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European Month of Ergonomics
2008
Risk Assessment and Ergonomics
FEES disseminate information forHealthy Workplaces - Good for you. Good for business. - A European campaign on Risk Assessmenthttp://osha.europa.eu/en/campaigns/hw2008/
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Are You Ready to Act?
Every three-and-a-half minutes, somebody in the EU dies from work-related causes.
Every four-and-a-half seconds, a worker in the EU is involved in an accident that forces him/her to stay at home for at least three working days.
You Can Do Something - Time to Risk Assessment!
Source: http://osha.europa.eu/en/campaigns/hw2008/why/index_html
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Risk Assessment in occupational health and safety is a process of evaluation to estimate the risk that can be caused by a hazard at
work for the health or safety of the employees
Risk = Probability x Consequences
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HAZARDS CHARACTERISTICS OF A PERSON
CIRCUMSTANCES
PROBABLE UNWANTED EVENTS
INTOLERABLE RISKSUBSTANTIAL RISKMODERATE RISKPROBABLE
SUBSTANTIAL RISKMODERATE RISKTOLERABLE RISKPOSSIBLE
MODERATE RISKTOLERABLE RISKTRIVIAL RISKUNLIKELY
EXTREME HARMMODERATE HARMSLIGHT HARM SEVERITY
LIKELIHOOD
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Risk assessment is to find out the hazards,
to evaluate the probability of an unwanted event
and the severity of the harm that such an event
could cause for a person.
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Phases of Risk Assessment
Plan the assessment process
Identify the hazards
Determine seriousness
Consequences Probability
Determine tolerability
Select the action plan and implementation
Follow up and
feed back
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Ergonomics in Risk Assessment
THE DEMANDS CAUSED BY MANAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP PRACTICES, WORK METHODS AND EQUIPMENT, PRACTICES OF THE WORKING GROUP AND WORK ENVIRONMENT
WORKERS PROFESSIONAL SKILLS, MOTIVATION, AND INDIVIDUAL CHARACTERISTICS
Balance produces health, safety, quality and productivity
ER
GO
NO
MIC
S
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Expertise Area of ErgonomicsThe work environment is examined from several points of view simultaneously: work environment and circumstances, usability of the equipment, work organization, share of work, leadership and management, co-operation and communication.
Solutions, that respect human characteristics – opportunities and constraints – and that utilize human capability comprehensively, can stimulate the worker to improve continuously her or his own work and can be identified through ergonomics.
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Challenges for Risk Assessment1. Willingness to recognize dangers and be aware of the events
dangerous/harmful for health and safety
2. Capability to evaluate the events at workplaces, at work that is done in clients’ homes and at own home and in leisure time activities.
3. Combine the workers’ knowledge and external expertise of the hazards in the best possible way.
4. The principles of safety management are included. Risk assessment is a part of safety and quality management system.
5. Risk assessments in transformation situations and in unusual conditions require a versatile point of view and expertise.
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Professional ergonomist• Combines different points of view • Interprets pre-indicators and is able to anticipate and act
before problems arise
The best results can be reached by appropriate timing of risk assessments - in the planning and design phases.
Ergonomics risk assessment processes cover the whole activity chain and represent sustainable progress and
development.
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Good practices for co-operation• Analyse – many methods are available • Use discussion groups – encourage more information and
useful solutions• Use available information and knowledge – at least basic
information on safety and health situations are needed• Teach and use practical demonstrations – people gain a
better understanding for the usability of the results• Publish and market ergonomics solutions – workplaces get
information of services and other specialists acquire a better understanding of the area of ergonomics