WORKPLACE HEALTH AND SAFETY

RISK MANAGEMENT
ADVISORY STANDARD 2000
V1 12/1999
Workplace Health and Safety Risk Management Advisory Standard 2000
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WORKPLACE HEALTH AND SAFETY RISK MANAGEMENT
ADVISORY STANDARD 2000
Important information about this standard
1. Was made on 7 December 1999
2. Commences on 1 February 2000
3. Expires 5 years after its commencement on 1
February 2000.
What is this standard about ?
The Workplace Health and Safety Risk
Management Advisory Standard 2000 supports
section 22 of the Workplace Health and Safety Act
1995, which deals with ensuring workplace health
and safety. This advisory standard is a generic
risk management document. It describes a five-
step process (known as the risk management
process) for managing exposure to health and
safety risks that can arise from workplace hazards.
This standard applies to all Queensland
workplaces covered by the Workplace Health and
Safety Act 1995.
Note : There are other advisory standards (made
under the Workplace Health and Safety Act 1995),
which detail the risk management process for
specific workplace hazards. Therefore, if there is
an advisory standard about a hazard that you have
identified at your workplace, you may find it more
convenient to use the advisory standard that
specifically tailors the risk management process to
the hazard at your workplace than to use this
general risk management standard.
What is an advisory standard?
An advisory standard is a document that states
ways to manage exposure to a risk. If you have a
workplace health and safety obligation, and there
is an advisory standard about that risk, you can
meet your obligation by adopting and following the
advice in the standard. Alternatively, you may
meet your obligation by choosing another way,
providing it gives the same level of protection
against the risk.
Workplace health and safety obligations and
the Workplace Health and Safety Act 1995
The Workplace Health and Safety Act 1995
imposes obligations on people at workplaces to
ensure workplace health and safety. Workplace
health and safety is ensured when persons are
free from the risk of death, injury or illness created
by workplaces, workplace activities or specified
high risk plant. Ensuring workplace health and
safety involves identifying and managing exposure
to the risks at your workplace.
How can I meet my obligations?
Under the Act, there are three types of instruments
made to help you meet your workplace health and
safety obligations regulations, advisory standards
and industry codes of practice.
1. If there is a regulation about a risk you
must do what the regulation says.
2. If there is an advisory standard or industry
code of practice about a risk you must
either
! do what the standard or code says; or
! adopt and follow another way that gives the
same level of protection against the risk.
If there is no regulation, advisory standard or
industry code of practice about a risk you
must choose any appropriate way and take
reasonable precautions and exercise proper
diligence to ensure you meet the obligation.
Workplace Health and Safety Risk Management Advisory Standard 2000
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CONTENTS
1. INTRODUCTION....................................................................................................................................... 4
2. OVERVIEW : THE WORKPLACE HEALTH AND SAFETY RISK MANAGEMENT PROCESS................. 5
2.1 Five Basic Steps...................................................................................................................................................5
2.2 When To Work Through The Workplace Health And Safety Risk Management Process ..........................6
2.3 Consultation ........................................................................................................................................................6
2.4 Record keeping....................................................................................................................................................6
2.5 Hazards And Risks .............................................................................................................................................7
STEP 1 : IDENTIFY HAZARDS ........................................................................................................................ 8
3.1 What To Look For ..............................................................................................................................................8
3.2 How To Look For Hazards ................................................................................................................................8
3.3 Before Proceeding To Step 2..............................................................................................................................8
4. STEP 2 ASSESS RISK........................................................................................................................ 10
4.1 Determining Likelihood ...................................................................................................................................10
4.2 Determining Consequences ..............................................................................................................................11
4.3 Rate Each Risk. .................................................................................................................................................11
4.4 PRIORITISE RISKS...............................................................................................................................................12
5. STEP 3 DECIDE ON CONTROL MEASURES ....................................................................................... 13
5.1 Eliminate The Hazard ......................................................................................................................................13
5.2 Prevent or Minimise Exposure To The Risk ..................................................................................................13
5.3 When Exposure to the Risk is not or cannot be Minimised by Other Means..............................................14
6. STEP 4 IMPLEMENT CONTROL MEASURES .................................................................................. 15
7. STEP 5 MONITOR AND REVIEW....................................................................................................... 16
APPENDIX 1 : SAMPLE FORMS ................................................................................................................... 17
APPENDIX 2 : WORKPLACE HAZARDS...................................................................................................... 25
APPENDIX 3 : THE OBLIGATION TO ENSURE WORKPLACE HEALTH AND SAFETY........................... 28
APPENDIX 4 : RISK ASSESSMENT USING THE RISK ASSESSMENT CALCULATOR ........................... 31
Workplace Health and Safety Risk Management Advisory Standard 2000
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1. Introduction
As an employer, self-employed person, principal contractor or person in control of a workplace, you are
required to ensure workplace health and safety under the Workplace Health and Safety Act 1995 (the Act).
To help you meet this obligation, regulations, advisory standards and industry codes of practice have been
made under the Act. The Division of Workplace Health and Safety also produces guidance material to assist
you. These documents provide information about how to identify a variety of general workplace hazards and
how to manage exposure to the risks associated with these hazards. However, the diversity of occupations,
plant and equipment, substances and working environments in Queensland means that there are some
hazards that are unique to individual workplaces (and about which, there is no information provided).
You must manage exposure to the risks associated with ALL hazards at your workplace.
In the absence of other information, this advisory standard provides a process to help you meet your
workplace health and safety obligation. The process provided in this advisory standard will show you how to
identify hazards at your workplace and how to manage exposure to the risks associated with these hazards.
There are supplements to this Standard, which form part of the Standard (although they are printed
separately). These supplements to the Standard should be read in conjunction with the Standard.
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2. Overview : The Workplace Health And Safety Risk
Management Process
2.1 Five Basic Steps
There are five basic steps in the workplace health and safety risk management process, as provided by
section 22(2) of the Act.
