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Table of Contents
Section 2: Hazard Management
Introduction ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….……3
Definitions ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….………………3
Responsibilities…………………………………………………………………………………….……………….…………….4
Senior Leadership Team……………………………………………………………….………………………………4
Managers/Supervisors………………………………………………………………….………………………………4
Employees………………………………………………………………………………….………………………………..5
Hazard Management Process (RACE)…………………………………..…………….………………………………..5
Recognize - Hazard Identification……………………………………………………….………………………………..7
Hazard Categories………………………………………………………………….…………………………………….7
Reporting Hazards……………………………………………………………….……………………………………….8
Assess - Risk Assessment……………………………………………………………….……………………………………..8
Assigning Risk Designation…………………………………………………….……………………………………...9
Prioritization……………………………………………………………………………………….……………………….10
Control - Hazard Control………………………………………………………………………………………………….….10
Hierarchy of Controls…………………………………………………………………………….…………………….11
Evaluate……………………………………………………………………………………………….………………….…………..13
Appendix 1 – Hazard Assessment Process Flow Diagram………………………………………………..……14
Appendix 2 – Hazard Control Process Flow Diagram………………………………………………..…………..15
Appendix 3 – Risk Control Assessment Tool………………………………………………………………………….16
Appendix 4 - Hazard Control Action Plan Tool………………………………………………………….…………..17
Introduction
Hazard Management, Risk Assessment and Control
The Nova Scotia Occupational Health and Safety Act states that the employer is responsible for the identification and control of hazards. Hazard Identification, Risk Assessment and Control are critical to the success and effectiveness of any Occupational Health and Safety Program.
Hazard management is a proactive process to identify hazards and eliminate or reduce the risk of injury and illness to workers and damage to property, equipment and the environment. By managing all hazards, employers demonstrate their commitment and due diligence to a healthy and safe workplace.
Performing an annual review of each job hazard analysis (JHA) will provide an opportunity to reassess existing hazards, identify new ones and propose corrective actions. As stated in the NS OHS Act, under the Internal Responsibility System (IRS), all employees are responsible to maintain a healthy and safe workplace, for themselves and any other person at the workplace.
Definitions
Hazard: A hazard is any source of potential damage to property, physical harm, including acts of workplace violence or adverse health effects on someone under certain conditions at work.
Risk: the chance or probability that a person will be harmed or experience adverse health effects if exposed to a hazard or the chance or probability that damage will result to equipment, materials, property or the environment if exposed to a hazard.
Inherent Risk: The level of risk associated with the job, task, equipment, environment, etc. before controls are implemented.
Residual Risk: The remaining risk associated with the job, task, equipment, environment, etc. after controls are implemented.
Risk Assessment: The level of risk associated with the job, task, equipment, environment, etc. before new controls are implemented.
Safe Work Procedures: Safe work procedures (SWP) are a series of specific steps that guide a worker through a task from start to finish in a chronological order. Safe work procedures are designed to reduce the risk by minimizing potential exposure.
Responsibilities
Senior Leadership Team
· Ensure that the hazard management program is implemented at the workplace.
· Provide the resources to ensure that employees are involved in the hazard identification assessment and control process.
· Ensure that managers and supervisors are fulfilling their responsibilities for conducting hazard identification and implementation of hazard control recommendations.
· Ensure that written preventative maintenance procedures are established, reviewed and implemented for applicable equipment.
· Work with Joint Occupational Health & Safety Committee (JOHSC) members to evaluate hazards in the workplace along with supporting them to find suitable corrective actions for the control of the hazards.
Managers/Supervisors
· Complete a hazard inventory of the work area. This includes identifying and documenting the hazard, assessing the risk associated with the hazard and implementing corrective actions to control the hazard.
· Consult and collaborate with employees while conducting the hazard identification, completing the risk assessment and deciding how to control the hazard.
· Review the identified hazards and prioritize corrective actions based on the potential risk to the employee and work environment.
· Develop written safe work procedures (SWP) in consultation with employees.
· Review incident frequency and type within the department. This information will assist in choosing the appropriate preventative measures used for the Job Hazard Analysis (JHA).
· Keep all JHA reports for auditing purposes.
· Annually review the JHA and SWP for all employee positions. Ensure that newly created positions have an accompanying JHA and SWP.
