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There are many motivators when it comes to reasons for performing risk assessments e.g. due diligence, legal requirements, fear of consequences, etc.
Well-managed businesses do take all of the above seriously.
When it comes to plant there are many people that have responsibilities to ensure that the equipment is safe for use e.g. designers, manufacturers, suppliers/importers and end-users.
Designers have a duty to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that the plant is without risks to health and safety to workers throughout the life of the plant. Among other things, designers must also provide specific information to the manufacturer.
Manufacturers have a duty to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that the plant is manufactured to be without risks to workers throughout the lifecycle of the plant.
Importers & Suppliers must ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that the plant, substance or structure is without risks to the health and safety of persons
End-users typically fall into 3 groupings of people: Persons Conducting a Business or Undertaking (PCBU), Officers or Workers.
PCBUs have the primary duty under the WHS Act to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that workers and other persons are not exposed to health and safety risks arising from the business or undertaking. This duty includes ensuring the provision and maintenance of safe plant and the safe use, handling, storage and transport of plant.
Officers such as company directors or senior managers, have a duty to exercise due diligence (reasonable care in Victoria) to ensure that the business or undertaking complies with the OHS/WHS Act and Regulations. This includes taking reasonable steps to ensure that the business or undertaking has and uses appropriate resources and processes to eliminate or minimise risks that arise from plant used in the workplace. Capital Expenditure Project Managers should take note that they can personally be prosecuted if they don’t assess and address the risks on any plant purchased if it can be shown that they had significant decision making responsibility.
Workers/Employees have a duty to take reasonable care for their own health and safety and must not adversely affect the health and safety of other persons.
Important considerations when conducting risk assessments:
· Lifecycle. Risks associated with plant must considered throughout the entire lifecycle of the plant from conception through to disposal. Workers can be injured throughout the lifecycle of the plant including fabrication of components, sub-assembly of structures, packaging, transportation, unpacking, assembly, integration, commissioning, operation, setting, cleaning, maintenance, decommissioning, dismantling and disposal.
· Consultation and team make up. WHS Legislation requires that businesses consult with those that may be impacted by changes to health and safety in the workplace. Risk Assessments inevitably result in changes to the workplace in order to reduce risk. Risk Assessments usually involve workers, health and safety representatives, supervisors, engineers, and maintenance staff. It is important to have someone in the team who is familiar with WHS Legislation and standards that apply to machinery/robots and can provide guidance on suitable risk reduction measures.
· Process. Have a process for conducting a risk assessment along with associated proformas for documenting the findings and corrective actions. The documentation should be readily accessible for further review and for proof of due diligence to the various Worksafe authorities.
· Act on the findings. Risk assessments inevitably result in identifying hazards that do not have any or inadequate risk control measures in place. These must be acted on.
Remember ignorance is no excuse!
If you have any needs for training, risk assessment process development or facilitation of risk assessments in your workplace, please contact us.
Keep building safety into your businesses!
Cheers Paul
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