The Value Of Mini Risk Assessments
- May 15th, 2009
This article first appeared in the Health & Safety At Work magazine in December 2008. In response, I received a very informative and much appreciated email from Ken Bladwell. You will find the original article posted here as well as Ken’s response at the end.
We all understand the concepts of Risk Assessments and that they form the foundation of any SHEQ management system.
We know that they are classified (roughly) into:
• Baseline Risk Assessments
• Issue-based Risk Assessments
• Continual Risk Assessments
• Mini Risk Assessments (also known as a 3-minute risk assessments)
• Fatal Risk Assessments
I would like to stand still at one of the risk assessment methods which we tend to neglect and which should add the most value to our SHEQ management system: the mini or 3-minute risk assessment.
This Risk Assessment should be done before the commencement of each task.
What is the aim of this process? To pro-actively identify possible hazards and risks that may impact negatively on the employees’ Health and Safety or harm the environment.
The reality in industry is that this positive tool is not used at all or only used at selected times or used, but incorrectly applied.
1. Not using the Mini Risk Assessment: This tool assist with compliance to section 8.2 (d) of the Occupational Health & Safety Act and therefore is a help to the CEO towards identifying hazards & risks in the workplace.
It furthermore assist with section 13 of the same act (Duty to inform) by then actually giving the employee the knowledge (pro-actively) of possible hazards & risks that may affect his/her when performing this task.
Apart from the mentioned two advantages it also plays a role in section 14 of the OHSAct which mentions that the employee needs to look after their own health and safety – what better why by doing a mini risk assessment?
2. Using the Mini Risk Assessment at selected times: Certain organizations use the Mini Risk Assessment only when they perceive a high risk task is to be performed or only after every third shift.
What then happens in between when the job might pose a risk to the operator?
The purpose of this type of Risk Assessment is not only the empowerment of the operator/employee with the task at hand and hazards & risks of performing the task, but also to do a SHEQ check in general – is this not what we do before we drive our car; when we make coffee or when we take a shower?
We check that there is enough petrol in the vehicle, that there is nothing behind or in front of the vehicle before we drive and look left & right before we make a turn …
3. Used, but incorrectly applied: So the supervisor does the Risk Assessment or the Health & Safety representative does the check – is this adequate? NO! Who gets injured or killed? Who knows the job better than anybody else? The operator/employee.
No form or type of Risk Assessment can be done without the participation of the operator that is going to perform the task.
Interesting is also the format of a Mini Risk Assessment – it looks like an executive summary of the monthly Health & Safety representative inspection form. This is totally off the mark. A Mini Risk Assessment should be task specific and should flow from the Issue-base Risk Assessment to be effective towards a successful SHEQ management system.
This is such a valuable tool. Have a look at your current Mini Risk Assessment format and use and look at continual improvement opportunities not only towards legal compliance but also towards the moral obligation of your employees!
Ken Bladwell’s Response
My concern is when setting up a program for HIRA in terms of OHSAS 18001:2007 the definitions are not applied correctly which causes confusion especially when been audited.
A hazard is defined as “source situation or act, with potential for harm in terms of human injury or ill health, or a combination of these”. There is very seldom a problem with this definition and most people apply it correctly.
A risk is defined as “combination of the likelihood of an occurrence of a hazardous event or exposure(s) and the severity of injury or ill health that can be caused by the event or exposure”.
This is the term where the confusion comes in. In terms of this definition a risk is a rating, i.e. a number or some other form of qualitative ranking expressing a probability that an event will occur, this is also close to the dictionary definition.
In a lot of cases people define the event as the risk, for example “struck by”. The “struck by” is the hazardous event, and the risk is “low”, “medium” or “high”. Referring to your article, step 3 is the step that I disagree with in your otherwise good article. This may be true for the old NOSA system but it is not in accordance with OHSAS 18001.
Regards
Ken
PS, The sentence would then read “Rating of the hazardous event will depend on……………..”
24 Responses to “The Value Of Mini Risk Assessments”
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Your articles are so simple and comprehensible. They have helped me alot.
Hi Venance
Thank you for the feedback. I find most information in this field is normally written for top management level. However, it is the employee who needs to ensure a safe and healthy working environment every minute of the day. You are welcome to give me ideas of other complicated topics which you would like me to simplify for all.
