How to conduct site risk assessments


Every worksite has a wide range of risks, it can be hard to keep track of all the risks on a site. Without knowing that a risk exists it is impossible to control effectively. To ensure that your workers are as safe as possible the worksite must be assessed for risks.

The aim of Risk Management is to prevent incidents from occurring, and as such is one of the most important aspects of an organisation’s WHS system.

Before making a purchase there are a number of steps that need to be completed to ensure the system is fit for purpose.

Transcript

There are four key steps to effective risk management

  • Hazard Identification – Identifying what could cause harm to workers
  • Risk Assessment – Assessing how likely the hazard will cause harm
  • Control – Applying controls to eliminate or reduce the risk to workers
  • Review – Regular review of all control measures for effectiveness as well as reviewing the site to ensure all hazards are identified

So what is special about Site Risk Assessments

Many organisations keep pre-completed risk assessments for particular task (such as welding). These generic documents only assess the risks that relate specifically to that task. On the other hand a site risk assessment assesses the risks of all tasks performed on the site, as well as assessing how these activities might interact and considering other site-specific factors (such as weather). 

While risk assessments for specific tasks or activities can be useful, without an overall site assessment some hazards may be overlooked. For example, in a situation where two tasks are to be performed on a worksite at the same time, each worker may perform their own risk assessment, considering the risks of their own task, but may fail to take into account the hazards arising from the other activity. Likewise risk assessments may focus on the hazards of a particular task without considering how the task will be performed on site. It’s only by stepping back and considering the whole site that you can get the full picture – the site risk profile. 

The site risk register

The worksite’s complete risk profile can be identified using a site risk assessment, also known as a risk register.

  • A formal site risk assessment has a number of key items, though they may vary between organisations
  • A checklist to suggest potential hazards to the workers completing the assessment
  • A table showing the identified hazards, the likelihood of them causing harm, and the fact suggested controls
  • A table indicating what actions need to be completed to minimise risk, who is responsible for each item and when they are due for completion
  • It is also good practice to continue to add to the risk assessment as new hazards are identified and controlled.

In workplace health and safety, prevention is better than cure.

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A guide to mental health risks in the workplace

Every worksite has a wide range of risks, it can be hard to keep track of all the risks on a site. Without knowing that a risk exists it is impossible to control effectively. To ensure that your workers are as safe as possible the worksite must be assessed for risks. 

The aim of Risk Management is to prevent incidents from occurring, and as such is one of the most important aspects of an organisation’s WHS system. 

Before making a purchase there are a number of steps that need to be completed to ensure the system is fit for purpose.

Transcript

All too often organisations focus on managing risks to employee’s physical health and safety and neglect their employee’s mental health.                            

Psychological injuries can be long lasting and costly, often requiring more time off work than physical injuries. Mental health can be affected by a range of factors, so it is important to adequately manage mental health risks in your workplace.                                                    

Every year 7,200 compensation claims are made for work-related psychological injuries, Resulting in payouts of over $500 million     

While work-related mental health injuries mare most common in occupations that are exposed to violent or traumatic situations, such as police, fire fighters or the defence force, over 90% of mental health claims were caused by work-related stress, which can occur in any occupation                             

The world health report showed: “more working days are lost as a result of mental disorders than physical conditions” – psychological injuries are often more expensive and require more time off work

in 2010-2015 typical mental health claims cost $15,000 more than the average for all injuries
Animation And required almost 10 weeks more time off

Additionally, a poor state of mental health can impact a person’s physical health, with depressed workers taking 20 times more time off work than average

Mental health can be adversely affected by a range of factors, including: ​

  • Job pressures 
  • Exposure to violent or traumatic events 
  • Workplace relationships, such as bullying or harassment 
  • Or even environmental factors, such as noise levels or lighting

To address the various factors influencing mental health, there are a few things that any organisation can do:

  • Establish mental health as a key consideration in the organisation’s risk management framework
  • Develop clear policies to encourage an inclusive workplace culture and eliminate workplace bullying and harassment
  • Provide training, counselling and other resources to ensure that small problems don’t develop into big problems 

Organisations need to look after the health of their workers inside and out.

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Related Posts

Sign-up to our Newsletter

Get the latest OHS news and educational posts as well as events,  system updates and all things WHS Monitor

Watch our on-demand webinar

Attend our on-demand webinar for a complete look at the WHS Monitor system including a walkthrough of all the modules. See what WHS Monitor can do today!

James Young headshot

On-Demand Webinar

Presented by systems specialist James Young

Get an overview of all of WHS Monitor's modules and how they help your business

Watch Now →

Attend one of our virtual events

Keep an eye on our upcoming industry based events. We will be taking a deep dive into WHS issues and then opening up the floor to questions and discussions.