Managing Risk & Risk Assessment

“Making the right decisions”

Alan Cook Alan Cook Alan Cook Alan Cook CMIOSH MIIRSM

Head of Safety, Health & Environment

Forterra Building Products Limited

Conference 18th December 2015

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9 Dots 9 Dots 9 Dots 9 Dots –––– A Problem to solve!A Problem to solve!A Problem to solve!A Problem to solve!

Connect the nine dots using only

four straight lines, without taking

your pen off the paper!

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9 Dots 9 Dots 9 Dots 9 Dots –––– A Problem to solve!A Problem to solve!A Problem to solve!A Problem to solve!

Start

Finish

Good Reasons to Manage Risk

� Moral

� Legal

� Commercial

So far as reasonably practicable!

Trust to Luck?

Hazards & Risks?

Hazards

Risk

May be considered as the likelihood or chance of a hazard causing actual harm.

Anything that has the potential to cause harm or an adverse effect.

Risk Perception - Behaviour

• For a F1 G/Prix Driver?

• A Taxi Driver?

• 88 year old Granddad?

Risk is a very individual concept and it is different for everyone. Take, driving a car as a daily activity.

Acceptable Risk or Unsafe?

Acceptable Risk or Unsafe?

Some Influencing Factors……………….

� Health & Safety Executive

� Individual Beliefs & Behaviours

National Strategy

� Sensible Risk.

� Getting all involved.

� Letting those that can best deal with an issue take the lead.

Information on HSE website: www.hse.go.uk

The Health and Safety of Great Britain \\ Be part of the solution

Individual BehavioursIndividual BehavioursIndividual BehavioursIndividual Behaviours

Risk Takers:

Easy to separate?

Work and Play

Compromised on Safety?Compromised on Safety?Compromised on Safety?Compromised on Safety?

Calculated Behaviour Calculated Behaviour Calculated Behaviour Calculated Behaviour –––– Risk TakersRisk TakersRisk TakersRisk Takers

Impulsive Behaviour Impulsive Behaviour Impulsive Behaviour Impulsive Behaviour –––– Risk TakersRisk TakersRisk TakersRisk Takers

Individual Behaviour Individual Behaviour Individual Behaviour Individual Behaviour –––– Risk TakersRisk TakersRisk TakersRisk Takers

Individual Behaviour Individual Behaviour Individual Behaviour Individual Behaviour –––– Risk TakersRisk TakersRisk TakersRisk Takers

• Risk Takers: Work and Play

• Concentration: May be competent, but can become

complacent. Done it all before……….!

Individual Behaviour Individual Behaviour Individual Behaviour Individual Behaviour –––– Automatic Pilot!Automatic Pilot!Automatic Pilot!Automatic Pilot!

Colour Changing Card Trick!Colour Changing Card Trick!Colour Changing Card Trick!Colour Changing Card Trick!

Individual BehaviourIndividual BehaviourIndividual BehaviourIndividual Behaviour

• Risk Takers: Work and Play

• Concentration:

• Reconsider: What if/when something goes wrong?

The need to Stop and Plan,. easy to just focus on

correcting the problem!

“He who fails to plan, plans to fail”.Winston Churchill

The Experts…….!The Experts…….!The Experts…….!The Experts…….!

Individual BehaviourIndividual BehaviourIndividual BehaviourIndividual Behaviour

• Risk Takers: Work and Play

• Concentration:

• Stop and Plan:

• Invincible! – The cloak of invincibility

Invincible?Invincible?Invincible?Invincible?Empire State Building 1932

Another bear set free!Another bear set free!Another bear set free!Another bear set free!

There he goes There he goes There he goes There he goes ---- I’m safe up here!I’m safe up here!I’m safe up here!I’m safe up here!

One angry bear!

ArrghArrghArrghArrgh……! What happens now?……! What happens now?……! What happens now?……! What happens now?

Nice bear…….!Nice bear…….!Nice bear…….!Nice bear…….!

Invincible or Lucky?Invincible or Lucky?Invincible or Lucky?Invincible or Lucky?

Risk Takers & Individual BehaviourRisk Takers & Individual BehaviourRisk Takers & Individual BehaviourRisk Takers & Individual Behaviour

• Risk Takers: Work and PlayIndividual Behaviour variation

• Concentration:Automatic Pilot

• Stop and Plan:What if…………?

• Invincible or Lucky?

Risk Assessment Risk Assessment Risk Assessment Risk Assessment –––– Making Decisions!Making Decisions!Making Decisions!Making Decisions!

• Severity X Likelihood X Frequency X People = ?

• The ‘Human Factor’!

• How safe is safe enough?

• Suitable and sufficient!

Things to think about………..

HSE Website: Risk Management -

http://www.hse.gov.uk/risk/index.htm

Risk Assessment in Practice!Risk Assessment in Practice!Risk Assessment in Practice!Risk Assessment in Practice!

So what is risk assessment?So what is risk assessment?So what is risk assessment?So what is risk assessment?

• Systematic approach to hazard identification;

• Process to identify what elements of an activity can cause harm or damage, and;

• Introduce control measures that will reduce the risk

to an acceptable level;

• It’s a legal requirement to carry them out where significant risks exist.

What risk assessment is not!What risk assessment is not!What risk assessment is not!What risk assessment is not!

• A process that eliminates all hazards in the workplace.

• A means of preventing “dangerous” activities from ever being carried out.

Recap Recap Recap Recap ---- Hazards & Risks?Hazards & Risks?Hazards & Risks?Hazards & Risks?

