Risk management is a process that involves risk identification.
This is achieved by the use of techniques such as
- inspections
- discussions
- JSA
- safety audits
- Hazops
List the considerations that risks should be evaluated against
- economic
- social
- legal
Give examples of economic risk considerations
- financial impact on the organization
- loss of production
- loss service
Give examples of social risk considerations
- well being of employees
- well being public
- stake holders security
Give examples of legal consideration for risk evaluation
- possibility of enforcement action
- fire damage
- accident and ill health leading to sickness increasing costs and claims
List the Risk control strategies
available
- risk avoidance
- risk retention
- risk transfer
- risk reduction
List the two types of risk retention
- risk retention with knowledge
- risk retention without knowledge
Selecting Risk Controls
some of the important risk reduction methods can be outlined below as:
- hazard reduction methods
- separation methods
- physical barrier methods
- dose limitation methods
What is a Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA).
Cost Benefit Analysis is a relatively simple and widely-used technique for deciding whether to make change. As its name suggests, to use the technique, simply add up the value of the benefits of a course of action, and subtract the costs associated with it.
To undertake a cost/benefit analysis, the following questions must be addressed:
- What costs are involved to reduce or eliminate the risk?
- What degree of capital expenditure is required?
- What ongoing costs will be involved, e.g. regular maintenance, training etc?
- What will the benefits be?
- What is the pay-back period?
- Is there any other more cost-effective method of reducing the risk?
Thought should also be given to the benefits
These range in nature and description, but may include:
- Lower insurance premiums as a result of no (or fewer) claims being made against the organisation
- Less absenteeism.
- Fewer accidents and incidents happening at the organisation.
- Fewer cases of property/equipment damage.
- Increased productivity andincreased morale and motivation amongst the workforce.
List Workplace Precautions
- If possible, avoid the risk altogether
- Carrying out a risk assessment to evaluate risks that cannot be avoided
- Combat risks at source, rather than taking palliative measures.
- Adapt work to the requirements of the individual
- Take advantage of technological and technical progress,
- Implement risk prevention measures to form part of a coherent policy and approach.
- Give priority to those measures which protect the whole workplace and everyone who works
there and so give the greatest benefit - Ensure that workers, whether employees or self-employed, understand what they must do.
- A positive health and safety culture should exist within an organisation
Categories of Control Measures include
- Technical e.g. design, fencing, ventilation.
- Procedural e.g. systems of work, maintenance
- Behavioural, e.g. information and training.
What is a permit to work system
A permit-to-work system is a formal written system used to control certain types of work that are potentially hazardous
List the requirements for a permit to work system
- concise and accurate info about who is going to do the work
- WI in permit must be considered the principal instruction
- no work at place or equipment not considered on instruction.
- no work not described on the permit
- permit only amended or changed by author
- moment employee receives permit, accepts responsibility
-There has to be effective communication with controllers of other plant and work areas if the
permit to work affects them - permit clearly defines limits and boundaries of work
- contractors on site needs to be identified in permit
When to use a Permit To Work?
- pressure testing
- well intervention
- work in HV electrical systems
- excavation, escape and rescue
- work at height
- breaking containment of flammable, toxic or other dangerous substances
- additional precautions involving more PPE
- diving, off shore work
- hazardous substances
- entry and work in tanks and other vessels
- sparks, or other sources of ignition
- work where heat is used
Permit systems should be:
- co-ordinated
- controlled
- adequately supervised
- monitored
List the Roles within permit-to-work systems
Originator Permit user Permit authorizer Issuing authority Performing authority Area authority Site checker Isolating authority
List the possible headings for a permit to work
- Permit title
- permit reference number
- Job location
- Plant identification
- Description of work to be done and it’s limitation
- Hazard ID
- Precautions necessary
- Protective equipment
- Authorization
- Acceptance - sign to indicate understanding and acceptance
- Hand over precautions
- Hand back - signed that work is complete
- Cancellation - certifying work tested and plant satisfactorily re-commissioned
List the Choice of Control Measures
- ‘So far as is reasonably practicable
- ‘So far as is practicable
- ‘Best practicable
Explain ‘So far as is reasonably practicable
- Degree of risk in a particular activity
or environment can be balanced against the time, trouble, cost and physical difficulty of taking measures to avoid the risk - If these are so disproportionate to the risk that it would be unreasonable for the people
concerned to have to incur them to prevent it, they are not obliged to do so
Explain ‘So far as is practicable
So far as is practicable, without the qualifying word ‘reasonably’, implies a stricter standard. This term generally embraces whatever is technically possible in the light of current knowledge, which the person concerned had or ought to have had at the time.
The cost, time and trouble involved are not to be taken into account
Explain Best practicable
The meaning of best practicable means can vary depending on its context, and ultimately it is for the courts to decide.
Where the law prescribes that ‘best practicable means’ should be employed, it is usual for the regulating authority to indicate its view of what is practicable in notes or even agreements with particular firms or industries
Define Safe Systems of Work
A safe system of work can be defined as “the integration of personnel, articles and substances in a suitable environment and workplace to produce and maintain an acceptable standard of safety
