RISK MANAGEMENT – IDENTIFY ANY POTENTIAL WHS PROBLEMS IN YOUR WORKPLACE

Risk Management is the systematic approach to identifying any potential threats and taking steps to eliminate or minimise work related injury and illness.

The main factors that contribute to work related incidents and injuries are a lack of training, poor maintenance and the absence of safe systems of work. By following a risk management approach each individual factor contributing to workplace injury or illness can be identified and its’ importance as a contributing factor assessed. This process also assists in finding the appropriate means of controlling those factors in order to prevent workplace injury and illness.

Use a Risk Management Process or procedure to identify any potential WHS problems in your workplace and before starting work at a new site. You may need to reassess the risks during the life of a project or as situations change within the workplace. For example, if work enters a different phase, where the nature of the work being undertaken is substantially different from when the project commenced, such as the presence of new machinery, new workers, hazardous substances, etc.