Risk ManagementNDS Forum June 23rd 2010

Example safety objective

Objective 1:• To protect the health, safety & welfare of

employees and people at our work sites through activities that identify hazards and unsafe practices

Reference OHS Regulation 2001 – Places of work – risk management

Example safety objective

Strategies to meet Objective 1:1.Inspections of all work areas will be completed

and documented every 2 months2.Safety observations will be completed each

month3.Safe Work Procedures will be reviewed each

month or after any related incident4.A predetermined annual schedule of activities

will be in place and responsibility allocated5.The Production Manager will report monthly on

KPIS linked to these activities

Example Associated Records•Schedule, calendar, reminder system•Forms [checklists] used to record

inspections, observations, SWP reviews•Reports of relevant incidents and

investigations into incidents•Registers to record activities completed,

actions required and status of action•Risk Register to record known risks and

controls in place

Example Review Process• Comparison of schedule to register shows if

activities completed as required• Comparison of completed form to register shows if

all items requiring action have been documented• Comparison of documented action completed and

observation on-site shows if what was documented was actually done

• Review of Risk Register – shows updates to controls and risk ratings

• OHS Committee meeting minutes shows consultation with employees on the process or outcome

Example Reporting

•% scheduled activities completed •% actions outstanding, why?•Time taken to complete actions•Updates to Risk Register completed

Do you know •What activities are scheduled to be done?•What has been done?•What recommendations for action have been

made and done?•How long it has taken for things to be done?•What procedures are in place?•Are the procedures relevant?•Are the procedures being followed?•Who is involved and how are they consulted?

Need to improve? Where to start?

• The most comprehensive starting point is an audit

• Helps to have someone with a good view of the “big picture”. Not as easy as it sounds!

• Tackling the whole system is difficult

Summary•The systematic management of health and

safety is crucialStructure & ResponsibilityConsultation, Communication & ReportingHealth & Safety Risk Management

are the key elements of any HSMS

•Review, records, tracking and reporting mechanisms need to be in place for your system to be effective

Need to improve? Where to start?

• The most comprehensive starting point is an audit

• Helps to have someone with a good view of the “big picture”. Not as easy as it sounds!

• Tackling the whole system is difficult

A simpler way•Many organisations have in place a range

of good health and safety activities and events

•Making sure that these activities and events are as effective as they can be, is often a good place to start

•Other processes can be built on later as the system matures

So, where to really start?

•Start at the basic requirements for any Work Health and Safety Management System

•Refer to the OHS Act, OHS Regulation and the Code of Practice for Risk Assessment for clarity of legal requirements and detailed advice

•Draw a simple “map” of what you already have in place

Compare what you have ….

To the requirements for implementation of a Management System for Work Health & Safety

•Structure and responsibility

•Consultation, communication & reporting

•Health and safety risk management

Complete the picture

•With what you think is missing

•Stick with the 3 key elements▫Structure and responsibility▫Consultation, communication & reporting▫Health and safety risk management

to start, other elements can come later

Structure & responsibility

System Element

Responsibility and Accountability

How are people allocated responsibility?How are people accountable for review processes?

Training and Competency

How do people gain the skills and knowledge to use systems and effectively conduct reviews & report on recommendations and outcomes?

Health and safety risk managementSystem Element

Hazard Identification

How and when are the mechanisms for identifying hazards and the associated risks reviewed?How are incidents investigated and reviewed to identify risks and potential risks?

Risk Assessment

How are known risks assessed and how and when are these assessments reviewed?How do people access information to support awareness of potential risks?

Control of Risks

How are risk controls developed and how and when are these controls reviewed?How is the effectiveness of emergency preparedness and response processes reviewed?

Legislation & Guidance MaterialsOHS Act 2000 & OHS Regulation 2001

www.legislation.nsw.gov.aulink from WorkCover website

Guidance MaterialsWorkCover NSW

Free copies of some publicationsAlso downloads from website

Key tasks

•Documenting the desired processes clearly including roles and responsibilities

•Organising records of activities –

Registers, Paper and Computer Files, Documents, Records

Map

•Keeping track of the outcomes and desired actions from these activities

•Reporting on KPIs

Documenting clear procedures

•Site, vehicle and other inspections• Incident reporting – response, corrective

and preventive action•Safety observations•Safe Work Procedure development &

review•Consultation and communication•Record keeping•Reporting

Documenting clear responsibility

•Who does the activity?•When is it done?•Who is accountable?•What records are kept and where?•How are records accessed?•Who keeps track? •Who reports to management, how and

when?