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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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
HAZARD IDENTIFICATION
HAZARD IDENTIFICATION
HAZARD IDENTIFICATION
HAZARD IDENTIFICATION
HAZARD IDENTIFICATION
HAZARD IDENTIFICATION
HAZARD IDENTIFICATION
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
HAZARD IDENTIFICATION
PHYSICAL HAZARDS POSSIBLE ACCIDENTS
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
HAZARD IDENTIFICATION
PHYSICAL HAZARDS POSSIBLE ACCIDENTS
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
ENGINEERING CONTROLS
Machine Guarding
ENGINEERING CONTROLS
Barricades
ENGINEERING CONTROLS
Noise Enclosures
ENGINEERING CONTROLS
Sensors
ENGINEERING CONTROLS
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
PERSONAL PROTECTION EQUIPMENT
Masks
PERSONAL PROTECTION EQUIPMENT
Ear Muffs vs Ear Plugs
PERSONAL PROTECTION EQUIPMENT
Safety ShoesChemical
resistant type
Oil resistant typeLight weight anklet type
Sole Leather type Derby typeHalf Gumboot
type
PERSONAL PROTECTION EQUIPMENT
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:
HAZARD IDENTIFICATION
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
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32
Thank You!