Risk Assessment

RISK ASSESSMENT

for the Office

The Workplace Safety & Health Act (WSHA)

& the Risk Management Requirements

The Risk Management Process

Performing Risk Assessment

SCOPE

BIRTH OF WSHA & RM REGULATIONS

Factories

Act

Mar 2006 Mar 2006 Sep 2006

WSHARisk

Management Regulations

• General Provision Reg.

• First Aid Reg.

• Incident Reporting Reg.

• Composition of Fines Reg.

• Transitional Provision Reg.

• Exemption Order

3 KEY PRINCIPLES OF WSHA

Reduce Risk at Source

1. Emphasize the importance of good OSH Management System especially the need for comprehensive risk

assessments. Duties to address risks placed on those who create them. Assign liability to those who are in

control of workplace risks.

Greater Industry Ownership of WSH

2. Shift industry mindset from following the letter of the law to taking responsibility of standards and outcomes.

Higher Penalties for Poor Safety Management

3. Penalties must be sufficient to reflect the cost of poor safety management and to deter risk-taking behaviour.

DUTIES AND LIABILITIESA person may at anyone time be 2 or more of the following:

i. An employer;

ii. A contractor;

iii. A subcontractor;

iv. A principal;

v. A self-employed person;

vi. An occupier of a workplace;

vii. A designer, manufacturer or supplier of any machinery, equipment or hazardous substance for use at work;

viii. An erector, installer or a modifier of machinery or equipment for use at work;

ix. An owner, a hirer or lessee of machinery moved by mechanical power or a person who maintains such machinery for use at work,

DUTIES OF EMPLOYER

1. So far as is reasonably practicable, ensure the safety and health of

his employees at work

persons (not being his employees) who may be affected by any work carried

out by him in the workplace

2. Take measures to ensure the safety and health of persons at work

include:

(a) Provide and maintain a safe & healthy workplace with adequate facilities and

arrangements for their welfare at work

(b) Provide adequate safety measures with regard to machinery, equipment,

plant, article or process

DUTIES OF EMPLOYER

(c) Ensure that those persons are not exposed to hazards arising out of various

operations at or near their workplace and under the control of the employer

(d) Develop and implement procedures for dealing with emergencies

(e) Ensure person at his workplace (employees/non-employees) has adequate

instruction, information, training and supervision to carry out his activities

safely and without risks of health

DUTIES OF EMPLOYEES

1. To properly use protective clothing, appliances, equipment and other

things provided by their employer

2. To co-operate with employer on OSH matters

3. Not to willfully / recklessly interfere with / misuse any PPE, facilities,

appliances or anything provided for the safety, health and welfare of

any person at work

4. It is offence for persons at work to willfully or recklessly:

- interfere with or misuse any item provided to secure safety, health &

welfare of those persons

- do anything to endanger himself or others

ENHANCED PENALTIESCategories of Offences Max. Fine / Imprisonment

Individual person $ 200,000

2 Yr or BOTH

Corporate $ 500,000

Repeated offence causing death

- individual

- corporate

$ 400,000; 2 yr or BOTH

$ 1 million

Person fails to comply with the remedial order

$ 50,000; 1 yr or BOTH

Person fails to comply with the stop-work order

$ 500,000; 1 year or BOTH

Worker misuse or fails to use any safety appliances

$ 1,000 (1st Offence)

$ 2,000 (2nd Offence)

WSH BULLETIN

Safety and Health

https://www.wshc.sg/wps/portal/bulletinview?action=viewBulletin&bulletinID=BU2010101815187&ayear=2010&amonth=October&category=&topic=



•Shipyard fined S$150,000 for failure to ensure workers' safetyBy Dylan Loh | Posted: 06 April 2010 2331 hrs

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1048286/1/.html

•SINGAPORE : Shipyard Prime Marine has been fined S$150,000 for failure to ensure workers' safety, resulting in deaths.

This is a record sum for a shipyard under the Workplace Safety and Health Act.

It equals the amount a construction firm was fined in another accident.

In December 2007, two workers of Prime Marine died after being told to carry out works in a tank on a vessel.

It turned out that the tank contained a toxic level of Hydrogen Sulphide.

The workers were instructed to proceed with the works by their supervisor Png Aik Meng without being provided proper equipment for breathing or gas detection.