These are :
1. Identify hazards
2. Assess risks that may result because of the hazards
3. Decide on control measures to prevent or minimise the level of
the risks
4. Implement control measures
5. Monitor and review the effectiveness of measures
This process is illustrated in Figure 1 below.
FIGURE 1 : THE WORKPLACE HEALTH AND SAFETY RISK MANAGEMENT PROCESS.
Step 1 : Identify hazards
Refer section 3
Step 2 : Assess risks
Refer section 4
Step 3 : Decide on control measures
Refer section 5
Step 4 : Implement control measures
Refer section 6
Step 5 : Monitor and review
Refer section 7
Is there a regulation, advisory standard, industry
code or guidance material made about any
hazards you have identified? (Refer section 3.3)
No
Yes
Follow the
information in the
regulation, standard,
code or guide.
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The way you implement this process at your
workplace will depend on the type of work you do
and the nature of hazards and risks at your
workplace. Although this standard details each
step in the process separately, in practice you may
find that some steps overlap. For example, a
single inspection of the workplace can allow you to
identify a hazard and assess the level of
associated risk at the same time.
When undertaking this process, try to be objective
and practical. Consider what actually happens in
your workplace, not only what a manual can
specify should happen. Take advantage of
existing control measures and make sure all
relevant hazards are addressed.
2.2 When To Work Through The
Workplace Health And Safety Risk
Management Process
Workplace health and safety risk management is
an ongoing process. It should be undertaken at
various times, including:
now, if you have not done it before;
when a change occurs;
after an incident (and/or near miss); and
at regularly scheduled times appropriate to
your workplace.
Now
If you have not worked through a process to make
sure health and safety is managed at your
workplace, you should do so now.
When change occurs
Whenever you make a change at the workplace,
check for new hazards and risks, and then
continue through the process. Any modifications
made as a result of this process should be
discussed with those workers affected. Some
examples of workplace changes are:
starting a new project;
changing work procedures;
adding or changing tools, equipment or
machinery, their locations or the way they are
used;
obtaining information about a previously
unknown design or manufacturing fault, or
about a previously unidentified hazard;
introducing new people with different skill
levels; and
changing a control measure after reviewing its
effectiveness.
After an incident
If an incident (or near miss) occurs, review the
workplace health and safety risk management
process in relation to the relevant task to determine
whether changes are needed and what those
changes should be. Such changes should be
discussed with all workers performing the task.
Regularly
You should repeat the whole workplace health and
safety risk management process at regularly
scheduled intervals appropriate to your workplace.
The period between repeating the process will
depend on the nature of the hazards and
associated risks and the degree of change likely in
the work activity. Generally, you should undertake
the process more often if there is a high level of
risk involved with your work activities compared
with a low level of risk.
2.3 Consultation
You should consult with your workers at each
stage of the workplace health and safety risk
management process.
1
This will help you achieve
better health and safety outcomes from the risk
management process.
The Act provides for consultation through
workplace health and safety representatives
(WHSR) and workplace health and safety
committees.
The legislation:
provides for the election by workers of one
WHSR, who must be a worker;
provides for the election by workers of more
than one WHSR (who must be workers), with
agreement between the employer and
workers, where each WHSR then represents
a particular part of the workplace; and
covers the establishment, composition and
proceedings of health and safety committees.
For details on the legislative requirements for
consultation, refer to part 7 of the Act and/or the
Division of Workplace Health and Safety
publication: A Quick Start.
2.4 Record keeping
Adequate recording of the workplace health and
safety risk management process will help you to
demonstrate that you have been actively working
to ensure workplace health and safety, should you
need to prove this. Keeping records will also help
you keep track of what you have done and are
planning to do. This should maximise the effective

1
See sections 18 (1) and 18 (2) (b) of the Act.
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of the process. (You may wish to use some of the
forms in Appendix 1 to record this information.)
Your records should show that the process has
been conducted properly and include information
about the hazards and associated risks at your
workplace. The detail and extent of recording will
depend on the size of your workplace and the
potential for major workplace health and safety
issues.
Information recorded could include:
how you identified the hazards at your
workplace;
how you assessed the risks associated with
workplace hazards;
how you decided on control measures to
manage exposure to the risks;
how you implemented the control measures;
how you monitored and reviewed the
effectiveness of the measures; and
any checklists and worksheets used in
working through the workplace health and
safety risk management process.
It is important to note that there are specific record
keeping requirements for certain workplace
hazards. If you have identified such hazards at
your workplace, you must refer to the relevant
regulations and advisory standards for details of
the recording requirements.
2.5 Hazards And Risks
Hazards and risks are NOT the same thing.
A hazard is something with the potential to cause
harm. This can include substances, plant, work
processes and/or other aspects of the work
environment.
Risk is the likelihood that death, injury or illness
might result because of the hazard.
The relationship between hazard and risk is
illustrated by the examples below.
Hazard Risk
Work Environment:
confined space
Energy: electricity
Manual handling
Noise
Noise
Substance: infected
blood
Plant: printing
machine
the likelihood that a worker might suffer carbon monoxide poisoning because they
are using a petrol operated pump in a well (ie. an inadequately ventilated space)
the likelihood that a worker might be electrocuted because they are exposed to
electrical wires while using a deep fryer that has inadequate insulation on the
power cable
the likelihood that a worker might suffer back strain from manually lifting 40 kg
bags
the likelihood that workers and others in the area might suffer irreparable hearing
damage because they work near someone continuously using a jack hammer
which emits noise levels over 85 dB(A)
the likelihood that office workers might suffer stress in the form of fatigue, anxiety
and/or aggression because they are exposed to constant low level noise of below
75 dB(A)
the likelihood that a worker might sustain a needlestick injury and become
infected whilst taking a blood sample from a patient with infected blood
the likelihood that a workers hand might be crushed while using a printing
machine because the unguarded rollers drew in the workers hand
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Step 1 : Identify Hazards
The first step in the workplace health and safety
risk management process is to identify workplace
hazards. This means looking for those things at
your workplace that have the potential to cause
harm. The desired outcome of this step is a list of
all the hazards at your workplace.
