Digital @ The Arts Unit Creative Teachers
Digital @ The Arts Unit Creative Teachers
The Department of Education is committed to the health and safety of everyone in its workplaces and has many resources, including on risk management, available to all staff through the Department of Education Health and Safety web page.
The Department's Health and Safety Risk Management Framework is being updated to be more practical, streamlined and user friendly with the overall aim to improve the risk management process, resources and tools.
They have introduced the concept of 'Think SAFETY!' to assist schools and workplaces to recognise the key steps in the risk management process.
The following Department of Education documents include procedures and templates to support you creating your own risk management plans.
The video Hazard vs Risk outlines the difference between a hazard and a risk?
Hazard vs Risk
Duration: 01:30There are several steps in the risk management process:
Identify the hazard – anything that could cause illness or injury.
Assess the risk – what is the risk the hazard will result in illness or injury? How severe is the consequence of the hazard?
Control the risk - eliminate or minimise the risk.
Review and monitor - hazards and control measure to ensure they are working.
All risk management is done with consistent consultation with all key stakeholders.
The first step in the risk management process includes the identification of potential hazards in the entertainment industry is a major step in minimising safety breaches to yourself, colleagues, customers/clients and others typical to the industry.
The range of hazards that could occur include:
the use of hazardous and non-hazardous materials
human factors, including fatigue (self and others)
undertaking manual handling
using tools, equipment and machinery
the specific work environment, eg. confined spaces
specific work processes and practices, including: working at heights; in a confined space; in the dark and/or in reduced/adverse lighting conditions; on special effects, stunts or action sequences; and with electricity and cabling.
The second step in the risk management process includes the assessment of foreseeable risk in any circumstance.
Each potential risk is given a rating as to:
the likelihood of the hazard or the risk concerned occurring and
the consequence that might result from the hazard or the risk.
This risk rating is given before and then again after control measures are implemented.
There are various types of risk matrix' to assist in the rating of potential risks which will commonly rate a risk from insignificant or low to catastrophic or extreme.
The video 'Risk and how to use a risk matrix' discusses how a risk matrix is used in various examples.
Risk and how to use a risk matrix
Duration: 05:28The third step in the risk management process includes identifying control measures that need to be put in place to minimise the potential risks.
The video Hazard Control Measures explains the different types of safety control measures.
Hazard Control Measures
Duration: 02:13There is a risk control hierarchy:
eliminate the risk
minimise the risk:
substitution
modification
isolation
engineering control.
other controls:
signage
administration
safe work practices
personal protective equipment (PPE).
The fourth step in the risk management process is the continual monitoring and reviewing of your risk management plans to ensure they are still effective.
Circumstances and environments change constantly and therefore risks and their control measures need to be reviewed regularly to make sure they work as planned. It is no good waiting until something fails.
WHS regulations require that reviews are conducted in specific situations:
when the control measure is not effective in controlling the risk
if something is to change and a new uncontrolled safety risk may appear
if a new hazard or risk is identified
if the results of consultation indicate that a review is necessary
if a health and safety representative requests a review.
Consultation in work, health and safety is an ongoing process that involves relevant industry bodies, as well as individuals within a workplace to ensure a safe work environment.
It is vital that employers ensure there are opportunities for workers to provide input into WHS consultation and participation processes and ways for this to occur include:
WHS audits
formal and informal discussions
WHS inspections
WHS meetings
regular training.
If you need assistance with any WHS issues you can speak to your Principal and organise for SafeWork NSW inspectors to visit your school.
The video SafeWork NSW inspectors explains the role they have and how they can assist a workplace.
SafeWork NSW inspectors
Duration: 02:57