Png knew of the presence of toxic gas but still sent the workers in despite the dangers involved.

Png, the supervisor in charge during the accident, was fined S$50,000. - CNA/ms



S$80,000 FINE FOR UNSAFE WORKPLACE

Investigations by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) showed the floor was wet, greasy and slippery.

There was no anti-slip floor mat and damaged non-slip tiles had been replaced with those with less slip resistance.

The MOM said this showed the company had failed to provide a safe workplace for its employees.

Although the company had issued a pair of safety boots to Mr. Abdul, it was not enough to prevent him from falling.

Mr. Ho Siong Hin, Commissioner for Workplace Safety and Health, MOM, said the conviction sent a warning to all workplaces,

He said: “In this instance, the employer’s absence of risk assessment and the lack of workplace safety measures contributed to the tragic and unnecessary loss of a life. If the employer had conducted a risk assessment, they would have realised the slipping and tripping hazards present at the workplace.

“MOM reminds all employers, individuals and stakeholders of the importance of ensuring and adhering to proper safety measures.”

WSH (RM) REGULATIONS

Regulation 1 - Citation and Commencement

Regulation 2 - Definitions

Regulation 3 - Risk assessment

Regulation 4 - Elimination and control of risk

Regulation 5 - Records of risk assessment, etc

Regulation 6 - Provision of information

Regulation 7 - Review of risk assessment

Regulation 8 - Offence

REGULATIONS 3 - RISK ASSESSMENT

Risk assessment to be conducted in every workplace by

• employer or

• self employed person or

• principal

REGULATIONS 4 - ELIMINATION & CONTROL OF RISK

• Take all reasonably practical steps to eliminate any

foreseeable risks

• If not possible then:

- Minimise risk &

- Adopt Safe Work Procedures

• Roles & responsibilities to implement controls must be clearly

specified

REGULATIONS 5 - RECORDS OF RISK ASSESSMENT

• Maintain record of risk assessments conducted & controls

implemented

• Records to be submitted to Commissioner when required

• Records must be kept for at least 3 years

REGULATIONS 6 - PROVISION OF INFORMATION

• Every persons exposed to the risks must be informed of

- Nature of risks

- Controls or SWPs implemented

• Provide updates whenever

- Risk assessment is revised

- Controls or Safe Work Procedures are Changed

REGULATIONS 7 - REVIEW OF RISK ASSESSMENT

Review and, if necessary, revise risk assessment

• At least once every 3 years

• Upon injuries

• Where there are significant changes in work practices /

procedures

REGULATIONS 8 - OFFENCES

Contraventions to the above can cause liabilities

• Max S$10,000 (First Offence)

• Max S$20,000 or max 6 months imprisonment or both (Second offence onwards)

RM RESPONSIBILITIES

Employers shall:

• Form a risk assessment team

• Endorse and approve the risk assessments conducted

• Ensure risk control measures are implemented

RM RESPONSIBILITIES

Employers shall:

• Ensure Safe Work Procedures are developed

• Inform employees of job risks and safe work procedures (SWP) and ensure they are implemented

• Set-up a risk assessment register

• Review and update at least once every three years

RM RESPONSIBILITIES

Employers shall:

• Participate in the risk assessment

• Adhere to the safe work procedures

• Inform supervisors of any shortcomings in the safe work procedures or control measures

RISK ASSESSMENT

A systematic process of:

• Identifying safety and health hazards in workplaces

• Estimating the risks involved

• Prioritizing control measures to mitigate hazards

RISK ASSESSMENT

Preparation

Work

Hazard

IdentificationRisk

Evaluation

Record Keeping

Implementation & Review

Risk Control

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32

PREPARATION WORKS

Collect information:

• Identify processes / activities / work areas

• Research documents

- Machine / equipment manuals

- Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)

- Past accident records

- WSH Standards / guidebooks

• Plant walk through

• Interviews / Surveys

IDENTIFY ACTIVITIES / WORK AREAS

MACHINE / EQUIPMENT MANUALS

MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET

WSH STANDARDS / GUIDEBOOKS

WALKING THROUGH THE OFFICE

INTERVIEWS / SURVEYS

Typical questions:

• What are the typical injuries or health complaints from the workers?

• Who have been hurt or are having symptoms?

• When do workers have these symptoms?

