The process of risk management is so fundamental to safety in the electrical industry that it is important that every worker use a risk management approach to address workplace health and safety. The risk management process is an ongoing process and all workers should have a strong understanding of the purpose and steps of risk management.
The meaning of key terms:
Hazard means a situation or thing that has the potential to harm a person. Hazards at work may include: noisy machinery, a moving forklift, chemicals, electricity, working at heights, a repetitive job, bullying, discrimination and violence at the workplace.
Risk is the possibility that harm (death, injury or illness) might occur when exposed to a hazard.
Risk control means taking action to eliminate health and safety risks so far as is reasonably practicable, and if that is not possible, minimising the risks so far as is reasonably practicable. Eliminating a hazard will also eliminate any risks associated with that hazard.
Example of Common Hazards
| Hazard | Potential harm |
| Manual tasks | Overexertion or repetitive movement can cause muscular strain |
| Gravity | Falling objects, falls, slips and trips of people can cause fractures, bruises, lacerations, dislocations, concussion, permanent injuries or death |
| Electricity | Exposure to live electrical wires can cause shock, burns or death from electrocution.
Potential ignition source. |
| Machinery and equipment | Being hit by moving vehicles, or being caught by moving parts of machinery can cause fractures, bruises, lacerations, dislocations, permanent injuries or death |
| Hazardous chemicals | Chemicals (such as PCBs, mercury, lead, acids, hydrocarbons, heavy metals) and dusts (such as asbestos and silica) can cause respiratory illnesses, cancers or dermatitis |
| Extreme temperatures | Heat can cause burns, heat stroke or fatigue
Cold can cause hypothermia or frost bite |
| Noise | Exposure to loud noise can cause permanent hearing damage |
| Radiation | Radio frequency radiation, ultraviolet, welding arc flashes, micro waves and lasers can cause burns, cancer or blindness |
| Biological | Micro-organisms can cause hepatitis, infections, legionnaires’ disease, COVID-19, Q fever, HIV/AIDS or allergies |
| Psychosocial hazards | Effects of work-related stress, bullying, harassment, discrimination, violence, and work-related fatigue |
When should a risk Management Approach be used?
A risk management approach should be applied long before any workers arrive at site. A safe and healthy workplace does not happen by chance or guesswork. You have to think about what could go wrong at your workplace and what the consequences could be. Then you must do whatever you can (in other words, whatever is ‘reasonably practicable’) to eliminate or minimise health and safety risks arising from your business or undertaking.
- identify hazards – find out what could cause harm
- assess risks if necessary – understand the nature of the harm that could be caused by the hazard, how serious the harm could be and the likelihood of it happening
- control risks – implement the most effective control measure that is reasonably practicable in the circumstances by developing, consulting and implementing either Safe Work Method Statements (SWMS) or Safe Working Procedures SWPs as appropriate.
- review the control measures to ensure they are working as planned in an ongoing manner.
Hierarchy of Risk Controls
Eliminate the hazard wherever practicable and if not possible, specify risk control measure/s to minimise the risk of harm to the lowest possible or tolerable level using the following hierarchy (listed from Strong to Weak):
The outcome of this risk management approach should result in the development of a safety management system with policies, safe working procedures, safe work method statements, training and equipment provided to the workers.
Pre-written templates are available in NECA’s HSEQ plus Safety Management System.
Job Start Risk Assessment Flowchart
