Risk Assessment

PURPOSE & SCOPE

The purpose of this procedure is to ensure that a formal process is in place to identify, assess and control the hazards and their associated risk in all routine and non-routine operations and processes

The overall objectives of risk assessment are to prevent:

·       Serious injuries and fatalities

·        Recordable incidents (work-related ill-health or injury)

·       The occurrence of breaches of applicable legal requirements which might lead to enforcement action and/or prosecution

·        Assets and property damage e Damage organization Reputation

The scope of this procedure is to cover the situations, sources, activities including routine & non-routine or events of all operations and work areas

Definitions & Terms

Risk Assessment

A formalized process of identifying hazards, assessing the risk that they generate and then either eliminating, controlling or reducing the risk.

Hazard

A hazard is the potential for harm (physical or mental). In practical terms, a hazard often is associated with a condition or activity that, if left uncontrolled, can result in an injury or illness. Identifying hazards and eliminating or controlling them as early as possible will help prevent injuries and illnesses.

Hazard identification

Process of recognizing that a hazard exists and defining its characteristics. This process is about finding what could cause harm in work task or area.

Hazardous Situation

Those conditions that are typical to a location and may cause injury or ill-health. Examples include slippery or uneven walking surfaces, slopes, sharp bends, blind corners, badly ventilated areas, high traffic zones, extreme temperatures, noisy locations, poorly lit areas or confined spaces etc.

Hazardous Source

May be any equipment, or substance, that can cause injury or ill health. Some examples are production machines, generators, boilers, sources of fumes, corrosive and toxic chemicals, dangerous gases and liquids, flammable and explosive materials, high pressure vessels, particulates etc.

Activity (routine & non-routine) related hazards

Those hazards that are faced by a person while performing a specific task. Specific examples include an operator working on a machine, welding a piece of metal, climbing on a height, lifting weight, handling or transferring materials, mixing chemicals, performing repetitive tasks, driving a vehicle etc.

Hazardous Event

Also referred to as emergency situations, are those events that may occur as a result of a failure, or absence of a control, and may cause injury or ill health. Some examples include explosions, implosions, fire, collisions, poisonous gas leaks, collapse of structures, road accidents, uncontrolled chemical reactions etc.

Risk

There are lots of definition of risk but when we refer to risk in relation to occupational safety and health the most commonly used definition is ‘risk is the likelihood that a person may be harmed or suffers adverse health effects if exposed to a hazard.

Source of risk

Risk terminology varies from organization to organization, and actuaries working in different organizations may use different terms to refer to the same risk, or use the same nomenclature for completely different risks.

Existing Risk

The existing risk is the risk rating of a specific hazard at the time of carrying out the risk assessment, and takes into account all available and actively implemented controls.

Residual Risk

The risk that remains once existing controls have been taken into account can be referred to as the residual risk.

Acceptable Risk

If the residual risk is low then it might be considered acceptable, means the existing controls are adequate. Nothing more need be done.

Tolerable Risk

Implies that it is not acceptable but it can be tolerated for a short period of time while interim controls are put into place.

Unacceptable Risk

Implies that the risk level is too high and requires firm action plan with timeline and interim controls to continue the activity.

Risk Control

Taking actions using hierarchy of control, to minimize the risk so far as is reasonably practicable.

Health and safety Risk Scoring Criteria

Severity criteria
SEVERITY IMPACT ON	1	2	3	4	5
	Minor	Moderate	Significant	Major	Catastrophic
People	Injuries or illnesses requiring medical treatment or assistance beyond first-aid, e.g.: · Superficial cut, bruise or abrasion; · Transient eye, skin or respiratory irritation; · Temporary discomfort or pain.	Injuries or illnesses requiring medical treatment or assistance beyond first-aid, e.g.: · Deep cuts or wounds requires stitches; · Moderate eye, skin or respiratory irritation; · X-ray, Ultrasound or other diagnosis.	Temporary impairment, causing lost-time or job restriction, e.g.: ·     Minor fracture ( Finger, toe, etc); · Severe irritation or moderate burn; · Serious sprain or strain; · Sensitization or mild or allergic reaction; · Mild to moderate depression; · Anxiety or stress reaction; · Mild to moderate depression; · Anxiety or stress reaction disorder.	Permanent disability/major injury having fatal risk, e.g. · Complete /partial loss of hearing , vision; · Amputation, disfigurement    or disability; · Major fracture or multiple injuries; · Severe burn or tissue damage; · Severe life threatening allergic reaction or occupational asthma; · Major irreversible disease; · Severe depression leads to multiple medical communications.	Fatalities or adverse reproductive effect: · Fatal injuries or illnesses; · Cancer, birth defect, heritable genetic damage, impaired fertility.
Business/property	Production interruption of key product of few hours due to machinery or minor property damage (<0.5million PKR)	Product interruption of key product for one day due to machinery or considerable property damage(<5million PKR)	Production interruption of key product of three days due to machinery or moderate property damage (5-10million PKR)	Production interruption of key product for one week day due to machinery or major property damage (11-50million PKR)	Product interruption of key product<1 month due to machinery or very high property damage(>50million PKR)
Environment	Pollution having negligible impact on the environment	Reportable pollution but below regulator limits	Short term reversible environmental / bio-diversity damage	Extended long-term but reversible environment / bio-diversity damage	Extended severe irreversible environmental / bio-diversity damage
Reputation	· Minor effect on staff morale · Rumors in media	· Minor effect on considerable number of staff moral · Rumors, no media coverage	· Significant impact on all staff moral and local community · Local media coverage	· Major impact on all staff strike for few days · National media / adverse publicity, public confidence in the organization undermined	· Major staff strike for several days · damage of company image in one key market / country
Compliance / Fines	· No fines · Some informal / minor observation by authority inspection	· Minor fines · Number of formal observations in authority inspection	· Substantial fines · Major observation / warning letter / severe sanctions	· Isolated legal action / claims · Withdrawal / suspension of operating license <1 month	· Multiple claims / criminal prosecution · Withdrawal / suspension of operating license >1 month

