EHS-130 Environmental Health and Safety Risk Assessment Methodology

The risk assessment process consists of four (4) main steps parts:

Figure 1: Risk Assessment Process

5.1 Hazard Identification

Workplace hazards may be identified through, but not limited to the following processes:

– Accident / injury reports

– Accident / incident investigation

– Hazard notification

– Hazard identification

– EHS Monthly Walk Around audits

– EHS Yearly Audits

– Introduction of new plant, equipment, substance and or process

– Modification of plant, equipment, substance and or process

– Manufacturer’s Directives or Recommendations.

– When new information becomes available that affects health and safety (i.e. Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)

– Assessments as required by legislation

– Reports from external persons / bodies

– Environmental / biological monitoring.

5.2 Risk Assessment

The risk assessment shall consider the following:

– The likelihood of the hazard causing harm (L)

– The severity of the consequences in the event of the hazardous event or situation occurring (C)

– The exposure of personnel to that hazard (E).

5.2.1 Likelihood (L)

5.2.1.1 Determine the numerical value for the likelihood of the identified hazard to cause harm.  (See Table 1 – Likelihood below).

5.2.1.2 Record the determined value for consequences on the EHS Risk Assessment Tool form (Form 0435) and EHS Risk Control & Assessment Form (Form 0436).

Table 1: Likelihood (L)

5.2.2 Consequences (C)

5.2.2.1 Determine the numerical value for the most likely consequences if the identified hazard were to cause harm.  (As per Table 2 – Consequences below).

5.2.2.2 Record the determined value for consequences on the EHS Risk Assessment Tool form (Form 0435) and EHS Risk Control & Assessment Form (Form 0436).

5.2.3 Exposure (E)

Table 2: Likelihood (C)

5.2.3.1 Determine the numerical value for the level of the exposure of personnel to the identified hazard.  (See Table 3 – Exposure).

5.2.3.2 Record the determined value for consequences on the EHS Risk Assessment Tool form (Form 0435) and EHS Risk Control & Assessment Form (Form 0436).

Table 3: Exposure (E)

5.2.4 Risk Score

5.2.4.1 Calculate the Risk Score by multiplying the numerical value determined for Likelihood (L), Consequences (C) and Exposure (E) together.

5.2.4.2 Record the calculated value for Risk Score on the EHS Risk Control & Assessment Form (Form 0436).

Risk score = L X C X E

5.2.5 Risk Level

5.2.5.1 The Risk Level may be interpreted qualitatively using the terms in the Risk Score table (Table 4).

5.2.5.2 Record the determined value for consequences on the EHS Risk Assessment Tool form (Form 0435) and EHS Risk Control & Assessment Form (Form 0436).

Table 4: Risk score

5.3 Risk Control

The primary aim of risk control is to eliminate the risk and the best way of eliminating risk is to eliminate the hazard.

If this is not possible, the risk must be minimized as far as is practicable using one or more of the other control options from the Hierarchy of Controls.

Risk control must be achieved using a Hierarchy of Controls as described below in Table 5.

In many cases, it will be necessary to use more than one control method from the Hierarchy of Controls.  Back-up controls (such as PPE and administrative controls) should only be used as a last resort or as a support to other control measures.

Table 5: Hierarchy of controls

5.4 Monitor and Review

After risks associated with a hazard have been assessed and control measures introduced those controls must be monitored and reviewed to evaluate their effectiveness.

This is to ensure that no hazards were overlooked in the original assessment process, and that no new unforeseen hazards have been introduced as a result of the implemented controls.

Monitoring and review shall involve the systematic re-implementation of the original risk management program steps of:

– Hazard identification

– Risk assessment

– Risk control

This shall be done as soon as is practicable after the implementation of control measures.

Note: If Manual Handling or Hazardous Substances are listed as a risk the following SOPs must also be consulted:

SOP EHS-145 Hazard assessment of New and Existing Materials with appropriate Risk Form attached.

SOP EHS-150 Manual Handling ergonomics policy with appropriate Risk Form attached.

5.5 Rating Category

Table 6: Rating Category

The Rating Category as seen in Table 6 will provide the magnitude of the nature and level of risk that was assessed to be inherent in the process/system or equipment.

The appropriate risk control measure can then be undertaken accordingly.

The ratings provided will also linked to the Monthly EHS walk around and yearly EHS audits and will provide an indication of the risk that is involved in a process, system or equipment.