Student RiskAssess:
an easy way to meet the safety
requirements of the new
Australian Curriculum
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
• compliance with the Australian Curriculum
Safety requirements in the
Australian Curriculum for Science
Years 4-12
Students to take increasingly active role in
consideration of risk and safety
Years 9 &10
“Assess risk” (Content description)
“identify potential hazards of chemicals and
biological materials . . .” (Elaboration)
Years 11 & 12
“Conducting risk assessments (Inquiry skill)
Australian Curriculum for Science
Implementation dates:
South Australia DECD
2013: Year 8
2014: Year 9
2015: Year 10
Completion: R-7 in 2015 & 8-12 in 2017
Other States and Territories
2012-2014 depending on school system
Student RiskAssess
is a
• fun
• interesting
• instructive
way to meet the safety requirements
of the Australian Curriculum
RiskAssess
“RiskAssess”
for Staff
Started 2008
“Student RiskAssess”
for Students
NEW in 2013
to meet
Aust Curriculum
Student RiskAssess
• web-based risk assessment tool
• tailored to the school situation
• customised for students
• provides
electronic templates (AU/ISO)
database information on risks
(chemical, equipment, biological)
equipment ordering
lab scheduling
• easy for teachers, especially RA users
Logic
• separate sections for student, teacher and
laboratory 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/labtech/reviewer
• scheduling and ordering system to save time
• inexpensive ($160 + GST 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
• continuing input from science staff
• multiple backups of data & backup server
• support and advice
Electronic devices
• computers
• laptops
• iPads (and other tablets)
• smart phones (iPhones,
Android, etc)
Digital technologies* are emphasised in
Science Inquiry Skills, Years 7-10
*technology systems that handle digital data including
hardware and software for specific purposes
Summary of benefits
• student engagement
• uses newest technologies
• training in life skills
• inexpensive
• happy students and teachers!
Work Health & Safety Act 2012
. . . a duty . . . to eliminate/minimise risks to
health and safety as far as is reasonably
practicable.
. . . taking into account and weighing up all
relevant matters including:
(a) the likelihood of the hazard or the risk
concerned occurring; and
(b) the degree of harm that might result from
the hazard or the risk
....
Part 2, Sections 17 and 18
DECD
Risk Management Framework
•
•
•
•
Based on ISO 31000 Risk Management
Context, Identify/Analyse/Evaluate/Treat risks
Review risks at least annually
Risk Assessment template + Risk Matrix
DECD, Procedure No: 07/4385
Risk Management Framework, 1 Feb 2011.
You should:
• identify
• analyse
Risk
assessment
• evaluate
• treat
Risk
control
risks
Before: Establish the context
After:
Monitor and review
Always: Consult and communicate
Risk identification
• history of “accidents” and “near-accidents”
at school
at similar schools
• brainstorming, preferably with colleagues
• checklists of possible risks
Risk analysis
To assess the severity of a risk,
you need to consider:
• the consequences of the event, and
• the chance that it will occur (likelihood)
AU ISO 31000:2009 “Risk management”
HB 89:2012 “Risk management guidelines”
Risk evaluation
To evaluate the severity of a risk,
you need to use a decision matrix,
known as a “risk matrix”.
Severity of a risk is the output of a table,
based on:
• the consequences of the event, and
• the chance that it will occur (likelihood)
Risk treatment
Hierarchy of options:
elimination
substitution
isolation
engineering
administration
personal protective equipment
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
• storage of records for legal purposes
• communication between teachers and
laboratory 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. >800 schools in AU,NZ&CA)
RiskAssess
• web-based risk assessment tool
• customised to the school situation
• provides
electronic templates (AU/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 laboratory
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/labtech/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 for Aust Curriculum
• 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 lab techs and teachers!
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!
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!
DECD
Multi-level scale of consequences
• Level 1 : incident with or without minor injury
(Insignificant)
• Level 2: first aid or minor lost time injury
(Minor)
• Level 3: serious injury and/or illness
(Moderate)
• Level 4: multiple serious injuries
(Major)
• Level 5: death of adult or child
(Critical)
DECD
Multi-level scale of likelihood
• Level 1: less than once in 15 years (possibility < 5%)
(Rare)
• Level 2: at least once in 5-15 years (possibility 5-25%)
(Unlikely)
• Level 3: at least once in 2-5 years (possibility 25-50%)
(Possible)
• Level 4: at least once in a year (possibility 50-75%)
(Likely)
• Level 5: multiple times in a year (possibility >75%)
(Almost certain)
DECD
Risk
matrix
Consequences
Insignificant Minor
Almost
certain
Likely
Likelihood
Possible
Moderate
High
Moderate Moderate
Low
Moderate
Major
High
Extreme
Extreme
High
High
Extreme
Moderate Moderate High
Critical
High
Unlikely
Low
Low
Moderate Moderate High
Rare
Low
Low
Low
Moderate High