HAZARD IDENTIFICATION &
RISK MANAGEMENT
Presenter:
Disclaimer
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
IMPORTANT: The information in this presentation is of a
general nature, and should not be relied upon as individual
professional advice. If necessary, legal advice should be
obtained from a legal practitioner with expertise in the field of
WHS law.

Although every effort has been made to ensure that the
information in this presentation is complete, current and
accurate, the Mining & Quarrying OHS Committee does not
guarantee that it is so, and the Committee accepts no
responsibility for any loss that may result from the use of any
material which is not complete, current and accurate.

Users should always verify historical material by making and
relying upon their own separate inquiries prior to making any
important decisions or taking any action on the basis of this
information.
Session Overview
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
Risk management definitions

Hazards

Why do we need to manage hazards

Who has a duty

Penalties

Tools to manage hazards

Hazard identification and risk management process

Generate Procedures

Communicate, instruct and train

Inspections and audits

Information on hazards and risk controls

Summary
Risk Management Definitions
Hazard
 Something that has the potential to cause harm (injury or damage)
Risk
 The probability and consequences of the level of harm occurring.
Risk assessment
 The process of evaluating the likelihood and severity of harm arising
from exposure to an identified hazard.
Hierarchy of control
 The tool used when determining how risks are to be managed.
Risk control
 The process of eliminating or minimising the risk of harm.
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Hazards
Safety Hazards
Work environment, plant, equipment, tools and materials
 Housekeeping
 Hazardous Manual Tasks
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
Working at Heights

Unguarded Machinery

Motor Vehicles / Mobile Plant

Confined Spaces

Electrical Hazards

Hand Tools

Fire / Explosion

Slippery Surfaces
Hazards
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Hazards
Health Hazards
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Chemical - Solids, liquids, gases
Biological

Dusts (silica, asbestos, wood)

Infectious Diseases

Solvents / Cleaners

Bacteria

Acids, Caustics

Spores

Metals (lead, arsenic, mercury)

Insects

Combustion Emissions

Unsanitary Conditions

Pesticides

Resins

Paints

Gases

Plants
Hazards
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Hazards
Health Hazards
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Physical
Stressors

Dusts

Low pay

Noise

Discrimination

Ergonomic

Harassment

Lighting

Production pressure

Radiation

Boredom

Heat, cold

Lack of recognition

Vibration

Job overload

Threats of violence
Hazards
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Why do we need to manage Hazards?
 It's a legal requirement - compliance with the legislation!
 Keep workers safe from health risk while they at work.
 Prevent exposing others, plant and the environment to harm.
 Comply with company policy and procedural requirements.
 Promotes a safety culture at the workplace!
 Demonstrates that a business is committed to addressing health and
safety issues.
 Good business sense, it reduces financial risk.
 Morally, it’s the right thing to do!
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Who has a Duty?
Under the South Australian WHS Act 2012:
S.17 - Management of risks
A duty imposed on a person to ensure health and safety requires the
person:

to eliminate risks to health and safety, so far as is reasonably practicable,
and

if it is not reasonably practicable to eliminate risks to health and safety, to
minimise those risks so far as is reasonably practicable.
A person must comply with the above to the extent to which the person has
the capacity to influence and control the matter
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Who has a Duty?
Under the South Australian WHS Act 2012:
S.19 - Primary Duty of Care
A person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) must ensure, so
far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety of:
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
workers engaged, or caused to be engaged.