• Where in the workplace are these problems occurring?

• What were the working conditions of workers who are suffering from these symptoms?

HAZARD IDENTIFICATION

1. Hazard

• Anything with potential to cause bodily injury

• Includes any Physical (E.g. Working at height, falling objects)

Chemical (E.g. Detergents, cleaning agents)

Thermal (E.g. Heat)

Mechanical (E.g. Moving vehicles or machines)

Electrical (E.g. Electrical cables, electric powered equipment)

Ergonomic (E.g. Manual Lifting)

2. Hazard Identification

• The process to identify all situations or events that could cause illness or serious injuries to workers








PHYSICAL HAZARDS POSSIBLE ACCIDENTS

Manually lifting too much at one time

Back sprain

Standing on chairs Fractures / sprains / bruises due to falling

Trailing electrical cables Fractures / sprains / bruises due to tripping and falling

Overloaded power sockets 1. Electrocution

2. Fires



Uneven carpets / wet floors Fractures / sprains / bruises due to tripping and falling

1. Files / materials stacked to high

2. Old / unstable cupboards and

shelves

Falling objects crashing onto our heads

1. Shredding machines

2. Scissors / staples / pen-knives

Cuts and lacerations

Hot Beverages Burns and scalding



Chemicals

- Solvents

- Glues

- Paints

1. Occupational skin disease

2. Fires

Dust, moulds, fungi Respiratory irritation (SBS)

Bad lighting or glare Eye strain, headaches

Bad working postures Musculoskeletal disorders

Food waste Infections

RISK EVALUATION

A process to:

• Estimate risk levels for the identified hazards

• Determine if the acceptability of the risk levels

RISK EVALUATION

4 Steps:

1. Identify the existing control measures

2. Estimate the potential severity of the hazards

3. Determine the likelihood of occurrence

4. Assess the risk level

RISK EVALUATION

Risk is a function of 2 factors:

1. Severity

• The degree of injury

2. Likelihood

• The possibility of accident or ill health occurrence

• Repeating occurrence

• Common occurrence

• Possible or known to occur

• Not likely to occur normally

• Not expected but sill people

RISK EVALUATION

Categories of Likelihood

RARE

REMOTE

OCCASIONAL

FREQUENT

ALMOST CERTAIN

RISK EVALUATION

To better estimate the likelihood of an accident or incident,

look at:

• Past incident and accident records

• Industry practice and experience

• Relevant published literature

• Existing control measures

• Fatal

• Multiple major injuries

• Serious injuries

• Life-threatening occupational disease

• Injury require medical treatment

• Ill health leading to disability

• Require first aid treatment only

• No injury

RISK EVALUATION

Categories of Severity

NEGLIGIBLE

MINOR

MODERATE

MAJOR

CATASTROPHIC

RISK EVALUATION

Examples of First Aid:

Minor Cuts Skin Irritation

RISK EVALUATION

Examples of Medical Treatment Cases

Fractures

Spinal injuries not

leading to disabilities

RISK EVALUATION

Examples of Ill health leading to disabilities

Noised Induced Deafness

Permanent Musculoskeletal Disorders (e.g. CTS)

RISK EVALUATION

Examples of Serious injuries / Fatal

Amputations / Permanent disabilities

Death

RISK EVALUATION

Examples of Life threatening Occupational Diseases

Asbestosis /Silicosis Liver Cancer

RISK EVALUATION

WSHC Approved CP

5 X 5 Risk Matrix to Assess Risk Likelihood

SeverityRare (1) Remote (2) Occasional (3) Frequent (4) Almost Certain (5)

Catastrophic (5) 5 10 15 20 25

Major (4) 4 8 12 16 20

Moderate (3) 3 6 9 12 15

Minor (2) 2 4 6 8 10

Negligible (1) 1 2 3 4 5

Low Risk: 1-3 Medium Risk:4-12 High Risk: 15-25

RISKS CONTROL

Risk Level Acceptability of Risk

Recommended Actions

High Risk NOT acceptable

• Must be reduced to at least Medium

Risk• Immediate management intervention is

required• Temporary control measures e.g.

administrative controls cannot be used

RISKS CONTROL

Risk Level Acceptability of Risk

Recommended Actions

Med Risk Moderately acceptable

• Evaluation of the hazards to ensure risk

level is reduced to as low as possible• Temporary control measures can be

used e.g. administrative controls• Management attention is required

Low Risk Acceptable • No need additional control • Frequent review may be needed

HIERARCHY OF CONTROLS

ELIMINATION

• Total removal of hazard

• Most effective method

• Should be attempted in the very first place

• Examples:

• Using water based paints to replace solvent based paints

• Purchase materials pre-cut to size

• Using electronic documents

• Using Wi-Fi

• Removing carpets

SUBSTITUTION

• Job with a higher level of risk is substituted with another job with a lower one.

