Managing risk within your safety management system

As an employer, there are four steps to managing risk within your health and safety program:

1. Understand the risks.
2. Implement measures to control the risks.
3. Communicate your prevention strategy to workers, supervisors, and your joint health and safety committee.
4. Monitor your prevention efforts. Evaluate the effectiveness of your control measures and update as necessary.

These four steps are shown in the diagram above. It can be used as a framework for managing risk in your workplace.

Hierarchy of controls

The hierarchy of controls is used to identify effective and adequate controls that eliminate or, if elimination isn’t possible, minimize the risk of injury. The questions that need to be asked in order are:

1. Can the task be eliminated through design or alternative work methods?
2. Can the task be substituted to reduce risk?
3. Can engineering controls be implemented to assist the worker by improving the task, workspace, environment or the machines and tools used?
4. Can administrative controls help in reducing the exposure to risk factors in the work?
5. Can the worker be protected from the risk factors through the use of personal protective equipment (PPE)?

The hierarchy of controls are illustrated in the diagram below.

Once you’ve chosen controls and workers have been trained on those controls, section 4.52 of the OHS Regulation speaks to the next phase: evaluation. It speaks to the need for employers to monitor the effectiveness of the measures taken and to review the measures at least annually.

Visit worksafebc.com to learn more about managing risk and controlling risks.

Read more

• The value of ergonomics in an occupational safety management system
• How to incorporate ergonomics in a safety management system
• Managing risk within your safety management system
• Monitor your prevention efforts
• Upcoming events

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For resources, please visit worksafebc.com/ergonomics. If you have questions about ergonomics or human factors, or need help managing the risk of MSI in your workplace, please contact us at HumanFactors@worksafebc.com