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FOREST SERVICE MANUAL
PACIFIC NORTHWEST REGION (REGION 6)
PORTLAND, OREGON
FSM 6700 – SAFETY AND HEALTH PROGRAM
CHAPTER 10 – SAFETY AND HEALTH PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION
R6 Supplement No.: 6700-2012-2
Effective Date: August 21, 2012
Duration: This guide is effective until superseded or removed.
Approved: Nora B. Rasure
For the Regional Forester
Date Approved: 08/16/2012
Posting Instructions: Supplements are numbered consecutively by title and calendar
year. Post by document; remove the entire document and replace it with this supplement.
Retain this transmittal as the first page(s) of this document. The last supplement to this
title was R6 FSM-6700-2012-1.
New Document
R6 FSM 6713.2 - 6713.5
Superseded Document(s)
by Issuance Number and
Effective Date
None
7 Pages
0
Digest:
6713.2 to 6713.5 – Establishes Region 6 Risk Management Guide. These guidelines are
for Region 6 Forest Service only.
R6 SUPPLEMENT FSM-6700-2012-2
EFFECTIVE DATE: August 21, 2012
DURATION: This supplement is effective until superseded or removed.
FSM 6700 – SAFETY AND HEALTH PROGRAM
CHAPTER 10 – SAFETY AND HEALTH PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION
TABLE OF CONTENTS
6713 – STANDARDS ........................................................................................... 3
6713.1 – Adoption of Standards ..................................................................................... 3
6713.2 – Principles ......................................................................................................... 3
6713.3 – Region 6 Program Requirements ..................................................................... 3
6713.4 - Tools ................................................................................................................. 4
6713.5 – Risk Assessment Implementation .................................................................... 5
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R6 SUPPLEMENT FSM-6700-2012-2
EFFECTIVE DATE: August 21, 2012
DURATION: This supplement is effective until superseded or removed.
FSM 6700 – SAFETY AND HEALTH PROGRAM
CHAPTER 10 – SAFETY AND HEALTH PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION
6713 – STANDARDS
6713.1 – Adoption of Standards
6713.2 – Principles
This guide establishes the Region 6, Risk Management Program. The intent behind
making risk based decisions is to identify, mitigate, and control risk at the lowest possible
levels. This guide outlines a five-step process that provides employees and managers
with a systematic and consistent method for identifying and managing risks associated
with any operation. There are four foundational principles associated with risk
management which should be continuously employed throughout all operations. These
principles are as follows:
1. Integrate risk management into decision-making, planning, preparation, and
execution of agency activities during the earliest stages possible.
2. Make risk decisions at the appropriate level in the chain of command.
3. Accept no unnecessary risk.
4. Accept risk only if the benefit outweighs the potential cost.
6713.3 – Region 6 Program Requirements
1. Management of risk will be incorporated into policy decisions, project planning,
and field operations. The five-step risk management process is as follows:
a. Identify the hazards. Employees and supervisors will work together to break
down the operation into the essential tasks and identify the hazards associated with each
task. This typically can be accomplished by completing the agency Job Hazard Analysis
(JHA) Worksheet.
b. Assess the risks. Analyze each hazard and assess the risk using the Risk
Assessment Code Matrix see in Exhibit 01.
c. Develop control measures and make a risk decision. Develop mitigating
measures that eliminate or reduce the hazard and associated risk. As mitigating measures
are developed, reevaluate hazards until all risks are reduced to an acceptable level. The
level of risk remaining after controls have been identified and selected is the residual risk.
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R6 SUPPLEMENT FSM-6700-2012-2
EFFECTIVE DATE: August 21, 2012
DURATION: This supplement is effective until superseded or removed.
FSM 6700 – SAFETY AND HEALTH PROGRAM
CHAPTER 10 – SAFETY AND HEALTH PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION
The decision to accept or reject the residual risk(s) associated with an action continues to
reside with line officers.
d. Implement control measures. Put mitigating measures (defenses) in place that
eliminate the hazards or reduce their risks to an acceptable level.
e. Supervise and evaluate. Enforce use of selected controls. Evaluate the
effectiveness of controls and adjust or update as necessary.
2. When employees and managers use this five-step process collaboratively to
identify potential hazards and risks associated with their work assignments, they should
be able to mitigate potential risk exposure to the lowest levels possible. When risk levels
cannot be reduced, employees and managers may then make informed, risk-based
decisions, as to whether or not the work truly needs to be accomplished. These basic
foundational risk management concepts are consistent with our agency value that reads,
“The safer we are the more successful we are”. Employee and managerial
responsibilities for integrating risk management are:
a. Supervisors will ensure their employees are knowledgeable of this guide, how
to make risk based decisions and how to complete a Job Hazard Analysis (JHA), R6-FS
Form 6700-7, as well as familiarity with using the Risk Assessment Code Matrix in
Exhibit 01.
b. Line officers, managers, supervisors and employees will work collaboratively
to employ the 5-step process to mitigate unacceptable risks.
c. Managers and employees will integrate risk management principles into
decisions, policies, processes, planning, and operations.
6713.4 - Tools
Risk assessments should be accomplished during the planning stage of an operation using
the Risk Assessment Code Matrix (in Exhibit 01) and the JHA Worksheet. Remember,
JHAs are a form of risk assessments in that they are a document which identifies
potential risk and associated risk mitigation measures. Risk Assessments should be
completed for each facility safety deficiency and employee hazard report in order to
prioritize risk mitigation efforts and agency resources.
1. Use of the JHA Worksheet. The JHA Worksheet provides a tool for identifying
hazards, assessing risk, developing and implementing control measures, enforcing use of
selected controls, and evaluating their effectiveness. When used effectively, JHAs should
help reduce the knowledge gap between employees and supervisors when designing new
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R6 SUPPLEMENT FSM-6700-2012-2
EFFECTIVE DATE: August 21, 2012
DURATION: This supplement is effective until superseded or removed.
