Risk Assessment and Management

What is Risk?

Risk, for the purposes of OH&S, can be defined as the degree of probability of injury or loss given a defined set of circumstances.

Therefore safety is linked to the presence or absence of hazards, the degree of exposure to those hazards, the potential harm the hazards may cause and the relative effectiveness of available control measures.

Simply put, the better the control measures, the lower the risk.

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What is a Hazard?

Hazards are present in all workplaces and in the broader community setting.

Hazards cannot be entirely eliminated but if hazards are controlled effectively they do not always pose a significant risk to employees or other persons i.e. not all hazards are dangerous all of the time.

WorkCover NSW defines a hazard as 'anything (including work practices and procedures) that has the potential to harm the health and safety of a person'.

A hazard may also be defined as a condition which is inherent in the work or which has the potential to cause death or injury and interrupt or interfere with a work process or activity.

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Where Can I View the UWS Hazard Identification Assessment and Control Procedure?

» Hazard Identification, Risk Assessment and Control Procedure (PDF, 116Kb)

How can Hazards be Identified in the Workplace?

Hazards can be identified in a variety of ways. Listed below are some effective methods for identifying hazards:

  • observation
  • OH&S Consultation
  • workplace inspections (see the checklist section on the Index to OH&S Documentation page)
  • health and environment monitoring
  • safety audits
  • monitoring accident and injury experience
  • investigating accidents
  • advice for authoritative sources such WorkCover NSW, manufacturers and suppliers of plant and substances
  • job safety analysis.

It is customary at UWS for hazards to be identified using a number of methods, as reliance on a single method may lead to hazards being overlooked or underestimated.

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What is Risk Management?

Risk management is the process of identifying, quantifying and ranking risks and their associated losses, and developing cost effective management strategies to eliminate or control the risks.
 
For occupational risk management purposes, the WorkCover NSW website - Risk Management provides an explanation of the process as it applies to workplaces.

Who is Responsible for Risk Management?

Under OH&S laws in NSW, the employer is legally obliged to implement risk management i.e. identify the foreseeable hazards in the workplace and apply appropriate control measures.

At UWS this is called conducting a risk assessment. This process is carried out in consultation with employees. WorkCover NSW website - Risk Management provides more detailed information regarding the nature and scope of risk assessments.

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What is a Risk Assessment?

There are many ways that a risk assessment can be conducted. UWS has developed a proper procedure for conducting risk assessments.  This procedure was developed in consultation with OH&S committees.

The procedure ensures that:

  • the assessments reflect the requirements of Clause 9 of the OH&S Regulation 2001
  • risks are assessed in a uniform way across the University
  • the process is driven by management in consultation with employees
  • assessments can be thorough but not too time consuming
  • the completed risk assessment form is a record for future reference
  • control measures are applied according to the 'Hierarchy of Control Principle' and are commensurate with the level of risk posed to employees and other persons.

» Hazard Identification, Risk Assessment and Control Procedure (PDF, 116Kb)
» Hazard Identification, Risk Assessment and Control Worksheet (PDF, 101Kb)
» Hazard Identification, Risk Assessment and Control Worksheet (Word version) (.doc 122 Kb)

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When Must Risk Assessments Be Done?

In theory a risk assessment can be undertaken at anytime however this may not lead to the most effective use of time and resources.

The following list provides an indicative idea of when risk assessments should be undertaken or reviewed at UWS.

  • When a job is first undertaken
  • Immediately prior to using premises for the first time as a place of work
  • When a new piece of equipment is installed
  • When new or relevant information regarding health and safety becomes available from an authoritative source e.g. WorkCover
  • When substantial changes are made to a system of work
  • When there has been an injury to a person undertaking a job or to a person near where a job is being performed
  • Following an accident that did not result in an injury or damage
  • When there is evidence to suggest that a current risk assessment is no longer valid
  • When hazardous substances and/or dangerous goods are introduced into the workplace
  • As part of the design and construction of a new facility
  • Prior to conducting an experiment
  • As part of developing and designing a new subject, unit or course outline 
  • Prior to conducting a field trip - see Fieldwork Safety Guidelines (PDF, 383Kb)

If you are unsure of what you should do or whether a risk assessment is warranted you can contact the OH&S Unit for advice and assistance.

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Who Should be Involved in Conducting a Risk Assessment?

As stated earlier, management is responsible for ensuring that risk assessments are carried out in consultation with employees and relevant stakeholders. This means that a number of people may be required to take part in the process.

What is the Role of the Employee in Conducting a Risk Assessment?

Employees play a vital role because it is often the case that an employee will know most about their work and the hazards/risks inherent in the work.

At UWS it is expected that employees will take a proactive role in the risk assessment process by offering constructive information and feedback.

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