Regards CHristel
Hi Christel
Am in this field for 4 years and I once trained with Advanatge A.C.T It was very helpfull. What you are saying is true, I believe if the Pre-task risk assessment is aplied well and always, the number of accidents get reduced. In most cases the supervisors only do the assessment and only leave the operators to sign which will not cater for the risk in reality.
Regards
Hi Steven
I remember you – thank you for the feedback. The operator is the most important member of the team and I agree the most neglected or ignored when it comes to the RA process. The legal implication of doing it this way is also not clearly understood by the supervisor – if they only new how wrong this approach is and what can happen in a court of law if they carry on doing it this way!!
Regards Christel.
First of all, please have a look at the following link http://www.coworking.com.au/StepBack_5x5.pdf
The next step would be to ask the following question – does that article in any way improve on what you have written in yours? Also, has it helped in any way by adding some additional value in what we do? Is it applicable, always or to some extent?
Different companies use different organizational structures, different leadership styles, etc. In order to offer a constructive feedback on your article we also need to look at what the article assumes and what it excludes. A supervisor or a foreman or a team leader could mean different things in different companies. If all companies used a training matrix, developed people, have clearly established competency levels, lived something that would create “Confident to work – Confident from work” program, all health and safety articles would be written much differently – and, hopefully, there would be a smaller number of them.
Let’s look at some pros and cons:
From: http://www.safetyperformance.com/pdf/Articles/PracticalArticles/BBSImprovesSafetyCulture.pdf
“During training classes we ask employees why there is such a gap between our values (i.e., you “should” caution others) and behaviors (i.e., you “do” caution others) regarding correcting feedback. Common responses include:
- If I give somebody feedback about a safety issue, they’re going to get angry. I don’t want to cause problems or get yelled at.
- It’s not my job to give peers feedback. I’m not a supervisor.
- I’ve never given peer feedback before.
- I don’t know enough about that job to give feedback.
- I don’t want to give feedback to someone who has more experience than I do.
- I’m not sure I can give appropriate feedback.
- If I give somebody safety feedback, I’ll be accused of having a hidden agenda.”
Or, http://www.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au/syllabus_hsc/pdf_doc/automotive/43-AURV229608A.pdf, under Critical Aspects of Evidence, it reads:
- observing safety procedures and requirements
- communicating effectively with others involved in or affected by the work
- selecting methods and techniques appropriate to the circumstances
- completing preparatory activity in a systematic manner.”
In other words, unless we set the stage for occupational health and safety, facts/challenges/problems will continue to run in circles. In the same way that our words are just a small part of the thinking that goes in delivering it, so is the safety which demands that we know more than those that design an outcome that we “get paid” to deal with.
Hi Leo
This is such valuable feedback – thank you. I believe the article addresses a combination of what we are currently using in S.A. and that is the initial issue-base risk assessment and then the daily three-minute or mini-risk assessment formats. We do not perform the mini-RA before every step in every task but initially at the beginning of the job to be done. However, I feel this approach can only add value to our current process. However, the culture towards RA in S.A. would see this as too much of an effeort and interfering with production targets – which is NOT the correct way of looking at occupational health and safety hazards and risks!! As per your final paragraph – we have a ong way to go to instill SAFETY AS A WAY OF LIFE and looking at hazards and risks PRO-ACTIVELY in EVRYTHING we do – we can only hope by creating awareness this would improve with time.
Regards Christel
Hi Christel,
Where can one get more information on risk assessments, type of risks, risk matrix etc. relating particularly to safety on work sites (other than what one finds in project management books which are often not safety specific)?
Regards..Jurgen
Hi Jurgen
Wow – they are so readliy available – keep your eyes on your inbox – I will forward 3 different electronic formats to you for reference purposes – I believe in sharing! Regards Christel.
