Managing workplace health and safety risks is crucial for creating a safe and productive environment for employees. In this blog, we’ll explore practical strategies to identify, assess, and mitigate risks, ensuring your workplace complies with safety standards and promotes well-being. By implementing these effective risk management practices, you can prevent accidents, reduce potential hazards, and foster a culture of safety in your organisation.
A workplace hazard is defined as any source of potential harm or anything that would have an adverse effect on a person’s health or safety within a working environment.
These hazards can stem from various sources, including physical elements like machinery or tools, chemical exposure, biological risks (such as bacteria or viruses), and ergonomic issues that arise from improper work setups. Hazards can also include psychosocial factors like workplace stress or harassment, which can negatively impact an employee’s mental well-being.
Identifying and managing workplace hazards is crucial for ensuring employee safety and maintaining a productive work environment. Employers are typically responsible for assessing the risks associated with their operations and implementing safety measures such as training, protective equipment, and regular safety audits. The outcome is to reduce or eliminate hazards to prevent accidents, injuries, and long-term health issues.
A hierarchy of hazard control framework is essential in workplace health and safety because it provides a systematic approach to managing hazards. Read more here.
It is a structured framework that prioritizes methods to reduce or eliminate risks associated with hazards.
This approach guides organisations on strategies that provide the most protection for workers.
The hierarchy is typically represented in five levels: elimination, substitution, engineering controls, administrative controls, and personal protective equipment (PPE), arranged from most to least effective.
The top and most effective level of hazard control is the complete removal of the hazard from the work environment. If a hazard no longer exists, workers are not exposed to the associated risks. An example of elimination is redesigning a process to remove a dangerous step, such as automating a task that would have previously exposed workers to machinery hazards.
The second level is substitution, which involves replacing a hazardous material, process, or activity with something that poses a lower risk. For example, a toxic chemical can be substituted with a non-toxic or less harmful one, reducing health risks while still allowing the job to be done.
These controls aim to isolate workers from the hazard rather than remove it. Engineering controls often involve physical modifications to equipment, workspaces, or processes. Examples include installing safety guards on machinery, using ventilation systems to reduce airborne contaminants, or enclosing noisy equipment to protect workers' hearing.
When elimination, substitution, and engineering controls are not feasible or sufficient, administrative controls are implemented to reduce exposure to hazards. These include policies, procedures, and training that influence the way work is done. Examples include rotating shifts to limit exposure to repetitive tasks or dangerous substances, setting work-rest schedules to avoid fatigue, or implementing strict safety protocols.
PPE is considered the last line of defence and the least effective control measure in the hierarchy because it does not eliminate the hazard but only provides a barrier between the worker and the hazard. PPE includes items like gloves, hard hats, respirators, and safety goggles, which must be used correctly and consistently to be effective. While essential, PPE relies heavily on worker compliance and is vulnerable to human error, making it less reliable than other controls.
The hierarchy ensures a proactive rather than reactive approach, focusing on hazard prevention over hazard protection.
In practice, multiple controls may be used together to achieve the best results. For example, engineering controls might be combined with administrative controls and PPE to ensure comprehensive safety in situations where full elimination or substitution is not possible.
Physical hazards in the workplace are environmental factors or conditions that can cause harm to an employee’s body. Such hazards are one of the most common types of risks workers may face, and they are typically linked to various injuries or health issues. Physical hazards include, but are not limited to:
Addressing physical hazards often involves a combination of engineering controls (e.g., installing barriers or soundproofing), administrative controls (e.g., training and proper work procedures), and personal protective equipment (PPE) like earplugs, thermal gear, or safety harnesses.
With so much discussion about hazards and risks, it can be easy to get confused between the two. But it’s important to know the difference.
A workplace hazard refers to any source, situation, or condition that has the potential to cause harm or injury to a person in the workplace. It can take many forms, such as physical (machinery, noise), chemical (toxic substances), biological (viruses, bacteria), ergonomic (poor posture, repetitive movements), or psychosocial (stress, harassment). Hazards are the inherent dangers that exist in a workplace or task. Read more here.
On the other hand, a workplace risk is the likelihood or probability that exposure to a hazard will actually result in harm or injury. It considers not only the presence of a hazard but also factors like how often workers are exposed, the severity of potential harm, and how vulnerable employees are to the hazard. In essence, risk is a measure of how dangerous a hazard is in practice, based on both its potential and the specific conditions in which workers encounter it.
In summary, a hazard is the source of potential harm, while risk is the likelihood and impact of that harm occurring in the workplace.
The best way to fix a workplace hazard depends on the type and severity of the hazard, but the most effective approach follows the Hierarchy of Hazard Control, which prioritizes different methods based on their effectiveness.
In summary again, they are (in order of effectiveness):
By using the hierarchy of control, workplaces can systematically reduce risks and protect their workers in the most effective way. A combination of these methods is most likely necessary to fully address a hazard.
Regular hazard assessments, training, and monitoring are also key to ensuring long-term safety.
Risks are often expressed in terms of the potential for injuries, illnesses, or accidents in the workplace. Read more here.
Examples include:
In managing risks, employers are responsible for identifying potential hazards, assessing the associated risks, and implementing appropriate control measures to minimise or eliminate the likelihood of harm. Regular risk assessments, training, and monitoring are other measures needed to ensure a safe and healthy work environment. Read more here.
The team at Mackay Safety provides expert advice and services related to workplace health and safety management. The experienced team can assist with conducting risk assessments, developing safety programs, and ensuring compliance with industry safety standards and regulations. Additionally, Mackay Safety might provide training, safety audits, and solutions to mitigate hazards and improve the overall safety culture in your workplace.
Get in touch today by phoning 07 4944 1272 or visit Mackay Safety’s website for more information.
For further reading, here are some helpful Government resources:
