Hazard Management & Control
Note: The University's Policy and Procedures have recently changed. Over the next few months, the School's Guidelines, Procedures and documentation will be reviewed to reference the new University Safety Policy and HSW Handbook.
Safety in the Workplace involves recognising hazards, assessing the risk and implementing controls that reduce the risk to an acceptable level.
Hazard Identification
Responsibilities
Risk Assessments
Hierarchy of Control
Safe Operating Procedures
University HSW Handbook: Chapter 3.5 - Hazard Management
Hazard Identification
Hazards can be identified in two ways:
Informal: If a person becomes aware of a hazardous situation, or of a potential source of danger, they take necessary steps to protect themselves and/or others, and then report the matter to their supervisor and the School HSO.
Formal: We are required by OHS&W legislation to identify reasonably foreseeable hazards that arise from work which may be a potential risk to health or safety. Some of the tools used for this are:
- Workplace Inspections
- Incident/Near Miss reports
- Testing and maintenance programs
Responsibilities in the Hazard Management Process
Everyone in the School has a responsibility to manage hazards.
Staff/Students: have a responsibility to ensure they understand and comply with safety requirements and procedures. Staff and students are also responsible for reporting any hazardous situation that could be a source of danger to their supervisor.
Supervisors/Group Leaders: have a responsibility ensure they understand and comply with the School's safety requirements and procedures. If notified of a hazardous situation, they must take appropriate action to eliminate or control any risk associated with that situation which included conducting risk assessments and developing safe operating procedures. Supervisors and Group Leaders must also ensure that any person under their supervision are:
- made aware of the University and School's hazard management procedures and that they have all their area's hazards controls in place.
- given a local area induction which includes information on relevant task specific hazards and their controls
- provided with appropriate information, training and instruction prior to the commencement of any work.
Risk Assessments
When hazards are identified, either by formal or informal means, a risk assessment is to be conducted using the University's risk assessment tables either in the RMSS system or in a paper based version.
The 3 key steps to the risk assessment process are:
1. The probability or likelihood of an incident occuring is evaluated;
2. The severity of the potential consequences is calculated or estimated; and
3. The risks are assigned a priority (risk rating) to identify the level of risk.
On the basis of the risk assessment, risks are to be eliminated, or where this is not possible, minimised in accordance with a hierarchy of control.
The School has a risk register where risk assessments and safe operating procedures can be located and downloaded. If the process or activity is similar but has some differences, you can use the generic risk assessment as a guideline, but you must develop a new risk assessment specific for that task or activity.
The risk register can be accessed by opening the link below:
Hierarchy of Control
The hierarchy of control is a sequence of options which offers you a number of ways to approach the hazard control process. You must work your way down the list and implement the highest level possible.
Elimination - e.g. you are able to completely eliminate the hazard e.g. cease the process, or remove the piece of plant from the workplace completely. If this is not practical, then:
Substitute the hazard with a lesser risk - for example, use a less volatile or dangerous chemical, use a lower voltage piece of equipment. If this is not practical, then:
Isolate the hazard - place hazardous electrical plant in enclosures with restricted access, place out of service tags on plant. If this is not practical, then:
Use engineering controls - create a barrier between yourself and the hazard, this might include guarding over or around a hazardous machine. If this is not practical, then:
Use administrative controls - this includes workplace inspections, electrical testing, signage, implementing safe operating procedures, instruction and training. If this is not practical, then:
Use personal protective equipment - this includes wearing gloves, safety glasses and lab coats.
More than one level of control can and should be used to reduce the risk. You might place guarding over a piece of plant, write an SOP and create signage for it, and if necessary, implement the wearing of PPE if there are chemicals/heat etc involved.
Safe Operating Procedures
Safe operating procedures outline the preferred method for undertaking a task, and aim to minimise the risk of harm to staff, students, property and/or the environment.
An SOP should be written by the staff member or student who is competent in the task. They should then be reviewed by subject matter experts and signed off by a manager or supervisor. SOPs should be developed for both repeated activities AND one off activities. They should be filed with the corresponding risk assessments and displayed on or near the activity.
A safe operating procedure must include the following:
- Sequential steps to complete the task from start to finish.
- Precautions before commencing the task.
- Personal protective equipment to be worn.
- Instructions to ensure the area is left safe for others.
- Cleaning, maintenance and waste disposal (where applicable).
- Emergency procedures specific to the task.
Training
We strongly encourage all staff and students to attend the following University held courses:
- RMSS Training Stage 1 (Risk Management Safety System)
- Hazard Management
To book in for this training, follow the link: University Training Programs
Feedback on the MBS HSW Web or its contents may be e-emailed to the MBS HSO.
