ABC of Safety in the Biological Sciences
HAZARD MANAGEMENT
Occupational health and safety legislation in many countries1-3 require organisations to develop a policy for the management of hazardous substances. This is a critical element in successful workplace safety and is an activity in which all staff can play a role. Many factors within the workplace contribute to overall safety, including the environment, equipment, materials, methods, training and supervision. However, these factors are not the elements of hazard management. For effective management hazards need to be analysed (identified, quantified, prioritised) and controlled.
Hazard Analysis
Identification of hazards has to be developed
in a systematic way. Commonsense and chance confrontation do not
provide effective methods for recognising hazards in the workplace.
Risks can be identified by adopting a number of work practices
concurrently. These include the following:
Once identified, risks need to be quantified and prioritised when more than one hazard is present at the same time because some hazards will demand immediate attention while others will be of a minor nature. The real risk can be determined by applying the following formula:
Where R represents the risk factor, P is the probability and C the consequences. A scale can be used for both probability and consequences (TABLE 8)
Hazard Control
Strategies for hazard control fall into three
groups:
1. Can the hazard be removed or replaced with
something less hazardous? This is the most effective means of
control.
2. Can the hazard be isolated (by screening or
separating the hazard from the person at risk).
3. Can the staff member be isolated from the
hazard (by providing personal protection or shielding).
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