Risk assessments made easy!
Phillip Crisp
EcoSolve Australia Pty Ltd
Advantages of risk
assessments
• reduced frequency of injuries
to students
to school staff
• reduced costs for paperwork, litigation and
payouts
• compliance with the law (c.f. industry)
• helps maintain variety of chemicals and
equipment
Advantages of a
formalised system
• ensures proper consideration of risks and
control measures
• standardisation within school-board area
• storage of records for legal purposes
• communication between teachers and
science technicians
Is it practical?
Paper-based system
NO (almost)
Electronic system
YES
Paper-based system
• time consuming
• unwieldy forms
many prompts - mostly empty space
few prompts - requires knowledge & skill
• non-searchable
• difficult to update
• storage problems
Electronic system
• relatively rapid
• prompts sensitive to context
• reduces paper consumption
• easy to review and update
• easy monitoring
• easy storage
• demonstrated to work in schools
(e.g. 650 schools in AU&NZ)
RiskAssess
• web-based risk assessment tool
• customised to the school situation
• provides
electronic templates (CA/ISO)
database information on risks
(chemical, equipment, biological)
equipment ordering
lab scheduling
• easy sharing of experiment templates
for customisation
Logic
• separate sections for teacher and science
technician
• initial assessment of inherent risk
if low, go to end
if medium or more, record control measures
if high or extreme, third reviewer required
• cross-checking by teacher/scitech/reviewer
• scheduling and ordering system to save time
• inexpensive ($160 per school per year)
Details
• access from school/home
• nothing to install on computer (instant update)
• unlimited number of simultaneous users and
risk assessments (virtually)
• minimal data entry
• complements MSDS/SDS
• student subscriptions, if desired
• continuing input from science staff
• multiple backups of data & backup server
• support and advice
Summary of benefits
• safer laboratories
• better communication
• meets legal requirements
• reduced costs
• happy teachers and sci techs!
Occupational Health and Safety
Code 2009
An employer
must assess a work site and identify existing and potential hazards before
work begins at the work site . . .
must prepare a report of the results of a hazard assessment and the methods
used to control or eliminate the hazards identified . . .
must ensure that the date on which the hazard assessment is prepared or
revised is recorded on it . . .
must ensure that the hazard assessment is repeated at reasonably
practicable intervals to prevent the development of unsafe and unhealthy
working conditions
...
Part 2 7(1)-7(4)
You should:
• identify
• assess
• control
risks
Before: Establish the context
After:
Monitor and review
Always: Consult and communicate
Risk identification
• history of “accidents” and “nearaccidents” at school
at similar schools
• brainstorming, preferably with friends
• checklists of possible risks
Risk assessment
To assess the severity of a risk,
you need to consider:
• the consequences of the event, and
• the chance that it will occur (likelihood)
CAS ISO 31000:2009 “Risk management”
HB 436:2004 “Risk management guidelines”
Risk matrix
Code
Consequences
Minor
Severe
OK
Likelihood
Likely
?
x
= acceptable risk
? = doubtful
CONSIDER THE OPTIONS
Unlikely
OK
??
x = unacceptable risk
DON’T DO IT!
Risk control
Hierarchy of options:
elimination
substitution
isolation
engineering
administration
personal protective equipment
Written procedure
Equipment
Potential hazards
Standard operating procedure
Manufacturer
instructions
EXPERIMENT
Materials
User
instructions
Potential hazards
Standard handling procedure
or
ACTIVITY
RISK
ASSESSMENT
Chemicals
Potential hazards
Standard handling procedure
MSDS
Living organisms
Potential hazards
Standard handling procedure
KEY
People
Potential hazards
Component
risk assessment
Standard handling procedure
Overall
risk assessment
Multi-level scale of consequences
• Level 1 : first aid treatment at the school
(Minor)
• Level 2: treatment by a doctor
(Moderate)
• Level 3: immediate hospitalization
(Severe)
Multi-level scale of likelihood
• Level 1: known to commonly occur; not unexpected in
the class
(Likely)
• Level 2: uncommon, rare, but sufficiently frequent to
have been witnessed by self or a known person
(Unlikely)
• Level 3: very rare; have heard of it happening; may
possibly have been witnessed by self or a known person
(Very unlikely)
Risk matrix
Consequences
Minor
Moderate
Code
Severe
OK
Likely
OK
x
x
= acceptable risk
(low risk)
? = doubtful
Likelihood
CONSIDER OTHER OPTIONS
Unlikely
OK
?
x
?? = very doubtful
Either DON’T DO IT or
PROCEED WITH GREAT CARE
Very
unlikely
OK
OK
??
x = unacceptable risk
DON’T DO IT!