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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