1.0 Purpose

To establish a procedure for identification of occupational health & safety risks and evaluate the same for implementing control on significant risks

2.0 Scope

All activity carried out by the company and its Sub-Contractors that have risk associated with occupational health & safety of employees, Sub-Contractors and visitors

3.0 Definitions

Hazard: Anything that has the potential to cause harm or injury, or damage to human, property or the environment

Risk: The likelihood that an event will occur (i.e. the evaluation of a hazard)

Risk Assessment: Process of evaluating the risk arising from a hazard, taking into account the adequacy of any existing controls and deciding whether or not the risk is acceptable

(Ref: OHSAS18001:2007; Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems–Requirements)

Workplace: Any physical location in which work-related activities are performed under the control of HSC (Ref: Adapted from OHSAS18001:2007; Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems – Requirements)

4.0 Responsibilities

4.1 Operational Managers/Functional Head

• Ensure that risk assessments are performed
• Ensure that systems and / or controls are in place to manage the risks
• Ensure that adequate resources are available for risk management, including the provision of personnel competent to perform
• Review the effectiveness of the risk control measures

4.2 Site Supervisors:

Ensure that systems and / or controls are in place to manage the risks associated with their process

Implement any actions necessary for risk management

Provide feedback to the Senior Management within their organization, concerning the effectiveness of the risk mitigation measures

4.3 Site HSE Representative

• Will provide guidance for preparation of risk assessments

4.4 Employees

All employees must participate in any identified training, to ensure the effective implementation of risk control measures

5.0 Process

5.1 Workplace Risk Assessment

5.1.1 Risk Assessment

Identify the hazards present in the workplace and consider the precautions already taken to estimate the level of risk involved.:

Identification of all the hazards

Identification of people at risk

Evaluation of the risks and of existing precautions iv. Recording and communication of the findings

Periodic review in addition to this, the following should be considered:

The human behavior of people involved

Any external risk to the activity from other activities within the site or from other organizations

Management of change

Ergonomics

Recent changes to the Management System

Changes in legal requirements

5.1.2 When to Conduct a Risk Assessment

A Risk Assessment must be undertaken before the commencement of the activity so that hazards are identified and control measures are determined to minimize the risks to personnel and property.

Hazards must be identified during the planning stage of the activity. This will keep cost for any subsequent modification to a minimum. A risk assessment must be carried out:

When required by legislation

For all new engineering design work and specifications

For all new / different site activities that could be deemed as hazardous

For all hazardous activities / processes

When new equipment or machinery is introduced

When required by a Permit to Work

5.1.3 Who should carry out a Risk Assessment?

The risk assessment is the duty of those, responsible for carrying out any activity in order to protect employees and other persons affected by HSC activities. A group of experienced qualified employees of various departments, facilitated by unbiased leader, is formed to identify and evaluate risks in their respective area. The employees who carry out the task may also require specialist guidance on certain aspects from an appropriate person e.g. the Site HSE Representative / Qualified Medical Practitioner / Engineer.

5.1.4 Conducting the Assessment

Hazard Survey

• All activities together with methods and systems of are to be subjected to a hazard survey. The extent and depth of this survey will be dependent on the potential outcome arising from the activity. Important criteria to be considered include:
• Exposure of people (both the workforce and the public) to any dangers that may arise
• Legal requirements
• The value of the plant or equipment in financial and economic terms
• Any inherent toxic, explosive or fire risk associated with any stage of the activity / process

Based on received information identify the significant risks that have potential impacts on OH&S.

Hazards can result in different forms of harm. It is useful to record both the hazard and the harm so that it is easier to identify the correct precautions to take. Hazard identification can be helped by:

Viewing a situation or activity

Discussing it with those involved in the activity

Referring to:

Manufacturers’ or suppliers’ manuals or data sheets

A checklist of hazards as an aide-memoir

Accident/incident reports

Reviewing legislation and legislative guidance notes

Hazard Analysis

The hazard identified must be analyzed. The main elements of this are probability, frequency and severity.

Control Measures

If the risk assessment has determined that something needs to be done then the following two questions must be considered and appropriate control measures implemented:

Can the Hazard be removed altogether?

If not, how can the risks are controlled so that harm is unlikely?

In answering these questions, the following “Hierarchy of Control” must be considered:

Elimination; b. Substitution; c. Engineering control

Administrative control; e. use of PPE

Once the control measures have been implemented the Risk Assessment process must be repeated to quantify the residual risk and the risk from any new hazards introduced inadvertently by the control measures. These risks should now be tolerable.

5.1.5 Procedure for establishing significant risks.

Significant risks are established from list of the high-risk level concerns as emerged from Group Risk Assessment.

Short listing is done based on following criteria:

All risks with statutory compliance, if any

Risks with Extreme and high-risk level.

The process also considers relevant chemical hazard, physical hazard, biological hazard, ergonomic hazard, Monotonous work, influence of shift work, overtime loading, fatigue and other stresses. The process considers normal working / operating conditions, shutdown and start up conditions as well as realistic potential significant risks associated with reasonable or foreseeable emergency situations.

5.1.6 Risk Assessment Reviews

The risk assessment must be periodically reviewed and revised as necessary at least every 12 months, for example if there is a significant change to the work area or for any other reason that it is suspected that the assessment is no longer valid. Reviews must be documented.

6.0 References

6.1 Clause 4.3.1 of OHSAS18001

(Annexure 1)

GENERAL RISK ASSESSMENT