Workplace hazards are not always obvious. Some
hazards can result in long-term health effects
rather than in an immediate injury. For example,
exposure to loud noise over a long period can
result in gradual hearing loss.
3.1 What To Look For
There are a number of general types of workplace
hazards, including:
work environment (such as confined spaces)
energy (such as electricity)
manual handling
noise
substances (such as chemicals)
plant.
All workplace hazards can be classified under one
of the above, as shown in Appendix 2.
3.2 How To Look For Hazards
A simple way to begin looking for hazards can be
by dividing your workplace into logical workplace
groupings, such as:
tasks (working on the lathe, loading the truck,
data processing);
locations (offices, grounds, warehouse);
roles (electricians, office workers);
functions or production processes
(administration, cooking, washing, cleaning,
receiving, forming, finishing).
There are many other activities that can be
undertaken to help with identifying hazards. These
include:
walking through and inspecting each task or
location;
consulting with workers. Ask about any
problems they have encountered and any
near misses and unreported minor injuries
2
;

2
Near misses should be investigated immediately after
they occur to ascertain their cause. Also, workers
consulting with WHSRs and workplace health
and safety committees;
considering :
- how people use equipment and
materials;
- how suitable the things used are for the
task, and how well they are located; and
- how people could be hurt directly and
indirectly by the various workplace
aspects;
conducting a safety audit;
testing, particularly of plant and/or other
equipment and noise levels;
scientific or technical evaluation;
analysing records and data covering, for
example, incidents and near misses, worker
complaints, sick leave and staff turnover;
acquiring information from designers,
manufacturers, suppliers, and other
organisations, such as unions, employer
bodies and health and safety consultancies;
environmental and medical monitoring;
undertaking worker surveys.
After completing step 1, you may have discovered
many hazards at your workplace. You need to
assess the risks associated with these hazards.
This will be achieved in step 2 of the risk
management process.
3.3 Before Proceeding To Step 2
Before proceeding to step 2, however, you should
identify the risks associated with each hazard and
consider whether any of these risks are:
relatively minor; or
issues about which there is a regulation,
advisory standard or industry code of practice
(made under the Workplace Health and
Safety Act 1995) or guidance material
(produced by the Division of Workplace
Health and Safety).

should be encouraged to report all injury incidents even
those resulting in very minor injuries.
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Minor risks
If any of the risks are relatively minor and/or the
hazard can be easily fixed, attend to these straight
away. That is, you may NOT need to work through
the assessment method shown in step 2 before
controlling the risk (step 3). For example, you may
be able to relocate a telephone cord that lies
across a walkway.
Issues about which there is a regulation,
advisory standard, industry code of practice or
guidance material
If there is a regulation, advisory standard, industry
code of practice and/or guidance material made
about the risk, refer to the advice provided in that
document(s).
Regulations
If a regulation or ministerial notice prescribes a
way of preventing or minimising exposure to a risk,
a person may discharge the persons workplace
health and safety obligation for exposure to the risk
only by following the prescribed way.
(section 26 (1) of the Act)
That is, you MUST do what the regulation says to
discharge your workplace health and safety
obligation.
Advisory standard or industry code of practice
If there is an advisory standard or industry code of
practice about a hazard that you have identified at
your workplace, you may find it more convenient to
use that document which specifically tailors the risk
management process to the hazard at your
workplace than to use this general risk
management standard.
If an advisory standard or industry code of
practice states a way of managing exposure to a
risk, a person discharges the persons workplace
health and safety obligation only by :
adopting and following a stated way that
manages exposure to the risk; or
adopting and following another way that gives
the same level of protection against the risk.
(section 26 (3) of the Act)
Guidance material
Although guides are not part of the legislative
framework, they can assist you to meet your
workplace health and safety obligation. Section 27
of the Act states that if there is no regulation,
advisory standard or industry code, a person may
choose any appropriate way to discharge the
persons obligation, provided the person takes
reasonable precautions and exercises proper
diligence to ensure the obligation is discharged.
Following the advice provided in guidance material
will be proof of taking reasonable precautions and
exercising proper diligence in relation to the risk(s)
discussed in the guidance material. However,
guidance material may not cover all the risks or all
forms of the risk associated with an identified
hazard. In such circumstances, you will still need
to take reasonable precautions and exercise
proper diligence in relation to aspects of the risk
not covered by the guide in order to meet your
workplace health and safety obligation.
To find out whether there are any regulations,
advisory standards, industry codes of practice or
guidance material for any of the hazards identified
at your workplace, you can:
refer to the Workplace Health and Safety
Regulations (for regulatory information only);
access the Department of Employment,
Training and Industrial Relations home page
(www.detir.qld.gov.au) and then click on
health and safety;
contact the Division of Workplace Health and
Safety, 1300 369 915;
contact your local district office of the Division
of Workplace Health and Safety;
refer to the Divisional publication, Publications
Catalogue; and/or
consult your union, employer body,
professional association and/or health and
safety consultancy.
Other risks
You must assess those risks that do not fall into
either of the above categories.
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4. Step 2 Assess Risk
Step 2 involves assessing the risk associated with
the hazards identified in Step 1. As noted earlier,
risk is the likelihood that death, injury or illness might
result because of the hazard. To assess risk, you
need to consider both likelihood and consequences.
The desired outcome of this step is a prioritised list
of risks for further action. Various methods can be
used to undertake a risk assessment. One method
is presented below. (Another method, using a Risk
Assessment Calculator, is explained in Appendix 4.)