Hi Christel
I have been working as a Safety Officer for four years. I am presently employed as SHEQ Officer.My Job profile needs GR 12, Artisan TradeCertificacte red seal and Comsoc. as a results that I dont have Comsoc then my employer started me a lower level until I have Comsoc or NADSAM However I have Grade 12 ,Artisan Trade Certificate red seal ;SAMTRAC – Nosa ITIS Nosa,SHEQMAN Advact ,Internal Auditing Advact– what is the diffirence in terms of credits between what i have and Comsoc. I ampresently busy with my last 3 subjects to comlplete my NADSAM.Thanks for an awesome site
Hallo Christel
I am for the first time studying risk assessments. I usually get a lot of generic risk assessments from consultants etc.
I would really appreciate it if you could also, like you did Jurgen, send me at least one electronic format for reference purposes.
Kind regards,
Anton
HI Anton
I have forwarded the information to you. Regards Christel.
Hi Christel
Thanks for this wonderful website. A real must for people involved in the Occ Health and Safety fields.
My director asked me to find out what qualifications a safety officer would need. I have been working in Risk Management for over ten years. What training and educational level does one need to be a qualified Health and Safety Officer? Please let me know. Txs
Hi Llewellyn
I am sending you a career-path development suggested process.
Regards Christel.
Hi Christel
Please can you also forward me a format of a risk assessment , we also get generated documents from a risk assessment company
Thanks
Revash
Hi Revash
Keep an eye on your inbox.
Regards Christel.
Good day Christel,
I am currently in the safety line management, but are more interested in environmental, can you give me info what to study for this line?
I have done Samtrac and lead auditing and are busy with IRCA SHEQ Management course.
Thanks.
Tippie
Hi Tippie
I have sent you the ISO14001 and Environmental career-path development suggestion as well as the Advanced Environmental course information document. I have also sent you a detailed legal course which will put you 2-3 years ahead of the current market – not only in terms of environmental law but H&S as well. Regards Christel.
Hello Christel.
I recently completed a NASTRAC course which is parallel to the more familiar and recognised SAMTRAC.I have been trying to find a position within the industry so I can advance.However there is no ways I am going to be employed without at least 2 to 3 years experience.No matter what degree,diploma or qualification one has.No practical experience NO JOB.I have even offered to work shadow and work for free no luck.So I am trying to uplift and train myself.I want to do the 3 yr B.com degree safety management with UNISA next year.It is the upgraded NDSM.
However I need to find a employment can you please forward to me info on the career path development and for practice purposes the 3 different electronic formats of risk assessment.As I said at 52 yr’s of age and wanting a career change. I am on a self study mission in SHEQ.
Thanks for an awesome site.It is really inspirational to me as I have been tending to become despondent.But like you I too am passionate about SHE and can and will one day make a difference.
Regards Brian.
Hi Brian
Thank you for the compliment and good luck with the job hunting. I have forwarded the career-paths to you as well as the risk assessments. I also always suggest the Masters of MBA in H&S – it only takes three years and you are still young to complete these studies – it is life changing!!
Regards Christel.
will you please forward me format of risk assessments
Hi Peet
I have forwarded the formats to you. Good luck. Regards Christel.
Thanks for an awesome site Christel
I have four years expirience as Safety Officer,However I am now employed as a SHERQ Officer.My Job profile needs Gr 12,Comsoc and artisan Trade certificate.I have Gr12. Trade certificate,Samtrac -Nosa-,SHEQMAN Advact;Internal auditing Advact and ITIS Nosa
What is the diffirence in credits between COMSOC and what I have ,because my employer have started me with a lower level until I Aquire Comsoc Or NADSAM. am doing my final year in NADSAM.
Kind Regards
Freddy
Thanks for an awesome site Christel
I have four years expirience as Safety Officer,However I am now employed as a SHERQ Officer.My Job profile needs Gr 12,Comsoc and artisan Trade certificate.I have Gr12. Trade certificate,Samtrac -Nosa-,SHEQMAN Advact;Internal auditing Advact and ITIS Nosa
What is the diffirence in credits between COMSOC and what I have ,because my employer have started me with a lower level until I Aquire Comsoc Or NADSAM. am doing my final year in NADSAM.
Kind Regards
Freddy
Hi Christel
I am in the SHE field on mine’s for almost 4 years now & I want a career in environmental auditing… Please can you assist me on where to start and what courses to do…? I have done my OHSAS 18001 through your company and believe me I thought I know safety until I have done that course…
Regards
Tommy