workers whose activities in carrying out work are influenced or directed
while the workers are at work, and

other persons (visitors & volunteers) are not put at risk from work carried
out as part of the business activities.
Who has a Duty?
Under the South Australian WHS Act 2012:
S.19 - Primary Duty of Care
A PCBU must ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable the provision
and maintenance of:
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
a work environment without risks to health and safety

safe plant, structures and safe systems of work

the safe use, handling and storage of plant, structures and substances

provide any information, training, instruction or supervision that is
necessary to protect all persons from risks to their health and safety.
Who has a Duty?
Under the South Australian WHS Act 2012,
S.27 – Officers
All “Officers” of a PCBU are personally responsible for ensuring
compliance with safety laws.
An “Officer” means:

a director or secretary of the corporation

a person who makes decisions or who participates in making decisions
that affect the whole or a substantial part, of the business of the
corporation

a person who has the capacity to affect significantly the corporation’s
financial standing
Officers must take reasonable steps to ensure the PCBU uses and applies
appropriate resources, policies, procedures and health and safety practices in
the PCBU.
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Who has a Duty?
Under the South Australian WHS Act 2012,
S.28 – Workers
Workers’ have a duty and obligation to:

take reasonable care his or her acts or omissions (actions or words), do
not adversely affect the health & safety of other persons.

comply, so far as the worker is reasonably able, with any reasonable
instruction designed to protect their health and safety and, that of any
other persons while at work.

co-operate with any reasonable policy or procedure relating to health or
safety at the workplace that they have been notified of.
Managers, Supervisors & Team Leader’s are also deemed a Workers!
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Who has a Duty?
Under the South Australian WHS Regulations 2012:
R.34 - Duty to identify Hazards
A duty holder, in managing risks to health and safety, must:

identify reasonably foreseeable hazards that could give rise to risks
to health and safety.
R.35 - Managing risks to Health and Safety
A duty holder, in managing risks to health and safety, must:
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
eliminate risks to health and safety, so far as is reasonably
practicable

where it is not reasonably practicable to eliminate risks to health and
safety, to minimise those risks so far as is reasonably practicable.
Reasonably Practicable
What is “Reasonably Practicable” in ensuring health and safety?
Reasonably Practicable in relation to a duty to ensure health and safety,
means:

that which is, or was at a particular time, reasonably able to be done in to
ensuring health and safety.
This includes, taking into account and weighing up all relevant matters
about:
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
the likelihood of the hazard or the risk concerned occurring.

the degree of harm (injury or damage) that might result from the hazard or
the risk.

what the person concerned knows, or should reasonably know, about the
hazard or the risk; and ways of eliminating or minimising the risk.
Reasonably Practicable
This also includes:

the availability and suitability of ways to eliminate or minimise the risk.

after assessing the extent of the risk, ways of eliminating or minimising
the risk, the costs associated and including, whether the cost is grossly
disproportionate to the risk.
RISK
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COST
Penalties
Category 1 – for reckless conduct that exposes an individual to a risk of
death or serious injury or illness that is engaged in without reasonable
excuse.
Category 2 – failure to comply with a health and safety duty that
exposes an individual to a risk of death or serious injury or illness.
Category 3 – failure to comply with a health and safety duty.
Duty Holder
Category 1
Category 2
Category 3
Individual worker or other
person at the workplace
$300,000 or
5 years
imprisonment
$150,000
$50,000
Individual PCBU’s or Officers
$600,000 or
5 years
imprisonment
$300,000
$100,000
$3,000,000
$1,500,000
$500,000
Body Corporate or
Government body
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Hazard & Risk Management Tools
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Hazard & Risk Management Tools
Principle Mining Hazard
Roads and other Vehicle Operating Areas Risk Assessment
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Hazard & Risk Management Tools
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Hazard ID & Risk Management Process
1. Identifying hazards
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
The first step in managing risk to health and safety in the workplace is
identifying hazards.

Identify all regularly performed tasks / work along with any plant,
equipment, substances and environment that is used or occupied.

Systematically and visually observe each task being undertaken to
determine if there are any hazards and document them.