There are more precise (and more complex)
methods available for assessing risk. You may
choose any risk assessment method as long as the
desired outcome (stated above) is achieved.
Risk Assessment Method
3
:
(a) For each of the risks:
Estimate the likelihood of an incident
occurring at your workplace, bearing in
mind existing control measures;
Estimate the consequences of an incident
occurring at your workplace, bearing in
mind existing control measures;
Combine your likelihood and consequence
estimates to rate the risk.
(b) Using the ratings of each risk, develop a
prioritised list of workplace risks requiring
action.
4.1 Determining Likelihood
Use the following descriptive scale to nominate the
likelihood of an incident occurring at your workplace.
Likelihood
Very likely Could happen frequently
likely Could happen occasionally
Unlikely Could happen, but rarely
Very Unlikely Could happen, but probably
never will

3
This method provides a rough means of ranking the
risks. The risk scores derived should be interpreted
with caution as the process by which they are obtained
is subjective and judgemental.
The following factors can affect the likelihood of an
incident occurring:
how often the situation occurs. Generally,
the greater the frequency of exposure, the more
likely an incident will occur. For example,
consider how many times a day a worker lifts or
carries a 40 kg bag of cement;
how many people are exposed. Generally,
the greater the number of people exposed, the
more likely an incident will occur. For example,
consider how many workers lift or carry 40 kg
bags;
the skills and experience of persons
exposed. Adequate training and reasonable
competence to do a task may reduce the
likelihood of an incident;
any special characteristics of the people
involved. For example, right or left hand
orientation may affect the likelihood of an
incident;
the duration of exposure. Generally, the
longer a person is exposed, the more likely an
incident will occur;
the position of the hazard relative to
workers and to other hazards. For example,
workers working close to a noisy machine are
more likely to suffer hearing loss than those
working further away; certain chemicals, such
as methylated spirits, may only represent a risk
if they are located near a heat source;
distractions, such as time pressures or
workplace conditions which may influence
careful undertaking of a task. For example,
hectic activity in a hospital emergency area
when a nurse is taking a blood sample could
affect the likelihood of a worker sustaining a
needlestick injury;
quantities of materials or multiple exposure
points involved. For example, an incident
(such as an explosion) is more likely to occur as
a result of a small amount of flammable liquid,
such as petrol, in a container which allows room
for expanding gases than from a full container
of the liquid with no room for expanding gases;
an item of plant may have a number of places
with exposed moving parts that could injure a
worker;
environmental conditions. Are there
conditions which can increase the likelihood of
an incident occurring; for example, water in the
vicinity of an electrical hazard?;
condition of equipment. The use of defective
equipment is more likely to cause an incident.
Workplace Health and Safety Risk Management Advisory Standard 2000
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For example, an incident is more likely to occur
when using a tractor with a cracked guard on
the power take-off shaft than using a tractor
without any guard at all;
the effectiveness of existing control
measures
- Do the existing control measures represent
good practice?
- Are the existing control measures
minimising exposure to the risk?
- Do workers know about the existing control
measures?
- Are the existing control measures being
used/followed?
- Are there adequate systems or procedures
in place in relation to the existing control
measures?
- Is there adequate training and supervision
in relation to the existing control
measures?
- Is there adequate maintenance in relation
to the existing control measures?
- How easy is it to use, or work with, the
existing control measures?
4.2 Determining Consequences
Use the following descriptive scale to nominate the
consequences of an incident occurring.
Consequences
Extreme Death or permanent disablement
Major Serious bodily injury or serious work
caused illnes
Moderate Moderate injury or illness requiring
casualty treatment
Minor Minor injury or illness requiring first
aid only, no lost work time
To determine the consequences, you must make a
judgement on the severity of the potential outcome.
You should review any information gathered during
the identification stage, including incident statistics
and manufacturers data. Also consider the
following factors which can affect the consequences:
potential for chain reaction - where a
hazard, if not eliminated, evolves and
compounds into an even more dangerous
situation;
concentrations of substances. For example,
a minor injury might result because of a dilute
chemical, while a fatality might result from a
concentrated form of the same chemical;
volumes of materials. For example, the
potential consequences of a leak of a small
amount of a particular chemical, such as
ammonia, into the workplace may be relatively
minor, compared with the potential
consequences of the release of a large amount
of the same chemical;
speeds of projectiles and moving parts;
heights. The force with which a falling object
hits a person (and hence the potential injury),
will generally increase the greater the distance
it falls. Similarly, a person will, in general,
sustain greater injuries if falling from a greater
height;
position of the worker relative to the hazard.
For example, workers working close to a noisy
machine are likely to incur greater hearing
damage than those working further away;
weights. For example, a worker will generally
sustain a more severe injury from lifting material
in 60kg packages than from lifting the same
material packaged in 30 kg lots;
forces and energy levels. For example, the
higher the voltage of electricity and the
possibility of a high current flowing through a
person, the more severe the consequences are
likely to be.
4.3 Rate Each Risk.
The level of risk, or risk score, is determined by the
relationship between likelihood and consequence.
This relationship can be represented using a matrix,
as follows. Determine the risk score for each risk by
plotting consequence and likelihood estimates on
the table below.
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Risk Priority Chart
CONSEQUENCES : How severely could it affect health and safety? LIKELIHOOD
How likely could it
happen? EXTREME
- death or
permanent
disablement
MAJOR
- serious bodily
injury or serious
work caused
illness
MODERATE
- injury or illness
requiring casualty
treatment
MINOR
- injury or illness
requiring first aid
only, no lost time
VERY LIKELY
- could happen
frequently
1 2 3 4
LIKELY
- could happen
occasionally
2 3 4 5
UNLIKELY
- could happen, but
rare
3 4 5 6
VERY UNLIKELY
- could happen,
probably never will
4 5 6 7
This stage of the risk assessment gives a basis for ranking risks in terms of their priorities.
