Identifying the risks
The risk identification checklist is used to help identify risks. Work through a list of risk
factors to consider regarding the job. You should also consider what else might happen
at work.
Example of some items in the checklist:
- physical dangers
- accident risks
- chemical and biological risk factors
- physical load
- social and psychological stress
When identifying workplace hazards you should take into account the dangers that
have already led to accidents and near-miss situations. You should also identify potential
risks that have not yet caused any accidents but could cause one or harm the worker’s
health. Risk criteria can be found in the government regulations, or if not found
there, good work practices that have been generally accepted can be used as criteria.
This manual has to do with typical hazards in the shipbuilding and off-shore industry.
The job or objective that has been chosen to be assessed needs to be gone over
carefully. When identifying workplace hazards, all employees that have access to the
workplace must be taken into account. Besides normal activities, identify unusual
activities, e.g. in emergency and extraordinary situations.
Risk estimation
A workplace hazard can be estimated based on its consequences and likelihood.
The purpose is to find among several risk factors the most critical health and safety
risks. Then measures and resources can be directed correctly. When estimating
the risk, measures that have already been taken should be considered which means
that the risk may be already under control, and no new measures are required.
The consequences and likelihood of a hazard can be estimated using a three-step
scale. The risk table on the following page can be used. The risk level is given at the
intersection of the row and column. In this risk-level estimator the risk at its worst is
intolerable (5, a risk that needs to be dealt with right away), and at its least non-significant
(1).
6. RISK ASSESSMENT
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