For tasks / work that is not regularly performed, a job hazard analysis or a
safe work method statement (construction work) must be completed
Areas to Consider
Additionally, hazard identification must also be carried out before & during
introduction of new plant or undertaking a new task i.e. maintenance or
cleaning.
Consideration should be given to:
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
hazardous substances exposure (silica, asbestos, chemicals)

design or layout of the workplace.

potential to crush, puncture, stab or burn to the operator.

actual or intended use of plant or equipment or potential misuse.

noise and electricity.

potential to bypass safety interlock systems.

ergonomics / hazardous manual tasks.

potential for falling objects.

working alone / isolated work.

before and during alterations to plant or associated systems of work.
Risk
The probability & consequences of the level of harm or damage occurring
Hazard
Risk
Likelihood
Undercut Stockpile
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Engulfment / Crushed from
Stockpile Collapse
Risk Assessment
Risk Assessments MUST include one or more of the following:
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
a visual inspection of the task / work.

formal documented risk assessment.

discussions with designers, manufacturers, suppliers, importers,
workers or any other relevant parties.

testing (noise levels).

measurement (silica levels).

a review of incident of harm and near miss data.
Hazard ID & Risk Management Process
2. Assessing the risk
Once the task / work and associated plant, equipment, substances and
environment have been viewed and hazards have been identified, they must
be risk assessed for the risk they pose to a workers health and safety.
Using a risk matrix, determine the level of risk by assessing the:

exposure (how frequently a worker or thing is exposed to a hazard).

likelihood (chance) of harm occurring, and

most likely consequences (injury or damage) if harm was to occur.
Calculating these 3 factors will give you a risk rating score and determine
whether there is an extreme, high, moderate or low risk to a workers health
and safety .
Once you have determined the risk rating for each hazard, you can then
proritise the order of hazards to be addressed, by starting with the highest
level of risk first .
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Risk Matrix
Risk Matrix
Exposure (E)
How frequently a person(s)
will be exposed to the
hazard
Likelihood (L)
The Likelihood that harm will
occur if exposed to the
hazard
Consequence (C)
The most likely
consequence if harm does
occurs
E x L x C = Risk Level
Continuously = 10
Constant exposure to the
hazard during a shift
Almost Certain = 1.0
Harm is expected to occur if
exposed to hazard
Catastrophic = 20
Injury resulting in a fatality
Extreme = a score more than 20
Stop work until a risk control has been
implemented
Frequently = 6
Exposure to the hazard occurs
several times during a shift
Likely = 0.6
Harm will probably occur if
exposed to hazard
Occasionally = 3
Exposure to the hazard occurs
once a shift
Possible = 0.3
Harm could occur if exposed to
hazard
An injury (excluding
hospitalisation or death) that
requires professional medical
treatment.
Infrequently = 2
Exposure to the hazard occurs
once over several shifts
Unlikely = 0.1
Harm is not likely to occur if
exposed to hazard
Minor = 2
Minor injury that only requires
first aid
Major = 10
Injury requiring
hospitalisation
High = a score between 10 & 19.9
Implement risk control within 3 days
Significant = 5
Moderate = a score between 3 & 9.9
Implement risk control within 1 week
Low = a score less than 2.9
Regularly monitor the hazard
Rarely = 1
Exposure to the hazard may
occur but unlikely
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Rare = 0.05
Harm may occur only in
exceptional circumstances if is
exposed to hazard
Insignificant = 1
No injuries
Areas to Consider
When assessing risk, consideration must be given to:
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
the nature of the hazard.

how it may impact on health and safety.

how workers are exposed.

the amount, frequency and length of exposure.

the way work is organised.

layout and condition of work environment.

training and knowledge.

type and condition of control measures available.
Areas to Consider
Additionally, a risk assessment must be conducted when:
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
Planning – projects, work or activities

Designing

Commissioning / de-commissioning

Before the introduction of new work, activities or tasks

Before the buying of plant, substances or other goods and services

Changes to how work is done

Changes to legislation, standards, manufacturer or supplier
information
Hazard ID & Risk Management Process
3. Controlling the risks

Control measures are used to manage risks and are ranked using the
hierarchy of control.

This ranking sets out what control measures give the highest level of
protection and reliability to the lowest.
The greater the risk, the higher level of protection required
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
Elimination of the hazard is always the first option, however, where this is
not possible, implement control measures to minimise risk of harm (injury
or dmage) to the lowest possible risk rating

As you work down the hierarchy, the controls become less effective and
require more monitoring and supervision.