It is important to note that the risk scores obtained have no absolute value. This chart provides a means of
ranking the risks ONLY.
The scores (1-7) in the risk priority chart indicate how important it is to do something about each risk, as
follows:
Score Action
1, 2 or 3 do something about these risks immediately
4 or 5 do something about these risks as soon as possible
6 or 7 these risks may not need immediate attention
4.4 PRIORITISE RISKS
Prioritise risks based on their risk score.
Remember, the risk scores are useful for comparison purposes ONLY. When risk scores for all risks in the
workplace are compared, the resulting ranking will be a guide to the order in which the risks should be
addressed.
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5. Step 3 Decide On Control Measures
Step 3 involves deciding on control measures to
manage exposure to identified risks.
Control Priorities
Start at the top of the list and work your way down.
Firstly, try to eliminate the hazard
If this is not possible, prevent or minimise
exposure to the risk by one or a combination of:
Substituting a less hazardous material, process
or equipment
Redesigning equipment or work processes
Isolating the hazard
(Note: These measures may include engineering
methods.)
As a last resort, when exposure to the risk is not
(or can not be) minimised by other means:
Introduce administrative controls
Use appropriate personal protective equipment
In many cases, it will be necessary to use more than
one control measure to satisfactorily manage
exposure to a risk. For example, to minimise
exposure to a risk involving a chemical, you could
decide to replace the toxic chemical with a less
hazardous one, implement safer work procedures
and use personal protective equipment.
Some control measures that are lower control
priorities might need to be put in place until a
permanent measure can be implemented. For
example, you may decide that the best way to
manage exposure to a risk is to purchase a safer
type of machinery with better guarding. However, it
may be some time before the new machine can be
delivered and installed. In the interim, it will be
necessary to minimise exposure to the risk by doing
something, such as increasing supervision,
providing specific instruction in safer work
procedures and erecting a temporary barrier to
minimise dangerous access.
Similarly, it may be necessary to delay implementing
a major control measure until your business goes
through a slack or off-peak time so that
disruptions are minimised. In such cases, you will
need to decide on interim measures to manage
exposure to the risk.
The control measures selected should:
adequately control exposure to the risk;
not create another hazard; and
allow workers to do their work without undue
discomfort or distress.
5.1 Eliminate The Hazard
The ideal solution is to get rid of a hazard
completely. This is the most effective control and
should always be attempted in the first instance.
This may mean discontinuing dangerous work
practices or removing dangerous substances or
equipment. For example, using a machine to do a
repetitive manual activity or completely removing
asbestos from a workplace.
5.2 Prevent or Minimise Exposure To
The Risk
If a hazard cannot be eliminated, there are a number
of control options that can be used alone, or in
combination, to prevent or minimise exposure to the
risk.
Substitution
- involves replacing the hazard with one that
presents a lower (and more manageable) risk. For
example, a hazardous work practice or substance is
replaced with a less hazardous one.
Examples of substitution include:
using less dangerous chemicals, such as,
substituting a flammable solvent with a water-
based solvent or replacing a toxic solvent with a
detergent. (It may also be possible to use less
of a dangerous substance.);
replacing glass with plastic;
replacing a pedestal fan with a ceiling fan in a
restaurant kitchen;
replacing an existing machine with one that has
better guarding to make the same product.
Redesign
- involves changing the design of the workplace,
equipment or work process. It involves thinking
about ways the work could be done differently to
make the workplace safer, such as rearranging
aspects of the workplace, modifying equipment,
combining tasks, changing procedures to eliminate
hazardous steps, changing the sequence of tasks in
a job and/or reducing the frequency of performing a
dangerous task.
Workplace Health and Safety Risk Management Advisory Standard 2000
Page 14 of 31
Examples of redesign include:
moving the storage area for photocopy paper
adjacent to the machine to minimise manual
handling of cartons;
controlling chemicals through improved
ventilation;
installing lifting equipment to reduce manual
handling;
fitting a frame to a tractor for rollover protection;
modifying exhaust systems to reduce noise.
Isolation
- refers to isolating or separating the hazard from the
person, or the person from the hazard.
Examples of isolation include:
installing screens or barriers around hazardous
areas;
enclosing or guarding dangerous equipment;
using remote handling equipment for hazardous
substances or procedures;
installing acoustic booths around noisy
equipment.
5.3 When Exposure to the Risk is not
or cannot be Minimised by Other
Means
Administration and the use of personal protective
equipment are lowest on the list of control priorities.
These controls should NOT be relied on as the
primary means of risk control until the options higher
in the list of control priorities have been exhausted.
These controls require management enforcement
and commitment, together with behaviour
modification. They are dependent on appropriate
human behaviour to work properly and, therefore,
tend to be less effective.
In general, administration and personal protective
equipment should only be used:
when there are no other practical control
measures available (that is, as a last resort);
as temporary measures while a more
permanent solution is found; or
to supplement other controls (that is, as back-
up controls).
Administrative controls
- involve minimising exposure to a risk through the
use of procedures or instruction. It is often
necessary to use these controls in conjunction with
other measures. For example, if a mechanical
device is introduced to reduce manual handling, the
operators will also need to be trained how to use it.
Examples of administrative controls include:
job rotation to reduce exposure;
limited entry or limited time in hazardous areas;
adequate supervision;
instruction and training in safe work procedures;
preventive maintenance and housekeeping
procedures;
warning signs.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
- is worn by people as a final barrier between
themselves and the hazard. This measure does not
control the hazard at the source and relies on
behaviour modification for its success.
The success of this control is dependent on the
protective equipment being:
chosen correctly;
worn;
worn correctly ;
used correctly; and
maintained in good condition.
Personal protective equipment is often an expensive
option in the long term when the costs of
maintenance, supervision and (potentially more)
injuries are taken into account.
Examples of personal protective equipment include:
hearing protective devices, such as ear muffs
and ear plugs;
respirators;
protective eyewear, such as goggles;
safety helmets and wide brim sun hats.
