Health and safety Risk Assessment Lecture.

1. Risk Assessments
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2. Why do we need
risk assessments ?
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5. Risk mitigation – a step too far?
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6. How and why did this happen …?
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http://www.colorado-workers-compensation.com/images/349_Kaufman_Glenwood_Accidents_Happen.jpg

7. Why are reminders necessary?
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8. At what point can you predict the outcome of
this sequence of events …?
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12. Practice drive complete – that evening …
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16. Can we predict some outcomes?
 If we can see the obvious now, is there any reason why
others might not have seen it?
 If it can be predicted is there any reason why it can’t be
prevented?
 Are some accidents just inevitable?
 Could risk assessments/regulations make any difference to
the preceding example? Why?
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17. Risk assessment process
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Consider project process and activities involved
Identify Hazards (existing and imposed) – complete risk assessments
Avoid, minimise or manage risk
Ascertain precautionary steps as defined in H&S Regulations, ACoP
Precautionary Measures Available?
YES
Identify Precautions NecessaryRecord in Safety Method Statements
Incorporate in Health and Safety Plan
NO

18. Critical thinking …
One of many processes for dealing with
risk assessments will be covered, but …
 Where are the weaknesses of the process?
 What, besides an effective process, is
required for risk assessments to be
effective at reducing accidents?
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19. The coursework report
 Standard items – cover page, contents, page numbering,
paragraph headings
 Introduction
 The aims … what the report will do
 The objectives … how the report will achieve the aims
 An executive summary
 The content …
 Conclusion
 References – sources …
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20. Context
Introduction - you can choose any
industry to contextualise your report in
order to demonstrate understanding…
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21. Key areas to cover
How effective is any safety process?
What are the weaknesses of any safety
process?
How critical is leadership and supervision
to successful implementation of safety
processes?
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22. Key areas:
How effective is any safety process?
 Do not describe the process – examine what works or not
and why;
 Do not write observations from statistics/graphs – make
deductions and reasoned arguments explaining why the data
may be accepted/rejected as valid.
 What use of such data can leaders make? Is there evidence
leaders are learning from such data?
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23. Key areas:
What are the weaknesses of any safety process?
 Think beyond identifying the weaknesses:
 What authoritative sources support these as ‘weaknesses’?
 What are the limitations to addressing these?
 and, where possible, what evidence is there that something
is being done to address these?
 How much of this is within the control of leaders?
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24. Key areas:
What are the strengths of any process?
 Think beyond identifying these,
 what authoritative sources support these as ‘strengths’?
 how are these strengths being used to increase safety and
sharing of best practice to raise standards?
 How critical is leadership and supervision to successful
implementation of safety processes?
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25. Consider the following issues in your report:
 What statistical trends cover the last 5 years for injuries
and fatalities (why is the trend up, down or static)?
 DO NOT DESCRIBE THE TREND – IT IS THE CRITICAL
EVALUATION OF THE CAUSATION OF THE TREND
THAT IS REQUIRED
 Is there any evidence of prosecutions for failure to
adhere to or use risk assessments? How does this
contribute to the arguments of effectiveness of risk
assessments?
 DO NOT DESCRIBE THE CASES IN DETAIL – IT IS THE
POINT OF THE CASES THAT IS REQUIRED AND YOUR
DEDUCTIONS ON CAUSE/EFFECT
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26. Consider the following issues in your report:
 What evidence is presented by any authority that risk
assessments are effective?
 WHAT STATISTICS INDICATE CAUSE/EFFECT LINK
BETWEEN ACCIDENT RATES AND RISK ASSESSMENTS
AND HOW VALID/ROBUST IS THE DATA TO
CHALLENGE/FLAWS?
 Is there any way to establish a link between the adoption of
risk assessments and safety improvements? If ‘yes’ what is
the evidence and how can the link be proven to be robust?
If ‘no’, how can anyone be certain risk assessments are
effective?
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27. Consider the following issues in your report:
 What influence does leadership have on behaviour towards
health and safety?
 WHAT EVIDENCE INDICATES LEADERS INFLUENCE
BEHAVIOUR TOWARDS STAFF PARTICIPATIION IN
HEALTH AND SAFETY?
 Is there any way to establish a link between leadership and
the following of risk assessments and safety improvements?
If ‘yes’ what is the evidence and how can the link be
considered robust? If ‘no’, how can anyone be certain risk
assessments are effective?
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28. … or do they?
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29. Safe transport of sugar cane?
Picture courtesy of Sandy Newlands December 2013 (former student –
graduated 2012) working in Thailand
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30. My mechanic checks everything so I
don’t have to …
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31. I know what I’m doing – I’ve been
driving for years …
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32. My vehicle is indestructable, it is
built like a tank…
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34. Do signs ‘prevent’ accidents (cartoon
version) …?
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35. Do signs ‘prevent’ accidents …?
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36. Risk assessment
Only part of the solution – how
they are executed and supervised is
critical …
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37. Is this why supervision is needed …?
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38. Key points for managing safety
 Information and training - check that people have
been provided with:
 health and safety information;
 health and safety training; and
 information about the workplace
 Arrangements also need to be made for:
 Project/task specific awareness training;
 task health and safety talks;
 the display of statutory notices.
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39. Key points for managing safety
 Monitoring systems to comply with
 Legal requirements
 This may involve:
 Co-operation and regular meetings between senior
management and those who provide health and safety
advice to them.
 This may also involve monitoring of:
 Procedures;
 Project standards actually achieved;
 Reviews throughout the project.
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