identification and quantification of risk resulting from a specific use or occurrence of a chemical or physical agent

1. RISK ASSESSMENT
Presented By: Zainab Arshad
BS Hons, Environmental Sciences
University Of Gujrat, Pakistan
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2.  Risk - a measure of
the probability that a
harmful event (death,
injury or loss) arising
from exposure to a
chemical or physical
agent may occur
under specific
conditions of
manufacture, use or
disposal
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3.  Acceptability of risk may differ for different
people;
 the worker in industry may be prepared to
accept certain risks as part of their job;
 the home user may wish as low a risk as
possible, especially where children are
concerned
 Risks to wild organisms in the natural
environment, especially plants and bacteria,
may be accepted by people because they
cannot see the consequences for their own
health
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4.  Risk assessment – identification and
quantification of risk resulting from a
specific use or occurrence of a chemical
or physical agent
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5.  Risk assessment is concerned with determining
those factors which are especially dangerous
and determining the likelihood of unacceptable
toxic exposure.
 A risk assessment involves evaluating existing
physical and environmental controls, and
assessing their adequacy relative to the
potential threats of the organization.
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7. Risk assessments are very important as they
form an integral part of a good occupational
health and safety management plan.
Help to:
 Create awareness of hazards and risks.
 Identify who may be at risk (employees,
cleaners, visitors, contractors, the public,
etc.).
 Determine if existing control measures are
adequate or if more should be done.
 Prevent injuries or illnesses when done at the
design or planning stage.
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8. Risk Assessment In A Workplace
 Step 1 - Identify hazards
 Step 2 - Decide who might be harmed and how
 Step 3 - Analyzing the risk
 Step 4 - Record the findings and put measures
in place to control the risks
 Step 5 - Implementing and prioritizing action
 Step 6 - Communicate the findings to staff
 Step 7 - Review the assessment and update if
necessary
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9. Step 1 - Identifying hazards and
related activities
 A hazard is "something that has the potential to cause
harm" including injury, loss or damage to plant and
property.
 Moving parts of machinery
 Noise
 Work at height
 Cleaning
 Vehicles
 Electricity
 Low or high temperatures
 Poor lighting
 Manual handling
 Repair 9

10. Step 2 - Identifying people at risk of
harm
 Identify groups or people who may be
affected.
 Employees
 Temporary workers
 Residents
 Volunteers
 Children
 Customers
 Cleaners
 Visitors 10

11. Step 2 - Identifying people at risk
of harm
 Pay particular attention to vulnerable people
 New or expectant mothers
 Young people
 Staff or customers with learning difficulties
 Inexperienced staff
 Staff, customers or visitors with disabilities
 Lone workers
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12. Step 2 - Identifying people at risk
of harm
Possible outcomes
 Cuts and abrasions
 Broken or dislocated bones
 Twists
 Unconsciousness
 Noise injuries
 Electrocution
 Spinal injuries
 Burns
 Drowning
 Flying or falling objects
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13. Step 3 - Analyzing the risk
 To analyze the risk, a matrix scoring system can
be used.
 Numerical scores are given to the severity and
likelihood of risks and these scores are
multiplied to get a rating for the risk.
 This means the risk rating is a measure of the
likelihood of harm that occur from a particular
hazard, taking into account the possible severity
of such an occurrence.
 Risk = Severity x Likelihood
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14. Severity of the hazard
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15. Likelihood of the hazard/risk
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16.  Risk rating
 By multiplying the scores for the
severity and likelihood, the risk is given
a rating ranging from 1 to 25.
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17. Risk = Likelihood of the event x Severity of
the impact
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18. Step 4 - Preventative control measures
Elimination - is it possible to avoid the risk
altogether?
 Substitution - change the way you do the work,
but take care not to introduce new risks (e.g.
using a safer chemical).
 Isolation - combat risks at the source and
prevent access to the hazard (e.g. guarding
machinery).
 Reduction - reduce the number of employees at
risk or reduce the duration of exposure.
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19.  Use information (written procedures, safe
systems of work), instruction, training and
supervision - ensure employees understand
what they must do and when, how they must
do it and what activities are prohibited.
 Use personal protective equipment, but only
as the last resort and only after all other
measures have been implemented.
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20.  Step 5 - Implementing and
prioritizing action
 Once any control measures have been
identified, management must decide the
actions to take based on the recommendations.
 For high risk activities, this would include a
decision about whether the work should
actually take place.
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21.  Step 6 - Communicating the
findings
 Information on risks and control measures
identified by the risk assessment should be
communicated to employees and others as
appropriate.
 Make copies of risk assessments available to all
the employees concerned.
 The completed risk assessment should provide
clear information about hazards, risks and
control measures to the employees carrying
out the work.
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22.  Step 7 - Review the assessment
and update if necessary
 It is important to know if our risk assessment
was complete and accurate.
 It is essential to be sure that changes in the
workplace have not introduced new hazards or
changed hazards that were once ranked as
lower priority to a higher priority.
 It is good practice to review our assessment on
a regular basis to be sure that nothing has
changed and that our control methods are
effective.
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23. Triggers for a review can also include:
 The start of a new project.
 A change in the work process.
 Introduction of new chemicals.
 A change or addition to tools, equipment,
machinery (including locations or the way they
are used).
 New employees.
 Moving to a new building or work area.
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