Supplement 1 to this Standard, Personal Protective
Equipment, gives details about specific
requirements for the use of personal protective
equipment and should be referred to if this
equipment is used.
Workplace Health and Safety Risk Management Advisory Standard 2000
Page 15 of 31
6. Step 4 Implement Control Measures
Step 4 involves putting selected control measures in place at your workplace. This means undertaking those
activities necessary to allow the measures to function or operate effectively.
Implementing control measures involves:
Developing work procedures
Develop work procedures in relation to the new control measures to make sure they are effective.
Management, supervision and worker responsibilities may need to be clearly defined in the work
procedures. For example, in relation to the use of machine guarding, the managers role may involve
making sure the appropriate guarding is purchased and that it is installed correctly, the supervisors role
may involve making sure the workers operate the machine only with the guarding in place, some
workers role may involve using the machine with guarding in place as instructed and other workers role
may involve the maintenance of the machine and guarding.
Communication
You should inform workers and others about the control measures to be implemented. It is important to
clearly communicate the reasons for the changes.
Providing training and instruction
You should provide training and instruction for the workers, supervisors and others in relation to the new
control measures.
Supervision
You should provide adequate supervision to verify that the new control measures are being used
correctly.
Maintenance
Maintenance relating to control measures is an important part of the implementation process. Work
procedures should spell out maintenance requirements to ensure the ongoing effectiveness of the new
control measures.
Workplace Health and Safety Risk Management Advisory Standard 2000
Page 16 of 31
7. Step 5 Monitor and review
The final step in the process is to monitor and review the effectiveness of measures.
For this step, it can be useful to ask questions to determine whether:
chosen control measures have been implemented, as planned
- Are chosen control measures in place?
- Are these measures being used?
- Are these measures being used correctly?
chosen control measures are working
- Have the changes made to control exposure to the assessed risks resulted in what was intended?
- Has exposure to the assessed risks been eliminated or adequately reduced?
there are any new problems
- Have implemented control measures resulted in the introduction of any new problems?
- Have implemented control measures resulted in the worsening of any existing problems?
To answer these questions, you can:
consult with workers, supervisors and health and safety representatives;
measure peoples exposure (eg, taking noise measurements in the case of isolation of a noise source);
and
monitor incident reports.
You should set a date to review the entire workplace health and safety risk management process.
Workplace Health and Safety Risk Management Advisory Standard 2000
Page 17 of 31
Appendix 1 : Sample Forms
You may wish to use the following sample forms to record details of the risk management process you have
undertaken.
The forms are provided as SAMPLES ONLY.
You may wish to modify these forms to meet your organisations requirements. You may find it useful to
enlarge the forms to allow for more writing space.
IF YOU CHOOSE TO USE THESE FORMS, FILL IN EITHER
FORMS 1 AND 2
OR
FORMS 3 TO 7
Workplace Health and Safety Risk Management Advisory Standard 2000
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FORM 1 : RISK MANAGEMENT
Fill in one form for each hazard identified at the workplace.
Reference No:
Form completed by: (sign)
(print) Date form completed: / /
HAZARD IDENTIFICATION
Hazard:
Associated Risk:
Specific circumstances relating to the risk:
Persons at risk:
Is the risk: (circle one)
Minor attend to straight away
Issue with a regulation/standard/ code/guide refer to relevant regulation, standard, code or guide
Other continue
RISK ASSESSMENT
Existing control measures (if any):
Likelihood :(tick box) very likely likely unlikely very unlikely
Consequences:(tick box) extreme major moderate minor
Risk rating (Refer to Risk Priority Chart below) :
RISK CONTROL
Possible control options:
Preferred control options (and why):
IMPLEMENTATION PLAN
Control
Option
Associated
activities
Resources
required
Person(s)
responsible
Proposed
implementation
date
Sign off & date Scheduled review
date
REVIEW
Are control measures in place ?
Yes
No, Comment:
Are controls minimising the risk?
Yes
No, Comment:
Are there any new problems with the risk?
No
Yes, Comment:
Risk Priority Chart (full chart in standard)
Consequences
Likelihood
Extreme Major Moderate Minor
very likely 1 2 3 4
likely 2 3 4 5
unlikely 3 4 5 6
very unlikely 4 5 6 7
Workplace Health and Safety Risk Management Advisory Standard 2000
Page 19 of 31
FORM 2 : HAZARD AND ASSOCIATED RISK REGISTER
Fill in one form for each workplace.
Form completed by: (sign) Date form completed: / /
(print)
Control
measure
implemented?
Reference
No
Hazard Associated Risk Risk
rating
Control measures
Yes No
Review Date
Comments:
Workplace Health and Safety Risk Management Advisory Standard 2000
Page 20 of 31
FORM 3 : HAZARD IDENTIFICATION
Fill in one form for each workplace grouping.
(refer section 3 of advisory standard)
Workplace grouping: Form completed by: (sign)
.. (print)
Date form
completed:
/ /
Task/Activity Hazard
(& ref No.)
Associated risk *
(& ref No.)
Specific
circumstances
relating to the risk
Persons at risk
Is the risk: (circle
one) **
minor
regulation /
standard /
code / guide
other
(H1) (R1)
Comments:
* Note : There may be more than one risk associated with each hazard.
** Refer to standard for detail of required action.
Workplace Health and Safety Risk Management Advisory Standard 2000
Page 21 of 31
FORM 4 : RISK ASSESSMENT
Fill in one form for each workplace grouping.
(refer section 4 of advisory standard)
Workplace grouping: Form completed by: .. (sign)
.. (print)
Date form
completed:
/ /
Task/Activity Hazard
Ref No
Associated
risk Ref
No
Description
of risk
Existing
controls (if
any)
Likelihood
(refer chart
below)
Consequences
(refer chart
below)
Risk rating
(1-7)
(refer chart
below)
Comments:
Risk Priority Chart
CONSEQUENCES: How severely could it hurt someone?