Probability (or likelihood) criteria
1	2	3	4	5
Unlikely / Rare	Possible	Likely	Very Likely	Almost Certain
o Such incidents have not occurred in past but some examples in outside industry. o Similar incident is thinkable but unlikely to happen.	o Similar incident may have occurred in past or similar industry. o Similar incident are possible but probability is low.	o Similar incident have occurred in past similar industry. o Incidents are likely to occur and are probable.	o Similar incident have occurred in past few years similar industry. o Similar incidents are very likely to occur.	o Similar incidents occur frequently similar industry, average 1-2 times in a year o Similar incidents are almost certain to occur.

Risk Assessment Matrix

Severity Rating	Probability (likelihood) Rating
	Unlikely / Rare	Possible	Likely	Very Likely	Almost Certain
Catastrophic	5	10	15	20	25
Major	4	8	12	16	20
Significant	3	6	9	12	15
Moderate	2	4	6	8	10
Minor	1	2	3	4	5

Risk Categorization

Risk Rating	Risk Level	Action & Timescale
1-5	Low (Acceptable)	Acceptable Maintain the current controls and requires no additional controls
6-9	Medium (Tolerable)	Tolerable Action required within a reasonable timeframe to eliminate, reduce or control the risk using the hierarchy or controls.
B	High (Unacceptable)	Unacceptable Action (s) required within a firm time to eliminate, reduce or control the risk using the hierarchy of controls. Some interim controls can be identified to control the risk till the agreed and defined actions are implemented.
20-25	Very High (unacceptable)	Unacceptable Action (s) needed quickly. The task should only proceed when effective interim controls are devised base on the hierarchy of controls.

Hospital

A hospital is a health care institution providing patient treatment with specialized medical and nursing staff and medical equipment.

Department of hospital

Hospitals vary widely in the services they offer and therefore, in the departments they have. Hospitals may have acute services such as:

·       Accident and emergency (A&E)

·       Admissions

·       Cardiology

·       Central Sterile Services Department (CSSD)

·       Coronary Care Unit (CCU)

·       Diagnostic Imaging

·       General Services

·       Health & Safety

·       Intensive Care Unit (ICU)

·       Pharmacy

Accident and emergency (A&E)

Also called Casualty Department, where you're likely to be taken if you have arrived in an ambulance or emergency situation.

Admissions

At the Admitting Department, the patient will be required to provide personal information and sign consent forms before being taken to the hospital unit or ward. If the individual is critically ill, then, this information is usually obtained from a family member.

Cardiology

Provides medical care to patients who have problems with their heart or circulation.

Central Sterile Services Department (CSSD)

(Sterile Processing Department (SPD) - Sterile Processing - Central Supply Department (CSD) - Central Supply) - A place in hospitals and other health care facilities that performs sterilization and other actions on medical equipment, devices, and consumables.

Coronary Care Unit (CCU)

(Cardiac intensive care unit (CICU) - A hospital ward specialized in the care of patients with heart attacks, unstable angina, cardiac dysrhythmia and other cardiac conditions that require continuous monitoring and treatment.

Diagnostic Imaging

Also known as X-Ray Department and/or Radiology Department.

General Services

Support Services include services provided by Departments such as Pottering, Catering, Housekeeping, Security, Health & Safety, Switch, Laundry and the management of facilities such as parking, baby tagging, access control, CCTV etc.

Health & Safety

The role of the occupational health and safety department is to promote and maintain the highest possible degree of health and safety for all employees, physicians, volunteers, students and contractors, and actively participates in quality, safety and risk initiatives. Numerous health and safety issues associated with healthcare facilities include blood-borne pathogens and biological hazards, potential chemical and drug exposures, waste anesthetic gas exposures, respiratory hazards, ergonomic hazards from lifting and repetitive tasks, laser hazards, hazards associated with laboratories, and radioactive material and x-ray hazards. In addition to the medical staff, large healthcare facilities employ a wide variety of trades that have health and safety hazards associated with them. These include mechanical maintenance, medical equipment maintenance, housekeeping, food service, building and grounds maintenance, laundry, and administrative staff.

Intensive Care Unit (ICU)

(Intensive Therapy Unit, Intensive Treatment Unit (ITU), Critical Care Unit (CCU) - A special department of a hospital or health care facility that provides intensive treatment medicine and caters to patients with severe and life-threatening illnesses and injuries, which require constant, close monitoring and support from specialist equipment and medications.

Pharmacy

Responsible for drugs in a hospital, including purchasing, supply and distribution.

Caution Sign

In hospital following caution sign are used to inform visitors and new staff members about the hazard.

a)    Emergency exit

b)   Fire point

c)    A & E name

d)   No spitting

e)    No smoking

f)     Fire hydrant & hose reel

g)    Electrocution

h)   Hand wash

i)      Eye wash

j)      First aid

k)   Bio hazard

l)      Radioactivity

m) Recycle waste

n)   CCTV

o)   Use gloves

p)   Use eye protection

q)   Oxygen in use

r)     Fall risk

s)      No Mobil devices

t)      Alcohol free area

u)   Waiting area

v)   Restricted area

w) Direction

x)   No firearms sign

y)   X-ray in use

z)    Work in progress