Health & Safety Essay

Submitted By roshindas
Words: 2007
Pages: 9

Hazard management is essentially a problem solving process aimed at defining problems, gathering information about them (risk assessment) and solving them (risk control).This is followed by checking to see that the controls were successful (evaluation) and reviewing the whole process (review) after a period of time or when something changes. A simple way of describing the hazard management process is the SAFER approach: See it (Identifying hazards)
Assess it (Risk assessment)
Fix it (Risk control)
Evaluate it (Evaluation)
Review it (Review)
The system typically include something that has the potential to harm the health, safety and welfare of people at work. Example of hazards include unsafe manual handling tasks, unsafe use of chemicals and the use of electrical plant in wet areas. (Safe work, 2007).
Mission estate ensures that hazard identification control and monitoring programs are carried out in conjunction with the requirements of the company H & S Policy. The company ensures that hazard identification reports are submitted and all hazardous conditions or unsafe practices are reviewed at H & S meetings.

Hazard Management Process starts with the identification of hazards in workplace. Hazard identification should be an integral part of workplace culture, involving everyone in the workplace. Identification can range from employees reporting any hazardous situations that may occur to their employer, to a formal and regular workplace inspection. It involves gathering and recording information about what is happening in the workplace (University of Western Sydney, 2012) .
Identify a Hazard

Inform manager or Health and Safety Representative

Fill out Hazard ID form with Health and Safety Representative

Assess the risk involved with the hazard(refer to diagram)

Determine suitable procedure or maintenance to eliminate, isolate or minimize hazard

Health and Safety Representative to ensure hazard is addressed by management and signed off

Mission Estate has developed and implemented their own hazard identification program, the steps are described below:
a) Identify a Hazard
In order to identify hazards the following are recommended:
(i) Past incidents/accidents are examined to see what happened and whether the incident/accident could occur again.
(ii) Ask workers about hazards near misses they have encountered as part of their work. Sometimes a survey or questionnaire can assist workers to provide information about workplace hazards.
(iii) Work areas or work sites be inspected or examined to find out what is happening now. Identified hazards should be documented to allow further action. The work environment, tool and equipment as well as tasks and procedures should be examined for risks to WHS.
(iv) Information about equipment (e.g. plant, operating instructions) and Material Safety Data Sheets be reviewed to determine relevant safety precautions.

b) Inform representative
When we inform, their risk assessment is the process of estimating the magnitude of the risk & deciding what actions to take. The following questions are asked to establish the risk.
(i) A potential Severity Rating
What degree of injury or illness could occur?
1. Negligible
2. Minor
3. Major
4. Fatality (II) A probable frequency rating with the hazard how likely is it that an injury or illness will occur?
1. Remotely possible
2. Known to have happened in the past.
3. Strong possibility of it happening.
4. Has happened before within the company.
(c) Department Hazard identification
Date Hazard description Location Risk Level Risk control measure Date controls implemented Person responsible for implementation Date controls are due for review

Figure 1.0 Hazard description chart

(d)Assess the risk involved with the hazard
Risk assessment involves considering the possible results of someone being exposed to a hazard and the likelihood of this