• Examples:

• Replace normal light bulbs with ones that have longer operating life

• Replace chemical in powder form to chemical in gel or paste form

• Replace high shelves with low shelves

• Replace heavy items / furniture with light ones

ENGINEERING CONTROLS

• Engineered machinery or equipment used to reduce the risk of a hazard

• Examples:

• Machine / Equipment guarding

• Barricades

• Enclosures

• Sensors

• Trolleys / Lifting Equipment


Machine Guarding


Barricades


Noise Enclosures


Sensors


Trolleys / Lifting Equipment

ADMISTRATIVE CONTROLS

• Control Principles:

• To reduce the duration exposure of employees

• To provide guides in performing jobs or tasks in the safest possible manner

• Examples:

• Training

• Safe Work Procedures

• Job rotation

• Warning signs

TRAINING

• Various Training

• On the job

• Orientation

• Refresher

• Specific topic (Hazard type)

• Promotional activities

• Regulatory required

SAFE WORK PROCEDURES

• A step-by-step & easy-to-understand instructions to perform the work safely

• Includes the following:

• Precautions at work and during emergency

• Description of activity / process

• Tools used and PPE requirements

• Operating Criteria

• The position that has supervisory responsibility

• Competencies required

JOB ROTATION

Switch / alternate between tasks to reduce the exposure time

WARNING SIGNS

WARNING SIGNS

PERSONAL PROTECTION EQUIPMENT

• Always the last resort, because it….

• Gives a false sense of security

• Is highly dependent on users

• Does not remove a hazards

• May add extra burden to users

• Used when:

• Engineering and administrative controls are not feasible or insufficient

• Emergency situations

PERSONAL PROTECTION EQUIPMENTImportant notes on PPE

• Selection of the proper equipment

• Importance of correct fitting

• Importance of PPE training

Nature of the hazards the equipment is intended to protect against

Consequences of poor performance or equipment failure

Ways to maintain and clean the equipment

To recognize wear and tear during the course of use


Masks


Ear Muffs vs Ear Plugs


Safety ShoesChemical

resistant type

Oil resistant typeLight weight anklet type

Sole Leather type Derby typeHalf Gumboot

type


Gloves

IMPLEMENTING CONTROL MEASURES

To effectively implement the proposed measures:

Assign an action officer from the appropriate department to which risk is concerned. He should be competent to perform the required task and be familiar with the work.

Determine the date of completion of risk control measures according to the priority in order to cater the immediate needs of addressing the high risk tasks.

DOCUMENTING YOUR RA

Risk assessment records kept for three (3) years

Records be concise and include:

• Team members detail

• Hazards for each work activity

• Risk level

• Existing and/or additional risk control measures

• Persons who conducted and approved the assessment

• Date of assessment

DOCUMENTING YOUR RARisk Assessment Form

Department: RA Leader: Approved by

Process: RA Member 1:

Process/ Activity Location: RA Member 2: Signature:

Original Assessment date: RA Member 3: Name:

Last review date: RA Member 4: Designation:

Next review date: RA Member 5: Date:


RISK EVALUATION

RISK CONTROL

Ref Work Activity Hazard Possible

injury/ill-health

Existing risk controls

S L RPN Additional Controls

S L RPN Implemen

tation Person

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

Notes:

REVIEWING YOUR RA

Risk assessment review:

•New machines, chemicals or procedures introduced

• Area of work changes

• Serious accidents or incidents happen

• New health and safety risk information occurs

• After a fixed time interval of 3 years

IN CONCLUSION

Preparation

Work

Hazard

IdentificationRisk

Evaluation

Record Keeping

Implementation & Review

Risk Control

1

456

32

Thank You!

Documents

Risk Assessment