LIKELIHOOD
How likely could it happen?
EXTREME
- death, permanent
disablement
MAJOR
- serious bodily injury
MODERATE
- casualty treatment
MINOR
- first aid only, no lost time
VERY LIKELY - could happen
frequently
1 2 3 4
LIKELY - could happen
occasionally
2 3 4 5
UNLIKELY - could happen, but
rare
3 4 5 6
VERY UNLIKELY- could happen,
probably never will
4 5 6 7
Workplace Health and Safety Risk Management Advisory Standard 2000
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Form 5 : Risk Control
Fill in one form for each risk.
(Refer section 5 of advisory standard)
Workplace grouping: Form completed by:
..
.
(sign)
(print)
Date form completed:
/ /
Risk Ref No Risk rating
(from Form 4)
Possible control option(s) Preferred control option(s) & Why
Comments:
.
Workplace Health and Safety Risk Management Advisory Standard 2000
Page 23 of 31
Form 6 : Risk Control Implementation Plan
Fill in one form for each risk.
(Refer section 6 of advisory standard)
Completed by:
(sign)
. (print)
Hazard Ref No:
Workplace grouping:
.
Task/Activity:

Hazard:
..
Associated Risk:
Risk rating (from Form 4) : ..
Risk Ref No:
PROPOSED IMPLEMENTATION PLAN
If delay Implementation
completed
Preferred
Control
Option(S)
Proposed
activities
Resources
required
Person(s)
responsible
Proposed
implement-
ation date
Reason New
deadline
Signature Date
Scheduled
review
date
1.
2.
3.
4.
Additional Comments:
Workplace Health and Safety Risk Management Advisory Standard 2000
Page 24 of 31
Form 7 : Risk Control Review Schedule
Fill in one form for each risk.
(Refer section 7 of advisory standard)
Workplace grouping:
Task/Activity:
Hazard:
Associated risk: Risk rating :
Hazard Ref No:
Risk Ref No:
Are measures in place?
(If NO, go back to step 4)
Are controls
minimising
exposure to the
risk?
(If NO, go back
to step 3)
Are there any
new
problems?
(If YES, go
back to step 3)
C
o
n
t
r
o
l

M
e
a
s
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e
(
s
)
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(
i
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c
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,
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,
C
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m
m
e
n
t
N
o
Y
e
s
,
C
o
m
m
e
n
t
Comments:
Next review of whole workplace health and safety risk management process due : / /
Workplace Health and Safety Risk Management Advisory Standard 2000
Page 25 of 31
Appendix 2 : Workplace Hazards
Work Environment
ACCESS
refer to adequate access
AIR CONDITIONING
refers to uncontaminated air
CONFINED SPACES
EXTREMES OF TEMPERATURE
includes:
- Heat - contact with hot objects
- exposure to environmental heat
- Cold - contact with cold objects
- exposure to environmental cold
LIGHTING
refers to adequate illumination
MENTAL STRESS
includes:
- bullying
- workplace violence and security
- shiftwork
Energy
ELECTRICAL
includes:
- contact with exposed wires
- contact with high voltage
GRAVITY
includes:
- falls, trips and slips of a person
- falling objects
KINETIC ENERGY
includes:
- hitting objects with a part of the body
- being hit by moving objects
Workplace Health and Safety Risk Management Advisory Standard 2000
Page 26 of 31
RADIATION (ionising and non-ionising)
includes:
- ultraviolet (UV) radiation
- arc flashes
- infrared radiation
- microwaves
- lasers
Vibration
includes:
- whole of body vibration
- vibration to parts of the body only, such as hands
Noise
includes:
- exposure to single, sudden sound
- long term exposure to sound
Manual Tasks
BODY STRESSING
includes:
- muscular stress while lifting, carrying or putting down objects
- muscular stress while handling objects other than lifting, carrying or putting down
- muscular stress with no objects being handled
- repetitive movement, low muscle loading
ERGONOMICS
includes:
- fatigue
- workplace design (causing stress, causing errors)
Substances
includes:
- single contact with chemical or substance
- long term contact with chemicals or substances
- insect and spider bites and stings
- other unspecified contact with chemical or substance
- fire and explosion
Workplace Health and Safety Risk Management Advisory Standard 2000
Page 27 of 31
AIRBORNE
includes:
- dusts eg. wood, asbestos, silica
- gases eg. carbon monoxide
- fumes eg. metal fume
- vapours eg. solvents
- mists eg. acids, solvents
SKIN CONTACT
includes:
- absorption eg. pesticides
- corrosive eg. acid, alkali
- defatting eg. solvents
- photosensitisation eg. creosote affected skin exposed to sunlight
- allergic eg. nickel, epoxy
Biological (Microbial) Substances
includes:
- bacterial
- fungal
- viral
- parasitic
Plant
MECHANICAL
refers to being caught between, struck by or against
includes:
- mobile and fixed plant, and vehicles
- powered equipment, tools and appliances
- non-powered handtools, appliances and equipment
Workplace Health and Safety Risk Management Advisory Standard 2000
Page 28 of 31
Appendix 3 : The Obligation To Ensure Workplace Health And
Safety
1.1 WORKPLACE HEALTH AND SAFETY
The Workplace Health and Safety Act 1995 imposes obligations to ensure workplace health and safety on
various persons, including:
employers;
self-employed persons;
persons in control of workplaces;
principal contractors;
designers, manufacturers, importers and suppliers of plant;
erectors and installers of certain plant; and
manufacturers, importers and suppliers of substances.
