What does hazard mean?
“hazard” means a source of or exposure to danger
What is risk?
The possibility of harm
Official Definitions:
• means the probability that injury or damage will occur
• OHSA 93 of 2004
• means the likelihood that occupational injury or harm to
persons will occur
• MHSA 29 of 1996
• the effect of uncertainty on objectives
• ISO 31000 Risk Management
• (Here it is defined as either positive or negative)
How do you remove hazards?
• Infinite amount of money required to remove all
hazards
• Some hazards you can’t remove
• Shut down all industry
• Can be argued that the hazards of industrialisation outweigh the hazards of non-industrialization
• Hazard only MIGHT harm you
What is the zero harm policy?
A level of acceptable risk is always implied
What is “acceptable risk”?
- Legislation decides on some acceptable risks for you
- Personal Hazards:
- Regulated by OHSA, MHSA and subsequent regulations
- Environmental Hazards
- E.g. Regulated by Clean Air Act and regulations, Dust Control Regulations
- Societal Hazards
- Far more difficult to either quantify or regulate
- E.g. Monopolies kept in check by Competition Commission
- But they don’t cover everything!
How is risk described?
Using probability
How does the perception of risk differ?
From person to person
What is risk assessment?
- The estimation of risk • either quantitatively or qualitatively
- (Textbook definition of Risk Assessment is only relevant to healthcare scenarios)
- Evaluate Risk – Often a “Risk Level” is used:
Risk Level = Consequence x Probability
What is the difference between consequence and probability?
Consequence • Number of people who would die • Cost of incident • Cost of loss income • Economic Impact
Probability
• % Chance of happening in a year
• How many years it takes to happen ( 1 in 20 year event)
• Uncertainty of prediction
What is by no means scientific or comprehensive?
Industry experience?
How does one mitigate risks?
• Attempt bring either the consequence, or the probability, or preferably both, down
- Environmental Risk Mitigation:
- E.g. Particle Filters
- E.g. Water Purification before returning water to river streams
- Personal Risk Mitigation:
- E.g. Guards on rotating equipment
- Societal Risk Mitigation
- E.g. A mine has a environmental rehabilitation fund
What is maintenance strategy similar to?
Risk management
