OH&S Risk Assessments
Introduction
When a manager undertakes a risk assessment they are taking an important step in protecting the health and safety of people who enter their work places. The risk assessment process helps managers to focus on those risks in the workplace that have the potential to cause injury or illness to staff and students. Some risks are visible; others are only evident and able to be understood when a work task being performed is observed.
When thinking about risk assessments remember:
Hazard – Condition or situation which has the potential to cause injury or illness (physical or psychological) or damage to property and the environment.
Risk – How severely someone can be harmed by the hazard, and how likely it is that a person will be harmed by the hazard.
Control –A thing, work process or system of work that eliminates an OHS hazard or risk or, if this is not reasonably practicable, reduces the risk so far as is reasonably practicable.
A risk assessment is the process of looking for hazards that have the potential to harm people, in the objects being used, work environment and / or work processes adopted. Once a hazard is identified, the manager is able to assess (using a risk matrix):
- how severely a person can be harmed by the hazard; and
- how likely it is that a person will be harmed by that hazard.
At the departmental level identify tasks and activities considered to pose a health and safety risk. This process can be facilitated by identifying hazards groups under the following risk types:
- Chemicals & Toxicity
- Biological & Human
- Mechanical (Entanglement / collision)
- Manual handling
- Physical environment or work place design e.g. confined spaces
- Electrical
- Organisational & procedural arrangements
- Psycho-social environment and task design
- Natural Environment
To further identify hazards managers can also:
- Walk around with employees / conduct a work site inspection
- Ask staff / students what they think
- Contact the OHS Consultants
- Look at incident / hazard reports for areas under their control
- Check manufacturers instructions
- Contact the relevant trade association
- Consult with peers in industry who use the same equipment / adopt the same processes
Before commencing your risk assessment obtain the form to record your findings. Good records are a valuable reference in the future and help personnel to know the reasons for decisions made in relation to safety practices.
A team approach is best (where possible) - Ask a health & safety representative, staff member or OHS Consultant to assist you. Now you are ready to start.....
For a guide to completing a Risk Assessment see the Step by Step Walkthrough.
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OHS Risk Assessment Control Form
For hand written completion
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OHS Risk Assessment Control Form
For electronic completetion
Specialised Risk Assessments
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Forklift Risk Assessment Form
Appendix 2 of the OHS Plant Safety Procedure
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Plant Hazard Identification & Risk Assessment Control Form
Appendix C of the OHS Plant Safety Procedure
Sample Risk Assessments
| Form | Example |
|---|---|
| Departmental celebrations | Download Word Document |
| Wood working workshop teaching / learning environment | Download Word Document |
| Office working environment | Download Word Document |
| Hospitality Teaching Kitchen & Dining | Download Word Document |
| Ladder use in ITS | Download Word Document |
| Chemical Use (coming soon) | coming soon |
Other common events that should trigger a risk assessment are:
- Commencing a new activity within the university
- Purchasing new or used equipment, hiring equipment, or using new substances and processes
- Planning for the impact of new OHS legislation
- Responding to incident / hazard reports
- Responding to issues raised by HSRs or others
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Risk Assessment Document (long version)
This form can be used for complex or lengthy activities which involve multiple processes.