FSM 6700 – SAFETY AND HEALTH PROGRAM
CHAPTER 10 – SAFETY AND HEALTH PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION
work procedures or when accepting new job tasks. Instructions are on the back side of
the form.
2. Use of the Risk Assessment Code (RAC) Matrix. The RAC Matrix is a tool that
can be used to determine how risky an identified hazard is in terms of probability and
severity. Each severity definition hazard is first assessed in relation to the probability of
a hazardous event occurring below (Exhibit 02). Then the potential severity of each
hazard is assessed in the probability definitions in (Exhibit 03). Severity is expressed in
terms of degree of injury or illness, loss of or damage to equipment or property, or
environmental damage. Finally, probability and severity are translated into a risk level
that must be either accepted or rejected.
3. Levels of Risk. There are four levels of risk that leadership must consider and
accept or reject. These levels are determined through the use of the Risk Assessment
Matrix, and are based on the severity of a hazard should it occur, and the probability that
the hazard will occur. Decisions to accept or reject risk continue to reside with line
officers. The four risk levels are:
a. Extremely High Risk: Death or permanent disability, system loss, major
property damage.
b. High Risk: Permanent partial disability, temporary total disability in excess of
3 months, major system damage, significant property damage.
c. Medium Risk: Minor injury, lost workday accident, compensable
injury/illness, minor system damage, minor property damage.
d. Low Risk: First aid or minor medical treatment, minor system damage.
6713.5 – Risk Assessment Implementation
1. Risk assessments come in many versions but the two most common forms in the
Forest Service are the JHA and the Tailgate Safety Session.
2. The JHA Worksheet, used in concert with the Risk Assessment Matrix, should be
accomplished during the planning phase of any project that may expose employees to
considerable risk of injury, illness or property damage. JHAs tend to lose their value
when developed for every single work task imaginable. The unintended consequence for
this is that JHAs for high risk projects and tasks become hidden amongst a volume of
JHAs that were developed for basic, everyday tasks, such as walking across a parking lot,
using a shredder, etc.
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R6 SUPPLEMENT FSM-6700-2012-2
EFFECTIVE DATE: August 21, 2012
DURATION: This supplement is effective until superseded or removed.
FSM 6700 – SAFETY AND HEALTH PROGRAM
CHAPTER 10 – SAFETY AND HEALTH PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION
a. The JHA Worksheet should be filled out completely and approved at the
appropriate level. This approval does not necessarily have to be received in writing. If
verbal approval from the risk decision authority is received, note this fact on the
worksheet (i.e., date, time and person issuing the verbal approval).
b. All personnel involved in the operation must be briefed on the JHA as it
pertains to their operational area.
c. A copy of each applicable JHA will be available at the work site.
d. Supervisors will review JHAs with crew members prior to beginning new
projects or changing work sites. Identify hazards not noted on the JHA. Discuss ways to
reduce these hazards, including the use of protective equipment. Document these
meetings. File documentation with other project work documents when the project is
completed.
e. At the conclusion of the operation, the JHA should be reviewed to determine
its level of effectiveness. An informal after action review should address shortfalls and
should lead to recommendations which can improve the JHA and subsequently enhance
employee safety for future, similar operations.
2. Field Risk Assessments (Tailgate Safety Sessions). Tailgate sessions will be used:
a. At the beginning of each shift prior to commencing field work. A written
tailgate safety session summary, or reviewing the JHA, is not required when the work is
pretty consistent each day. However, when new hazards become apparent, or changing
environmental conditions potentially increase the risk of the work, these situations should
be discussed and addressed.
b. When a JHA is not necessary, such as for low risk projects and routine
recurring work.
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R6 SUPPLEMENT FSM-6700-2012-2
EFFECTIVE DATE: August 21, 2012
DURATION: This supplement is effective until superseded or removed.
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FSM 6700 – SAFETY AND HEALTH PROGRAM
CHAPTER 10 – SAFETY AND HEALTH PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION
6713.2 – Exhibit 01
Risk Assessment Code (RAC) Matrix
Safety Risk Assessment Codes
HAZARD PROBABILITY
Frequent
A
SEVERITY
Catastrophic
Critical
Likely
B
Occasional
C
Extremely High
I
II
High (RAC 2)
(RAC)1
Marginal
III
Negligible
IV
High
(RAC 2)
Unlikely
E
Medium
High (RAC 2)
(RAC1)
Extremely
High
Seldom
D
(RAC3)
Medium
(RAC 3)
Medium (RAC 3)
Low (RAC 4)
Low (RAC 4)
Low (RAC 4)
6713.4 – Exhibit 02
Severity Definitions
Severity
Effect
Catastrophic
I
Death or permanent disability, system loss, major
property damage
Critical
II
Permanent partial disability, temporary total
disability in excess of three months, major
system damage, significant property damage
Marginal
III
Minor injury, lost workday mishap, compensable
injury/illness, minor system damage, minor
property damage
Negligible
IV
First aid or minor medical treatment, minor
system impairment
6713.4 – Exhibit 03
Probability Definitions
Probability
A. Frequent
B. Likely
C. Occasional
D. Seldom
E. Unlikely
The event occurs often, frequently, or with regularity
in one’s career or the life cycle of equipment items
The event occurs periodically with some regularity
but not frequently enough to be predictable
The event occurs sporadically but not with
consistent regularity or predictability in ones career
of the life cycle of equipment
Possible to occur but the chances of the event
occurring are remote
In this case, it is unlikely the event will ever occur