Output of a continuous risk assessment

Output of a continuous risk assessment

A continuous risk assessment should be conducted on a continuous basis in the work environment. It is a powerful and important form of assessment and should take place continually, as an integral part of day to day management. In continuous HIRA, the emphasis is on day to day hazard awareness, through HIRA, and immediate risk treatment.

In developing hazard awareness, memory joggers such as inspection checklists, pre-use checklists, and critical part and paths checklists, can be produced from management controls that are a product of issue-based HIRA. Planned Task Observations could also be conducted on an ongoing basis.

It is performed at an operational level, where the system, process and activities are monitored on a continuous basis by the operational floor management and first line supervisors. It must not be sophisticated and should mainly be conducted by first line supervisors.

Formal training in this regard is essential. The main emphasis is on “hazard awareness through hazard identification”.

Examples of continuous risk assessment

Hazardous activities need to undergo this type of risk assessment prior to the conducting of the activity and can include:

• Inspections
• Critical task observations
• OHS audits
• Work permits
• Toolbox talks
• Medical surveillance
• Daily Safety Task Instructions
• Occupational hygiene measurements
• Planned maintenance systems