Hazards

Risk

May be considered as the likelihood or chance of a hazard causing actual harm.

Anything that has the potential to cause harm or an adverse effect.

Risk assessment Risk assessment Risk assessment Risk assessment –––– legal requirement legal requirement legal requirement legal requirement

• The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations (overarching regulations).

• “Every employer shall make a suitable and sufficientassessment of the risk to the health and safety of his employees to which they are exposed whilst at work”.

• Trivial risks can usually be ignored as can risks arising from routine activities associated with life in general, unless work actively compounds those risks.

Risk assessment legislation Risk assessment legislation Risk assessment legislation Risk assessment legislation (Statutory Provisions)

• Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order

• Provision & Use of Work Equipment

• Manual Handling Operations

• Display Screen Equipment

• Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH)

• Control of Asbestos at Work

• Control of Lead at Work

• The Control of Noise at Work

• Personal Protective Equipment at Work

That require a specific assessment, in addition to a general task risk assessment:

To be “Suitable & Sufficient” To be “Suitable & Sufficient” To be “Suitable & Sufficient” To be “Suitable & Sufficient” a risk assessment must:

• Identify the significant risks that may arise from the work or in connection with it;

• Be appropriate to the nature of the work;

• Implementation of suitable controls to reduce risks to an acceptable level;

• Comply with relevant statutory provision, and;

• Be valid over a reasonable period of time.

Hazards working from this………..?Hazards working from this………..?Hazards working from this………..?Hazards working from this………..?

Tripping over

outstretched supports

People falling from height!

Falling items, tools etc!

Method of construction?

Use of ladders?

Inspection requirements?

Other activities in the areaUntrained workers?

5 steps to risk assessment (HSE)5 steps to risk assessment (HSE)5 steps to risk assessment (HSE)5 steps to risk assessment (HSE)

Identify the

hazards.

Decide who might

be harmed and

how.

Evaluate the risks

and decide on

precautions to

take.

Record your

significant findings,

take action and

communicate to

those at risk.

Review the

assessment and

update as

necessary.

Identifying the hazardsIdentifying the hazardsIdentifying the hazardsIdentifying the hazards

• People

• Equipment

• Materials

• Environment

Think PEME!

People hazards People hazards People hazards People hazards –––– human factors!human factors!human factors!human factors!

Experienced, Skilled, trained? Following procedures?

Physically capable of doing task? Is anybody supervising the task?

Enough people to do the task? Communication during the job?

Emergency situations – What if! Complacency &/or Horseplay?

Equipment hazards!Equipment hazards!Equipment hazards!Equipment hazards!

The weight of the equipment? Repair & maintenance /lack of?

Sharp parts/components? Storage when not in use?

PPE – Gloves, Goggles, Boots –

what type & what standard?

Equipment noise and vibration?

Are additional assessments

required?

Material hazards!Material hazards!Material hazards!Material hazards!

Petrol/fuel for the chainsaw? Wood dust generated?

Oils, Grease used for

maintenance?

Are additional assessments

required?

Environment Environment Environment Environment hhhhazards!azards!azards!azards!

UV/Sunburn? Vehicle movements?

Possible space restrictions? Slip & trip hazards?

Lighting problems – night work?

Weather conditions?

Clear up - log removal activities -

how?

Hazards, Effects and ConsequencesHazards, Effects and ConsequencesHazards, Effects and ConsequencesHazards, Effects and Consequences

Procedures, systems, guides and tools

can be used to complement physical

controls, which specify the safe system

of work to follow to reduce the risks e.g:

• Permit to work

• Checklists

• Toolbox talks

• Job/task safety analysis

• Process maps/deployment flowcharts

• Photographs of sequence of events

Hierarchy of control ConsiderationsHierarchy of control ConsiderationsHierarchy of control ConsiderationsHierarchy of control Considerations

1. ELIMINATIONDoes the task need to be done?

• Use of mechanical lifting aid instead of manual handling.

2. SUBSTITUTIONCan something else be used to reduce the risk?

• Use of water based paints instead of solvent based.

• Reduction in size/weight of item.

3. ENGINEERING CONTROLSCan equipment be used to reduce the risk?

• LEV, Guarding, Isolations (mechanical/electrical), Lighting or

through Enclosure.

4. SEGREGATIONCan distance/barriers/guards be used to prevent personnel exposure to

the hazard?

• Access controls, Distance, Time.

5. REDUCTION IN PERSONNEL/TIME EXPOSURECan you limit the number of personnel and exposure time?

• Hazardous work carried out at low activity periods (e.g. night shift)

• Workplace design, Job rotation, Shift rotation.

6. PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE)Suitable and sufficient PPE, appropriate to the task?

• High Visibility, Head protection, RPE, Eye Protection, Fall arrest etc.

When identifying control measures, always start at the first step!

Summary Summary Summary Summary –––– Key MessagesKey MessagesKey MessagesKey Messages

• Risk Perception is an individual concept – ‘OUR’ reality!

• Beware the ‘human Factor’ - beliefs and behaviours are brought to work.

• Risk Takers (Work & Play) – Concentration, Stop & Plan, Invincibility!

• Suitable & Sufficient risk assessments are key to being safe!

• When identifying the hazards - Think PEME!

• When considering controls – ALWAYS start at the first step and remember PPE is the last resort!

Any Questions?Any Questions?Any Questions?Any Questions?

Get the basics right first time, every time!Get the basics right first time, every time!Get the basics right first time, every time!Get the basics right first time, every time!