Question

Using the risk management process each student is to perform a Risk Assessment on a vocational area of their choice. This may be a department within the college, a business structure they are aware of, or any other vocational area.

The student is to use the forms developed in risk management task, and submit them to you (the assessor) at the conclusion of their review

As part of this task, each student is to record:

- who was involved in the assessment

- the processes they undertook

- any issues they came across and how they dealt with them

- the findings from the risk assessment

A sample Risk Management Plan that includes Risk Assessment Tools is provided with this unit, and should be used as a benchmark for student expectations. It should not be given to the students, as it is an assessors’ resource. (Students should be given examples of risk management plans as part of their training.)

Answer 1

Ans. Risk Assessment of Lab Department of the college. Safe lab activities are based on :

• access to information on the chemicals, microrganisms, gases, equipment, pressure, tension etc. that are being used.
• risk assessment of hazardous work considering the methodology used, where the actions take place and the conditions that prevail at the workplace.
• take the protective measures and necessary care that are essential in order to eliminate/ reduce risks.

RISK ASSESSMENT

Risk Assessment

Hazard Activity Controls

Identify the hazard Identify critical processes What protective measures

are needed ?

Why ?   

No one spending time in a lab should have to risk injury due to the activities taking place there - this concerns patients, employees, students, guests, and service personnel. Neither should operations cause any damage to the surrounding environment. In order to ensure that it is possible to carry out care and treatment, research and education without interruption, it is also vital to protect samples, equipments and premises.

When ?

Risk assessments must be carried out prior to any risky operations, during planning, purchase of equipments etc. Risk assessments must also be revised when changes are made - concentration, temperature, material, current, design of premises, ventilation etc.

Who ?

Risk assessment must also be carried out by someone with knowledge of the process, relevant working methods and workplace. The manager responsible must read and sign these risk assessments.

How ?

1. Describe the hazards associated with the chemicals , equipments, organisms etc
2. Identify the risk of exposure, the risk of damage to the premises and equipment and to the surrounding environment based on the working method used.

• How do i use the equipment , chemicals ? How do i work ? What conditions am i working in ? What else is being used in the lab?
• Which risks apply under normal circumstances and which risks apply during interrupted services, accidents, ventilation failure , power cut, fire?
• Generally the entire process must be assessed including purchase/installation,transport,management, waste management etc. In cases where only a part of the process/experiment is included the risk assessment this must be clearly stated, as well as where information, risk assessments concerning the remaining parts can be found.

3. Estimate and assess the size of the risk.

4. State the necessary protective mesures and inform everyone concerned about the risks and protective measures.