Assessing Risk Using a Risk Matrix Approach

Assessing risk using a risk matrix approach

What is risk assessment?

Risk assessment is the process of estimating and communicating workplace safety risk, anddeciding whether this risk is acceptable.

The main reasons for conducting a risk assessment for any hazard are to:

use the risk assessment to prioritise the risk control activities
use the risk assessment as a guide as to how the risk is to be controlled
justify the control activities based on the level of risk reduction.

A risk assessment must be undertaken considering the following factors that may be contributing to the risk:

the work premises and working environment (including the layout and condition)
the number of people and how frequently those people could be exposed to risk
the capability, skill, experience and age of people ordinarily undertaking the work
the systems of work being used
the range of reasonably foreseeable conditions
the number and type of workplace and/or industry incidents.

OHS information available that is relevant to the particular hazard including:

OHS information provided by a supplier of any plant, equipment or substance
material safety data sheets (MSDS) for any hazardous substance
the label of any hazardous substance
results of any biological monitoring
results of any atmospheric monitoring
information contained in any specialised OHS reports provided or available
information about previous injuries, illness and dangerous incidents
standards, code of practice and guidelines.

Conducting a risk assessment involves making a value judgement based on this information and any available evidence within the workplace and industry. This may include numbers of current and past incidents, severity of injuries from the identified hazard, lost work time from injuries and number of people involved in incidents. Specific information such as environmental measurements of hazards, eg noise levels, dust levels, Legionella, and comparisons made between the workplace measurement and the legally required measurement can also assist in the risk assessment process.

The risk matrix

Risk matrixes are available from state/territory WorkCover authorities or the Risk Management Standard: AS/NZS 4360:2004. You may also find that other state authorities or event and industry associations may have developed sample matrixes.

The risk matrix records the level of risk which is determined by the relationship between the likelihood of an incident occurring from the hazard, and the consequence caused by the hazard. This is recorded as either a numerical or alphabetical code. The relationship between likelihood and consequence determines how dangerous the hazard is.

The level of risk or code that is determined is referred to as a risk priority rating. This priority rating allows employers to prioritise the hazards identified to ensure that the hazards with high potential of creating an incident are eliminated or controlled first.

Controlling a hazard may involve inspections, investigations and/or monitoring control activities with managers, supervisors and work teams involved as appropriate depending on the circumstances.

A hazard posing a low level of risk should not automatically be assessed as acceptable. If there is a means of further reducing or eliminating this risk then this must be done.

Risk matrixes, while staying true to the OHS authorities design, can be and are often modified to suit a particular work environment or work task.

Modified risk matrixes can be reviewed within industry specific standards, codes of practice, guidance notes and fact sheets from the state/territory OHS authorities or risk management policies and procedures from event associations or companies.

Sample risk matrix (example 1)

This risk matrix has been designed and adapted from the Australia/New Zealand Standard for Risk Management: AS/NZS 4360:2004. The risk priority rating on this matrix is represented by an alphabetical code as the key below outlines.

Consequences
Likelihood / Severe
(1) / Major
(2) / Medium
(3) / Minor
(4) / Negligible
(5)
Almost certain
(A) / E / H / H / M / M
Likely
(B) / H / H / M / M / L
Possible
(C) / H / M / M / L / L
Unlikely
(D) / M / M / L / L / T
Rare
(E) / M / L / L / T / T

Key to the risk rating

E / Extreme risk— Immediate action required; this level of risk needs detailed research and planning by senior management.
H / High risk— Action plan is required as soon as practicable by senior management.
M / Moderate risk — Action plan is required by Area/Department Manager.
L / Low risk—Managed by routine procedures and employees under supervision.
T / Trivial risk—Unlikely to need specific application of resources.

The numbers and letters associated withthe criteria for ‘likelihood’ and ‘consequences’ reflect accuracy in the rating. For example a risk rating may be “H” but does that represent —‘possible and severe’ or ‘likely and severe’ or ‘likely or major’ etc. It is a way of explaining the reasoning behind the risk priority rating. It also recognises that there are a few versions of the same rating just with different criteria being assessed.

Sample risk matrix (example 2)

This risk matrix has a risk priority rating represented by a numerical code as the key below outlines.

How likely is it to be that bad?
How severely could it hurt someone or how ill could it make someone? / ++ Very likely
could happen anytime / + Likely
could happen at some time / = Unlikely
could happen but very rarely / –Very unlikely
may happen but probably wont
Kill or cause permanent disability or ill health / 1 / 1 / 2 / 3
Long term illness or serious injury / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4
Medical attention and several days off work / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5
First aid needed / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6

Key to the risk rating

1 and 2 / The hazard has a high risk of creating an incident. It requires immediate executive management attention to rectify the hazard. Control action must be immediately implemented before working in the area or carrying out the work process.
3 and 4 / The hazard has a moderate risk of creating an incident. It requires management attention in a reasonable timeframe to prevent or reduce the likelihood and severity of an incident. Control action of a short term nature would need to be taken immediately so that work could still be carried out with further long term action taken to ensure that the hazard was fully controlled.
5 and 6 / The hazard has a low risk of creating an incident. It requires supervisor and employee attention in a reasonable timeframe to prevent or reduce the likelihood and severity of an incident.

