- Evaluate risks and decide on controls
- Record and implement findings
- Review and update
Give the meaning of Risk.
The likelihood that harm will occur x the severity.
What are the benefits of worker participation/ involvement?
- Lower accident rates
- Reduced costs
- Less threat of enforcement action
- Risk reduction through involvement
- Improved morale
- Increased productivity
- Improved reputation
Give the meaning of “human factors”.
“The environmental, organisational and job factors, and human and individual characteristics which influence behaviour at work in a way which can affect health and safety”
What is a “competent person”?
Competency consists of several aspects of which training is only one. Other factors which help determine competency include skills, knowledge, experience, appreciation and understanding of the task at hand, together with an appreciation of when one’s competency limits have been reached
Give the meaning of (health and safety) “culture”.
“The product of individual and group values, attitudes, competencies, and patterns of behaviour that determine the commitment to, and the style and proficiency of, an organisation’s health & safety programmes”. Simply, “the way we do things around here”.
What is the meaning of “Hierarchy of control”?
A set of measures, in priority order, which starts with the most preferred control and ends with PPE as a last resort.
When might a risk assessment be reviewed?
- After an accident
- Changes in legislation
- Changes in personnel
- Changes to the equipment or processes
- Changes in the layout or premises
- After an inspection or audit identifies faults
- Periodically
What are the barriers to good communication
- Noise
- Distraction/inattention
- Sensory impairment
- Complexity of information
- Language/literacy
- Ambiguity
- Jargon/abbreviations
- Lengthy communications
Give the typical content of a health and safety induction course.
- Introduction the health and safety policy
- Overview of site major hazards
- Names of key personnel
- General site rules
- Prohibited areas
- Accident reporting procedure
- Fire and emergency procedures
- Welfare facilities
What are the 3 work-related aspects that can impact on peoples’ health and safety behaviour?
- Job
- Individual
- Organisation
What are typical indicators of a positive (good) health and safety culture?
- Strong visible leadership
- Two-way communication
- Work and involvement
- Low accident/ill-health and sickness absence rates
- Good housekeeping standards
- Compliance with health and safety procedures
- Appropriate use of PPE
- Prominent and clear health and safety signage
What are the limitations of a health and safety notice board?
- Information may not be read
- Information becomes outdated if not changed
- Language barriers if multicultural work force
- Boards used for other purposes (such as advertisements)
- Become overcrowded - information overload
- There is no opportunity for feedback
Give the meaning of Hazard
Something with the potential to cause harm.
What characterises organisations with a poor health and safety culture?
- Inadequate health and safety policy
- Poor work planning, leading to high work pressure
- Lack of safe systems of work
- Lack of resources for health and safety
- Inadequate responses to previous incidents
- Management based on one-way communications
- Deficient co-ordination and responsibilities
- Poor management of health and safety
How can peer group pressure influence health and safety culture?
If a group is already working safely, then the group is likely to keep workers and new entrants in line with health and safety standards. If the group behaviour is unsafe, then the “peer pressure” of the group is likely to force new/entrant workers to behave the way the group does - unsafely.
What are the functions of a health and safety representative?
- Investigate hazards
- Investigate complaints
- Investigate accidents
- Inspect HS related documents
- Make representations to employer
- Talk to enforcement inspectors
- Receive information from employer/enforcement inspector
- Attend H&S committee meetings
What is the meaning of “suitable and sufficient”?
- Proper check was made
- You asked who might be affected
- You dealt with all the obvious significant risks
- The precautions are reasonable, and remaining risk is low
- You involved your workers
- Persons carrying out the assessment were competent
Give the meaning of “Attitude”
“The way the person believes they will respond in a given situation”