· Inform employees of the hazards at their workplace by providing information, education, training and supervision. This should include SWP and hazard controls, which can be shared during routine safety talks, staff meetings and other times suitable to the [Organization Name].
· Document and maintain records pertaining to the information, education and training provided to employees. Ensure that records are available upon request by employees, employer, contractors, safety team or committees or the Department of Labour and Advanced Education.
Employees
· Report all hazards to the immediate manager or supervisor and cooperate with management in the identification, reporting and control of hazards at or near the workplace.
· Attempt to eliminate or control the hazard if it is within the scope of your ability and authority to do so.
· Participate in the hazard identification and control process, as required. Work with your manager/supervisor to recommend improvements to the control of any hazard.
· Take appropriate measures for protection of self and others from occupational injury and illness. Utilize all identified control measures.
· In cases where a hazard has been identified but not corrected by the manager/supervisor, report the hazard to your JOHSC.
Hazard Management Process (RACE)
To effectively complete the Hazard Management Process it is best to use a team approach. In general, the team should consist of members who have a good working knowledge of the tasks being performed. Appropriate members for this team include the manager or supervisor who has direct responsibilities and any employee(s) who performs the type of task being evaluated. It may also include a member of the JOHSC.
The hazard management process includes the following four steps:
Step 1 – Hazard Identification:
compiling an inventory of hazards (actual and potential).
Step 2 – Risk Assessment:
rating and prioritizing the hazards.
Step 3 – Hazard Control:
identifying controls presently in place and/or developing controls to be put in place to eliminate or reduce the impact of each hazard.
Step 4 – Evaluate:
look at the controls that have been put in place to determine if they are reducing risk or if they have created new hazards or issues.
A helpful way to remember the Hazard Management Process is by using the acronym
RACE:
Figure 1 RACE
Recognize the hazard.
Assess the hazard.
Control the hazard.
Evaluate the controls after implementation to determine if they are effective and do not cause additional hazard.
Hazard Identification (Recognize)
To develop a comprehensive list of hazards, one must examine all aspects of the work activity. Looking at the work from several perspectives most effectively does this. The following “4Ps” help to remember these perspectives:
· Product or service produced;
· Process or tasks undertaken to produce the product or service, including any equipment, which is used;
· Place or work environment, including the physical environment (building, vehicle, outdoors, etc.) and ventilation, lighting, weather, etc. where the work is done; and
· People or employees who do the work, including their occupations and duties. Do not forget workers who may be present at other times, such as cleaning or maintenance staff, or contracted workers or the workers of other employers who may be on site for some special purpose. Look at the duties undertaken by each category of employee. Also consider [Organization Name’s] resident/clients and members of the public and the potential for acts of violence.
Hazard Categories
When preparing for an inspection, it is important to know the five major categories of work-related hazards:
Physical hazards include mechanical hazards such as getting caught in machinery, pinched, crushed or run over. It also includes things falling on you, falls from heights, slips, trips and falls. Finally, it includes various forms of energy, including electricity, visible, ultra-violet and infrared light, microwaves, radio waves, ionizing radiation, noise, extremes of temperature, and fire and explosion
Chemical hazards include airborne gases, vapours, mists, dusts, and fumes as well as solids and liquids. Routes of exposure to chemical hazards include the skin (and eyes), ingestion (eating) and inhalation (breathing)
Biological hazards include dangerous animals (bites, stings, etc.), allergic or toxic reactions to plants and animals (waste, dander, etc.), micro-organisms (mould, mildew, etc.) and infectious diseases (including insect and tick bites, airborne and needle stick)
Ergonomic hazards include the interaction between people and machines (computers, lifts, slider sheets, etc.) or equipment (seating, workstation design, etc.) and environmental conditions relative to human performance and comfort such as lighting, thermal environment, body position and repetitive motion
Psycho-social hazards include work-related violence, stress, complacency, and fatigue.
Reporting Hazards
Current safety law in Nova Scotia says that all employers are required to have a process in place for employees to report any hazards, to receive these reports and follow up on reporting; including putting in corrective actions. In addition, the NS OHS Act requires all employers to notify employees of the hazard reporting process used in their workplace. Failure to follow the hazard reporting process is a violation of the NS OHS act and could result in charges. See section 4
It is the responsibility of all employees to report hazards.