Using the risk assessment matrix

A risk matrixidentifies the relationship between the likelihood of an incident occurring from the hazard, and the consequence caused by the hazard. This should still be the case even with a modified matrix. Regardless of the matrix used the risk rating for a particular hazard should still reflect the same outcome. Following are examples of risk assessments of a range of hazards. They are recorded as either a numerical or alphabetical code.

Hazard assessed: Operation of a fork lift at an event (alphabetical code)

To accurately assess this hazard and its potential associated risksconsideration has been given to:

the specific use of the fork lift
the number of people in the area of the fork lift use
the design and set-up of the event area in which the fork lift is used
experience of and licence requirements for people operating fork lift
regulatory and operational requirements of the fork lift.

Risk rating =E

Extreme risk— Immediate action is required; detailed research and planning by senior management.

Acting on the risk rating

In this example the risk rating priority of E requires immediate action and detailed research and planning by senior management to rectify the hazard. The action must be developed before the activity is undertaken.

In this risk assessment particular consideration has been given to the number of other people who will potentially be in the vicinity during the operation of the fork lift.

It is important to remember that risk assessments on the same or similar hazards can differ if there are used in different work environments. For example, an assessment of fork lift operations within a warehouse where access by people is limited may record a risk rating of H.

Hazard assessed: Operation of a fork lift at an event (numerical code)

How likely is it to be that bad?
How severely could it hurt someone or how ill could it make someone? / ++ Very likely
could happen anytime / + Likely
could happen at some time / = Unlikely
could happen but very rarely / – Very unlikely
may happen but probably wont
Kill or cause permanent disability or ill health / 1 / 1 / 2 / 3
Long term illness or serious injury / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4
Medical attention and several days off work / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5
First aid needed / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6

Risk rating =1

The hazard has a high risk of creating an incident. It requires immediate executive management attention to rectify the hazard. Control action must be immediately implemented before working in the area or carrying out the work process.

Acting on the risk rating

A risk rating priority level of 1 requires immediate executive management attention to rectify the hazard. Control action would need to be immediately implemented before working in the area or using the fork lift.This may include ensuring that all operators are currently licensed, checking that the fork lift is in good working order and/or barricading the area where the fork lift is being used so as to avoid an excess of pedestrian traffic.

Hazard assessed: Leads lying around on stage (alphabetical code)

To accurately assess this hazard and its potential associated risksconsideration has been given to:

the layout of the stage area
the number of people on stage at any one time
the number and type of leads of leads (voltage, coverings)
experience of the stage crew and artists
regulatory and operational requirements of electrical leads.

Risk rating =M

Moderate risk—Action plan is required by Area/Department Manager.

Acting on the risk rating

In this example the risk rating priority of M requires an action plan to be developed prior to stage preparation being carried out to either eliminate or reduce the risk of tripping and falling.

Hazard assessed: Heat exhaustion (numerical code)

To accurately assess this hazard and its potential associated risksconsideration has been given to:

the supply of and access to shaded areas
the number of people working in the outdoors or in a high heat areas
the number and type of cooling facilities provided
the length of shifts for workers and length of exposure to heat
type of clothing provided for workers
the type of work undertaken.

How likely is it to be that bad?
How severely could it hurt someone or how ill could it make someone? / ++ Very likely
could happen anytime / + Likely
could happen at some time / = Unlikely
could happen but very rarely / – Very unlikely
may happen but probably wont
Kill or cause permanent disability or ill health / 1 / 1 / 2 / 3
Long term illness or serious injury / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4
Medical attention and several days off work / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5
First aid needed / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6

Risk rating =5

The hazard has a low risk of creating an incident.It requires supervisor and employee attention in a reasonable timeframe to prevent or reduce the likelihood and severity of an incident.

Acting on the risk rating

A risk rating priority level of 5records the hazard as a low risk of creating an incident. It requires supervisors and employees attention in the form of monitoring work conditions and personnel and/or their own physical state to prevent or reduce the likelihood and severity of an incident.

Control actions would still need to be implemented when setting up the work area such as providing sufficient shading, rotating shifts to avoid lengthy period in hot areas etc. Also as temperatures can fluctuate continual monitoring during the event is required.

Recording risk priority ratings

Once the risk matrix has been used to identify the risk priority rating, it must be recorded. Once the risk rating has been assessed, control measures can be determined.

The following event hazards have been risk assessed to demonstrate the recording format using both formats.

Hazard / Safety risk / Possible outcomes / Risk rating / Risk rating
People working at height to install rigging and equipment / Falling
Climbing equipment failure / Death
Permanent injury / E / 1
Use of forklift with other people in the event area / Person being hit by vehicle / Death
Permanent injury / E / 1
Exhaust fumes from exhibition display, eg cars / Exhaust build-up
Crowd crush / Exhaust inhalation
Death or Injury / H / 2
Boxes left in main doorway / Trip hazard / Medical attention required / M / 4
Wet floor from spilled liquid / Slips and falls
Burns if liquid is corrosive / First aid / L / 5

The accuracy of the risk priority ratings will depend on the workplace situation and is only offered as guide.

Assess safety risks – Solo Activity 4