Safety observations are an important piece of the puzzle in transforming an organization’s safety culture. Safety observations, if done well, should make safety conversations second nature, reinforce safe work practices and show trends in unsafe work practices.

This is because a robust risk management plan will help a company establish procedures to avoid potential threats, minimize their impact should they occur and cope with the results. This ability to understand and control risk enables organizations to be more confident in their business decisions.

These five methods of controlling risk will provide you with the options needed to better control the fallout from unplanned events or scenarios.

• Avoidance.
• Acceptance.
• Mitigation.
• Transferal.
• Exploitation.

Some practical steps you could take include:

1. trying a less risky option.
2. preventing access to the hazards.
3. organising your work to reduce exposure to the hazard.
4. issuing protective equipment.
5. providing welfare facilities such as first-aid and washing facilities.
6. involving and consulting with workers.

Control Risks: Control risk or internal control risk is the risk that current internal control could not detect or fail to protect against significant error or misstatement in the financial statements. For example, auditors should have a proper risk assessment at the planning stages.

Elimination and substitution

Controlling Exposure

1. Change process to minimize contact with hazardous chemicals.
2. Isolate or enclose the process.
3. Use of wet methods to reduce generation of dusts or other particulates.
4. General dilution ventilation.
5. Use fume hoods.

Establish and implement a Management of Hazardous Chemicals Programme in the workplace based on the nature of work and the hazardous chemical(s) used. Conduct a thorough Risk Assessment (RA) before carrying out any work with chemicals. Ensure all relevant safe work procedures (SWP) are in place.

Elimination is the process of removing the hazard from the workplace. It is the most effective way to control a risk because the hazard is no longer present. It is the preferred way to control a hazard and should be used whenever possible.

What are Control Measures?

1. Eliminate the hazard.
2. Substitute the hazard with a lesser risk.
3. Isolate the hazard.
4. Use engineering controls.
5. Use administrative controls.
6. Use personal protective equipment.

If a risk can’t be eliminated it must be minimised so far as is reasonably practicable. Seek the views of your workers and their representatives when making decisions about the ways to eliminate or minimise risk.

Some examples of engineering controls for biological hazards are: regular cleaning of the workplace, pest prevention/extermination, requiring that safety equipment be used and worn, and proper disposal of materials and items that may pose a biological risk.

Hazards may be eliminated by changing how or where the work is done. For example, by eliminating a step the process that involves a hazardous material. They may also be eliminated by redesigning a process to eliminate the use of hazardous equipment, machines, tools, or materials.

Five Steps to Eliminate Workplace Hazards

1. Step 1 – Know a real hazard when you see one.
2. Step 2 – Understand who and how people might be harmed.
3. Step 3 – Evaluate your hazards and decide on control measures.
4. Step 4 – Record all of your potential hazards.
5. Step 5 – Periodically review and update your hazard assessment.

5 Tips to Manage Employee Risk

1. Identify the hazards. Hazards are anything that can cause physical harm or illness to your employees.
2. Evaluate the hazards and decide on precautions.
3. Control of health and safety hazards.
4. Implement controls.
5. Review assessment and update if necessary.

Take a look at four ways you can control hazards and risks in the workplace to protect employees and your company.

1. Strengthen Your Safety Culture.
2. Get Leadership Buy-In.
3. Implement a Hazard Identification and Assessment Plan.
4. Measure Your Plan’s Impact Over Time.