Workers and other persons at the workplace also have workplace health and safety obligations, under
section 36 of the Act, as follows :
to comply with instructions given for workplace health and safety at the workplace by the employer at
the workplace and, if the workplace is a construction workplace, the principal contractor for workplace
health and safety at the workplace;
for a worker to use personal protective equipment if the equipment is provided by the workers
employer and the worker is properly instructed in its use;
not to wilfully or recklessly interfere with or misuse anything provided for workplace health and safety at
the workplace;
not to wilfully place at risk the workplace health and safety of any persons at the workplace;
not to wilfully injure himself or herself.
Workplace health and safety is ensured when persons are free from -
(a) death, injury or illness caused by any workplace, workplace activities or specified high risk plant; and
(b) risk of death, injury or illness created by any workplace, workplace activities or specified high risk plant.
(section 22(1) of the Act)
1.2 MANAGING WORKPLACE HEALTH AND SAFETY
Section 22 (2) of the Act describes a process to manage workplace health and safety. The purpose of this
process is to help you determine what measures to take to comply with your obligation to ensure workplace
health and safety.
Workplace Health and Safety Risk Management Advisory Standard 2000
Page 29 of 31
workplace health and safety can generally be managed by
(a) identifying hazards; and
(b) assessing risks that may result because of the hazards; and
(c) deciding on control measures to prevent, or minimise the level of, the risks; and
(d) implementing control measures; and
(e) monitoring and reviewing the effectiveness of the measures.
(section 22(2) of the Act)
1.3 USING THE WORKPLACE HEALTH AND SAFETY RISK MANAGEMENT PROCESS
All obligation holders should use the workplace health and safety risk management process to achieve the
outcomes prescribed for their role under the Act. People in different roles, therefore, will use the process in
different ways to fulfil their different workplace health and safety obligations.
For example, an employer is a person who engages a worker to do work for him or her. (A worker is a
person who does work, but is not a contractor.) An employer should use the workplace health and safety
risk management process to consider all hazards that the employers workers may encounter while
performing work for the employer. Whereas in relation to persons who are not the employers workers, the
employer should use the process to consider those hazards that may affect such persons as a result of the
employers business.
Other obligation holders have much more specific obligations. Therefore, they need to apply the workplace
health and safety risk management process to hazards arising from activities relevant to such obligations.
A principal contractor, for example, is a person who is appointed to be in control of a construction site; or if
no-one is appointed, the principal contractor is the owner of the construction site. One of the specific
obligations of a principal contractor is to ensure that workplace activities are safe for members of the public
at or near the workplace. Therefore, to discharge this obligation, the principal contractor should apply the
workplace health and safety risk management process to achieve the outcome of managing exposure to
risks in relation to hazards at the workplace that may affect members of the public.
One of the specific obligations of a designer of plant, for example, is to ensure that the plant is designed to
be safe when used properly. Therefore, the designer should apply the workplace health and safety risk
management process to achieve the outcome of managing exposure to risks in relation to hazards that may
arise when the plant is used properly and for any foreseeable misuse.
1.4 NOT AUTOMATIC DISCHARGE OF YOUR OBLIGATION
However, section 22(4) of the Act states that following the process outlined in section 22(2) of the Act will not
automatically mean you have discharged your obligation. This process is a tool to help you determine how
to discharge your obligation.
To use the process in a way that does discharge your workplace health and safety obligation, the process
must :
be specific to the particular circumstances of your workplace or workplace activity; and
achieve the intended outcome of the process that is, ensures workplace health and safety.
1.5 PRESCRIPTION FOR CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES
In addition to the general obligation to ensure workplace health and safety, the Act also specifies particular
ways in which workplace health and safety must be ensured in particular circumstances. (Refer section 22
(3) of the Act.) For example, for some hazards, including lead, hazardous substances and noise, there are
specific requirements to conduct risk assessments. There are also specific requirements relating to
controlling exposure to the risks associated with hazards such as noise, lead, hazardous substances and
confined spaces.
Workplace Health and Safety Risk Management Advisory Standard 2000
Page 30 of 31
Regulations
The particular requirements (referred to above) are specified in the Workplace Health and Safety
Regulations. If there is a regulation about managing exposure to the risk associated with a particular hazard
that you have identified at your workplace, you must do what the regulation says to discharge your workplace
health and safety obligation in relation to the risk. (Refer section 26(1) of the Act.)
Advisory standard and industry code of practice
The Act also states ways to manage workplace health and safety, which are not mandatory. Such stated
ways are found in advisory standards and industry codes of practice. To discharge your workplace health
and safety obligation in these circumstances, you must either do what the advisory standard or industry code
says, or adopt another way that provides the same level of protection. (Refer sections 26(3) and section 37
of the Act.)
If there is no regulation, advisory standard or industry code of practice
In addition, the Act prescribes the standard to be achieved when determining how to manage exposure to a
risk if there is no regulation, advisory standard or industry code. Section 27 of the Act states that if there is
no regulation, advisory standard or industry code, a person may choose any appropriate way to discharge
the persons obligation, provided the person takes reasonable precautions and exercises proper diligence to
ensure the obligation is discharged.
Workplace Health and Safety Risk Management Advisory Standard 2000
Page 31 of 31
Appendix 4 : Risk Assessment Using The Risk Assessment
Calculator
Risk Assessment Method Using the Risk Assessment Calculator:
(a) For each risk:
1. estimate the probability of a hazard resulting in an injury or disease;
2. estimate the duration of exposure a person has; and
3. the possible consequences that may result given (1) and (2) above;
4. use the Risk Assessment Calculator (below) to obtain a risk score.
(b) Using the risk scores for each risk, develop a prioritised list of workplace risks requiring action.
Risk Assessment Calculator
Kenney, 1976
To use the Risk Assessment Calculator:
select the appropriate point on the probability scale;
draw a line, connecting the point on the probability scale with the appropriate point on the exposure
scale;
extend the line so that it intersects with the tie line;
from the point on the tie line, draw a line through the appropriate point on the possible consequences
scale; and
extend the line to the risk score scale.