RISK ANALYSIS

1. RISK ANALYSIS SECTION 2 – What is a Hazard? Health & Safety Human Resource Services

2. RISK ANALYSIS – What is a Hazard? • Hazard means anything that has the potential to harm the health or safety of a person or plant. • Hazard Factors to Consider • Factor 1:The same hazard can often cause more injury/illness to one person than another.  • Factor 2:The potential to cause injury/illness can be different for different hazards. • Factor 3:Not all hazards take the same time to cause injury/illness; the time duration and event frequency of hazards is often a determining factor when assessing hazard potential.  • Factor 4:People often have different perceptions of potential hazards and the damage the hazards can cause.

3. RISK ANALYSIS – What is a Hazard? • Hazard Classification Generally hazards can be classified into five groups: • Physical • Chemical • Biological • Mechanical • Psychosocial • Hazard SourcesHazards can arise from: • workplace premises • work practices and systems • plant • workplace environment. • Because there are many factors to consider, the risks posed by potential hazards must be assessed and then eliminated or controlled to a level that reduces the risk – this is called risk management.

4. RISK ANALYSIS – What is a Hazard? • Hazard Classification • PHYSICAL Physical Hazard Cause Potential Disease or Injury HeatLightingNoiseVibrationIonising RadiationDustPressureElectricity Heatstroke, cramp, fatigueHeadaches, eyestrainHearing losswhite finger diseaseLung cancerSilicosisDecompression sickness (bends)Heart failure, burns

5. RISK ANALYSIS – What is a Hazard? • Hazard Classification • CHEMICAL Chemical Hazard Cause Potential Disease or Injury Acids, alkalisMetalsNon-metalsGasesOrganic compoundsDustsVapours Dermatitis, eye injuryCadmium/lead/mercury poisoningArsenic/cyanide poisoningCarbon monoxide poisoningCancer, nerve damageLead poisoningMercury poisoning BIOLOGICAL Biological Hazard Cause Potential Disease or Injury Animal-borneHuman-borneVegetable-borne Anthrax, Q feverAIDSAspergillosis (farmers lung)

6. RISK ANALYSIS – What is a Hazard? Hazard Classification MECHANICAL Mechanical Hazard Cause Potential Disease or Injury Musculoskeletal injury – spinal injury, muscle strains, sprainsAcute physical injuries – severed/crushed limbsAcute injury – crushed limbsAcute injury – broken bones, brain damage Manual handling – over exertion, lifting or pullingUnguarded machinesHydraulic pressureGravitational energy – falls of people or objects PSYCHOSOCIAL Psychological Hazard Cause Potential Disease or Injury Violence, harassment or abuseStress Physical harm, stressPsychosomatic disorders (eg stomach ulcers brought about by stress)

7. RISK ANALYSIS – What is a Hazard? • Hazard SourcesWork premises • Hazards can arise from the work premises including: • ·Work premises layout • ·Condition of the work premises • ·Buildings containing asbestos products • ·Workstation design • ·Lighting within the work premises • ·Emergencies situations such as earthquakes • Work practices and systems • Hazards can arise from the work practices and systems including: • ·Shiftwork arrangements • ·Hazardous processes • ·Psychological hazards • ·Fatigue related hazards

8. RISK ANALYSIS – What is a Hazard? • Plant • Hazards can arise from plant including: • ·Transport • ·Installation, erection, commissioning and use • ·Repair • ·Maintenance • ·Dismantling, storage and disposal • Physical working environment • Hazards can arise from the physical working environment including: • ·Electrocution • ·Hazardous substances • ·Fire • ·Explosion • ·Slips, trips and falls • ·Exposure to heat • ·Biological organisms • ·Harassment

9. For all enquiries regarding Risk Management and Analysis, please contact: • Health and Safety TeamPhone: 4921 7262Email: tina.crawford@newcastle.edu.au