Often a mixture or range of controls are put in place
Hierarchy of Control
Elimination
remove the hazard from the workplace
Substitution
Eliminates
or Controls
the Hazard
or Risks
use a different (safer) process, machine or chemical
Isolate
as much as possible, isolate the hazard or hazardous
work practice from people
Engineering
install guards on machines, put in
barriers around hazards
Relies on the
person
working with
the hazards /
risks ‘doing
the right
thing’
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Administrative
use policies,
training & signs to
warn workers
PPE
Areas to Consider
Other control measure considerations:
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
what is already available?

is it practical?

does it reduce risk to an acceptable level?

does it introduce another level of unintended risk or hazard?

what is the cost?

is it acceptable to workers, is it going to work?
Complete Documentation
Roads and other Operating Areas
Principle Mining Hazard Risk Assessment
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Complete Documentation
Corrective Action Plan
Action
Originated From
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Date
Issue
Corrective Action
Priority
Person
Responsible
Proposed
Completion
Date
Actual
Completion
Date
Completed
Action
Verified By
Hazard ID & Risk Management Process
4. Monitor and Review risk controls
Control measures put in place to protect health and safety should be regularly
monitored and reviewed to ensure:
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
risk controls are still effective.

corrective actions are completed in a timely manner.

continual improvement of risk control options.
Generate Procedures
Safe Operating Procedure
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Communicate, Instruct and Train
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
Share information

Results of risk
assessment

Responsibilities and
actions

Instruct and train
workers in new or
revised work
instructions, polices
and procedures
Inspection & Audits
Regularly conduct Inspections and Audits to ensure:
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
risk controls are being implemented by workers.

any new hazards are identified with the task, plant, substances or
environment.

any changes in a process are identified and addressed.

compliance with legislation.
Information on Hazards & Risk Controls
Information can be found in:
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
company induction

risk assessments (RA)

risk and corrective action registers

manufacturers instructions

training processes

standard operating procedures (SOP)

safe work method statements (SWMS)

safety management plans (SMP)

safety data sheets (SDS)

supervision

PPE signage
Summary
1. Identifying hazards
in the workplace..
2. Assessing the Risk
associated with each
hazard.
3. Eliminate or Control
the Risks using the
hierarchy of control.
4. Review Risk Controls
to ensure they remain
effective.
effective
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Summary
PCBU

primary duty of care to all workers on site by providing a working
environment without risks to health and safety

duty to identify hazards and assess the risk to health and safety of
workers

duty to eliminate the risk where possible or minimise the risk of harm
(injury or damage) using reasonably practicable control measures

duty to provide information, instruction and training as reasonably
practicable to ensure the health and safety of all persons on site
Supervisors & Team Leaders
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
Responsible for the day to day operations to ensure workers have
received appropriate instruction, training, are adequately supervised and
working safely

Hazards are reported and recorded and risks are controlled within their
limits of their role
Summary
Workers
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
inform their supervision when a hazard has been identified

not damage, remove or modify any plant, substance or thing that has
been designed to protect his or her health and safety and the health and
safety of others

follow any reasonable instruction from supervision while at work

not place themselves or any one else at risk of harm through his or her
acts or omissions (actions or words)

wear supplied PPE identified to protect them from hazards and risks
associate with their work
Before Controls
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Implementing Controls
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After Controls
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Further Information
For further assistance, MAQOHSC WHS Specialists are available
for guidance, onsite support and advice on WHS Matters.
www.maqohsc.sa.gov.au
MAQOHSC WHS Specialist can be contacted via:
Les Allen
Phone: 08 8204 9807
Mobile: 0403 160 706
Email: [email protected]
Eric McInerney
Phone: 08 8303 9908
Mobile: 0448 914 630
Email: [email protected]
Work, Health and Safety Legislation, Codes of Practice, fact
sheets, HSR information and guides can be found at the
following websites:
SafeWork SA - www.swsa.gov.au
SafeWork Australia – www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au
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