This is needless to say the importance of the HIRARC procedure to ensure a sustainable safe workplace for the employee, owner, and other stakeholders. Workplace hazard identification, risk assessment, and its control is an ongoing process in any organization which is one of the major challenges in a developing country like us. It must be done in various situations, like:
1. If it is not done before
2. When a hazard has been identified
3. When a change occurs in the workplace
4. After an incident
5. Routine checking for a safe workplace
What is a Hazard?
Any condition/situation/practice that has the potential to cause harm to the individuals/organization/environment is called hazard.
Hazard Identification
This is a process of examining the workplace and tasks to identify the hazards which are actually inherent in the job.
What is Risk?
Risk is the possibility that a harmful event will occur.
Risk Assessment is the process of assessing the risks associated with the identified hazard so that suitable control measures can be implemented.
Risk Control is the process of identifying and implementing effective control measures.
Risk Assessment Procedure
Risk assessment procedure can be described with the following 5 steps:
1. Step: Identify the hazards
In the hazard identification process management of the organization will:
- Examine past incidents to see what happened and whether the incident could happen again
- Ask employees to find out what they consider are safety issues
- Examine the workplace to find out what is happening now
- Review the user manual of the equipment, MSDS [material safety data sheets] and SOP to see what is written about safety precautions
- Think minutely what hazardous event could take place here in the workplace
Any hazard identified by this process should be recorded in a Risk Assessment and Control Sheet.
2. Step: Assess the risk
When a hazard has been identified management, in discussion with employees, should determine what is the possibility that someone could be harmed by the hazard and what are the consequences of the injury or illness could be. This should include:
- Identify the factors that may contribute to the risk
- Review health and safety information that is relevant to the particular hazard
- Evaluate the possibilities of an injury or illness and severity of the injury may occur
- Determine the actions necessary to control the risk
- Ensure to record the information relevant to the risk and its control
- All the risk factors should be identified, including [but not limited to]:
- The workplace, work environment, work layout, and condition
ii] The capability, skill, experience, and age of the employee
iii] The system/process of work
iv] The future conditions
- To process the risk assessment review the available information about hazards [e.g. local laws and regulations, international standards, professional code of practice etc.] and personal work experience to sort out the types of harms or illness could happen. When determining the possibilities of a person could be exposed to the hazard, please consider:
- Whether there is any risk factor that increases the possibility of exposure?
- What is the frequency that the person/material/organization/environment is exposed to hazard?
- What is the duration that the person/material/organization/environment is exposed to hazard?
- How many people are exposed?
- The level of severity
- The exposure level allowed by the statutory authority
- Management will identify hazards, assess the risks on an incident which is occurred and will set a priority for corrective actions by using a specific process e.g.:
- Identified hazard should be recorded on the Risk Assessment and Control Sheet
ii. All hazards should be categorized properly, e.g.:
- Mechanical risks
- Electrical risks
- Fire risks
- Temperature exposure risks
- Chemical exposure risks etc.
iii. A Risk Rating Matrix is used to assess the possibility and severity and consequences of each hazard.
3. Step: Evaluate the existing control
After determination of risk rating, each hazard must be evaluated under the existing Evaluation of Control Effectiveness Table:
4. Step: Implement additional risk control
- After identifying the hazard in the workplace, assessing the risks and reviewing the existing controls, all hazards must be managed before people are getting hurt or any damage occurs to the organization or the environment
- All hazards should be dealt with the following hierarchy:
- Eliminate the hazard
ii. Substitute the hazard
iii. Isolate the hazard
iv. Use engineering solutions
- Use administrative procedures
vi. Use PPE [personal protective equipment]
- Each step must have a distinguished person and a target date for the implementation of controls so that all required safety measures are completed within the stipulated time is ensured
5. Step: Monitor and Review
Since the Hazard Identification, Risk Assessment and Control is an ongoing process, we should regularly review the effectiveness of the procedure. We will ensure that the procedure is followed when there is a change to the workplace, work system, materials, tools, machinery or equipment. We will provide an additional supervisor when a new employee is introduced to the workplace.