1. Answers: What Hazards/Risks Have Been Identified? Due to large number
Answers:
What Hazards/Risks Have Been Identified?
Due to large number of computers being installed within the office premises and the staff
members cubicles, there have been a huge flow of different number of power extension and
network cables and wires running around from one end to another. This causes chances of
incidents and accidents. Additionally, the network switches are placed on the corner of the
desks without any fixed attachments. These just sit on top of the floor, with accidents and
incidents just waiting to happen. There is evidently lack of management and order within
the organization. This is serious risk and a sheer negligence in terms of workplace norms.
What Are The Consequences Of The Uncontrolled Hazards/Risks?
As evident from one of the incidents, a senior staff member, Freddy tripped on one of these
wires today and possibly broke his wrist. Hence, he will be required to take long medical
leave and miss out on work. The state of the affairs at the workplace is catastrophic, with
very serious incidents and accidents waiting to happen. This will lead to severe disturbance
in the workflow and will reduce the efficacy and efficiency of the workers, resulting in huge
setbacks for the organization as well as the employees.
Who Is Influenced By These Hazards/Risks?
All the employees, the staff members and the various human elements of the organization
will be equally impacted by this hazard. A messy workspace reduces the workflow and
productivity within the organization and portrays a negative image of the scenario. Serious
incidents and accidents can happen that can result in serious physical damage to the
employees and the staffs and can result in their medical injuries and situations where they
might need to take long leaves from their workspace, as it is evident from the incident that
happened with Freddy. This will also make the organization suffer due to lack of human
resource and eligible employees. With time if the situation worsens, this will result in
catastrophic consequences for the organization and the employees alike.
How Should We Assess The Levels Of Those Hazards/Risks?
2. Firstly, we will need to identify the risk and understand the nature of the risk. Secondly, we
will need to analyze the current scenario of the risk and the various effects of the risk. This
can be done via assessment and identifying deviations in situations before and after the
risk. This will allow to identify the magnitude of the risk. Third, we must find relevant
alternative and solution to remove the risk and replace it with safe and viable options. This
can be done by understanding the nature of the risk and what can be the suitable measure
to mitigate such risk. Lastly, we must remove the risk completely and install safety and
precautionary measures to allow for effective working of the organization with substitutes
and risk elimination measures.
How Should Those Hazards/Risks Be Controlled?
The risks can be controlled via following the hierarchy of control.
Elimination: One elimination measure to mitigate the risk can be to systematically remove
the mess and the entanglement of the wires.
Substitution: The traditional network and power extension wires can be replaced by flat
cables and cable organizers and managers. Also, the power outlets need to be fixed to the
walls or mounted on the side of the cubicles. This will manage and organize the cables
within the entire workspace, giving it a clean, polished and symmetric appearance.
Engineering Controls: The isolation of people from the hazard is important. Hence, during
the entire process, employees will not be allowed to near any of the wires and cables.
Administrative Controls: These controls will ensure people work differently. The employees
will be seriously penalized if the situation worsens again due to their negligence and
carelessness. Everyone will have to work smart and in a principled norm.
PPE: To prevent such incidents from happening, every employee will be provided with
sufficient amount of cable organizers and fixers to prevent similar incidents from
reoccurring again.
Why Has This Incident Been Reported For Escalation?
HINT: Is this due to company policies? / Legislation? /Good and prudent housekeeping
practice? /Breach of standards? Etc. perhaps more than one of these.
This incident has been reported for escalation due to the fact that the relevant incident is a
serious violation of the Company Policies and are a total disgrace to good and prudent
housekeeping practices. It is within the ground standard of an organization to have
structure and symmetry. This issue is a serious violation of that principle.
3. What Needs To Be Communicated?
Every employee will be subjected to RACI Analysis from now on. Every employee will be
held responsible, accountable for such incidents, if any occur in the future and will be
consulted and informed on the same. This will ensure order and structure within the
organization and will prevent any form of incidents like this one in the future. It will help
clarify each and every employee of the various roles and responsibilities and the
expectations from them.
Which Strategies, Including Training Activities, Will Facilitate Active Employee Participation
In WHS Management?
The various strategies that will facilitate active employee participation in WHS Management
are as follows –
Conducting regular workspace inspections and submit safety inspection forms to the
managers.
Filling out and submitting incident reports for incidents and near misses.
Adequate training to mitigate risks and understand various risk parameters and
preventions.
Penalty for employee who do not comply by the WHS Management Standards.
Robust organizational policies and procedures to prevent incidents and hazards.
Setting standards as per the WHS Health and Safety Committee.
Identify And Analyse The Management Behaviours That Facilitate Consultation.
The management behaviors facilitating consultation are –
Clearly set guidelines and policies and procedures.
Identifiable WHS framework for Governance and Operations.
Proactiveness and care from the employees.
Use of RACI Analysis to advocate accountability, responsibility, consultation and
information.
Identifiy And Analyse The Benefits Of Effective Processes For Monitoring WHS In The
Workplace
The benefits of effective processes for monitoring WHS in the Workplace are –
It allows for effective and robust WHS Policies and Procedures within the workspace and
allows for effective implementation of the same.
Predefined WHS allows for fundamentally sound and evidently applicable workplace
policies, with clearly defined guidelines.
WHS eliminates catastrophic risks within the workspace and provides guidelines to combat
4. any form of risk within the workspace.
WHS also allows for smooth functioning and working of the organization and its various
policies and procedures.