Risk Assessment (Assess)
Once a list of hazards has been created, each must be rated to identify the risk associated for both the Severity of the occurrence and the Probability of it occurring.
Severity - is a way of rating the consequence or impact of a hazard, if an incident does occur. We look at the worst possible severity of the outcome, using a five level scale:
Catastrophic - Fatality / Coma
Serious - Severe injury – loss of, or use of limbs, hospitalization
Moderate - Injury Requires Medical attention
Marginal - Minor injury – bruises, cuts
Negligible - No injury
Probability - The likelihood that an incident will occur, regardless of what the outcome might be. We use the following five level scale:
· Certain - will likely happen often in the next year (100%)
· Likely - will likely happen in next year (75%)
· Occasional - will likely happen sometime in next several years (50%)
· Remote - unlikely but could be experienced in next several years (25%)
· Highly unlikely - event will not be experienced (5%)
To effectively complete the Hazard Assessment Program, it is best to use a team approach. In general, the team should consist of members who have a good working knowledge of the tasks being performed. Appropriate members for this team include the manager or supervisor who has direct responsibilities and any employee(s) who performs the type of task being evaluated. It may also include a member of the JOHSC or other Health and Safety representative employed at the workplace.
Assigning a Risk Designation
Following the identification and reporting of hazards it is important to assess the level of risk for each hazard. Priority is usually established by taking into account the employee exposure and the potential for accident, injury or illness. By assigning a priority to the hazards and therefore controls, you are creating a ranking or an action list. The following factors play an important role:
• severity of exposure,
• probability of occurrence.
A hazard assigned a higher risk rating would therefore take priority.
*When the hazard is identified, determine the controls which are already in place to ensure this information is taken into account when assigning a risk designation.
Table 1 – Risk Rating Matrix
Using Table 1, assign the risk rating to any hazard and determine which of these should be addressed first, using corrective actions.
Severity (consequence of exposure)Insignificant (1) / Minor (2) / Moderate (3) / Major (4) / Catastrophic (5)
Probability (likelihood of occurrence) / Certain (5) / 5 / 10 / 15 / 20 / 25
Likely (4) / 4 / 8 / 12 / 16 / 20
Occasional (3) / 3 / 6 / 9 / 12 / 15
Unlikely (2) / 2 / 4 / 6 / 8 / 10
Rare (1) / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5
· High Risk (16- 25) – Significant and unacceptable risks. Immediate action required.
· Medium Risk (9-15) – Significant risks.
· Low Risk (1-8) – Not significant. Should be addressed through regular health and safety measures and procedures.
Prioritization of the Hazards
As the hazards are assigned a risk rating, we can quickly see how one stacks up against another. With this information we can make decisions about how best to use our resources and address the hazards which have the greatest potential to do the most harm.
Hazard Control (Control)
There are a number of possibilities for controlling each of the identified hazards. Each hazard moves from its source, along a path, and eventually reaches the worker or the workplace. The closer a control is to the source of the hazard, the better able to control potential exposures/risks.
Hazards can be controlled:
• at the source;
• along the path to the worker (between the source and the worker)
• at the worker/workplace (always the last choice)
Hierarchy of Controls
All control strategies must be considered in descending order, starting with elimination.
Hazard controls are organized into the following categories:
Elimination: Whenever possible, remove the hazard completely through elimination. Examples include automating a function to eliminate manual handling, eliminating the use of a toxic chemical, eliminating the use of a piece of dangerous equipment, or eliminating the performance of a dangerous task.
Substitution: Where the hazard cannot be eliminated, consider alternatives to the processes, substances, machines or equipment being used. Substitution may reduce the risk of injury or illness to an acceptable residual level.
Engineering: Engineering controls involve the design of the workplace and its related processes. Engineering controls include ventilation systems, guards on equipment, fire suppression systems and enclosing of noisy machinery.
Administrative: Where the hazard cannot be eliminated, and where substitution and engineering controls do not adequately manage the hazard, administrative controls are frequently introduced to reduce the risk. Administrative controls include developing Safe Work Programs, Practices and Procedures or creating new policies, training and supervision. Approaches such as scheduling work, job rotation, procurement policies for equipment and materials, relocating employees from construction zones, etc. should also be considered.