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The objective of an effective safety culture is to go beyond compliance and drill deep into the inter-working of the facility to ferret out hazards and associated risk. Safety should be intertwined with all aspects of management commitment, employee participation, hazard recognition and control, and communication at a minimum. As the process is developed, a systems approach must also be implemented. The sum of all risk and the interrelationships between jobs may result in a cumulative risk higher than the individual risks.
If one uses the eight basic risk management principles, the safety process will start to move from a post loss or "crisis management" effort. It becomes a proactive decision-making format that can be prioritized. Identifying and analyzing what could go wrong and the potential scope of a loss becomes a part of everyday activity. The management of risks becomes an integral part of the overall safety management system.
The use of risk management principles should be incorporated into the job hazard analysis process as well. Simply relying on hazard identification is not enough. An attempt must be made to identify the risk (severity and exposure) at each stage of a job, its steps, and required tasks. The eight basic steps include:
1. Define the Objective - The first step is to define the objectives of the organization and ask yourself several questions: What am I trying to accomplish with our safety process? Do I have clearly defined goals and objectives for the assessment of risk. Are Job Hazard Analysis part of my safety process and are they being used effectively?
2. Define and describe the facility’s components and activities. Each job will require people with defined skills, a management structure and hierarchy with necessary policies, procedures, rules, etc., as well as tools/equipment/materials necessary to complete the tasks. With these elements defined, the facility will have a work environment that reflects what is being done.
3. Hazard identification: identify hazards & consequences of exposure to those hazards -Hazards are identified by analyzing the jobs required grouped by function. During the identification of each job, the risk analysis assesses the potential consequence of exposure to hazards at each job step and task. The classic problem solving format, “Who, What, Where, When, Why, and How,” is used to assist in the job review.
4. Risk analysis: analyze hazards and identify the risks - Assessment is the application of quantitative and qualitative measures to determine the level of risk associated with specific hazards. This process uses the estimated probability and potential severity of an injury. The risk analysis reviews hazards to determine what can happen. The lack of historical loss data on a particular hazard does not exclude the hazard from the need for analysis.
5. Risk assessment: Group steps/tasks and prioritize risks - Risk Assessment combines the impact of risks and compares them against defined acceptable level criteria. These criteria can include the consolidation of risks into categories that can be jointly mitigated, combined, and used in decision making.
6. Decision-making: developing action plans - Once a list of jobs has been prioritized based on its risk and type of hazards, the list is reviewed to determine how to address hazards beginning with the highest priority or most severe risk. Management develops an action plan to apply control methods that have been selected along with the resources and individuals needed to put these measures in place. The “hierarchy of controls” is used during this phase.
7. Validation and control: evaluate results of action for effectiveness and further planning needs - Evaluation includes the identification and review of data collected. “Residual” risk (any remaining risks) can be acceptable, unacceptable, or remain unknown. If acceptable, documentation is required to show the rationale for accepting the risk. If residual risk is unknown or unacceptable, an action plan is established for additional actions needed. This is an ongoing process!
8. Modify Safety System/Process, as applicable - If the identified risk changes or action plans do not produce the intended effect, a determination must be made as to why. Was the wrong hazard addressed? Was a hazard missed? Does the safety system/process need to be modified? After controls are in place, the new process must be periodically reevaluated to ensure effectiveness.
Managers and employees must ensure that the controls are maintained over time. The risk management process continues throughout the life cycle of the facility or activity.
References:
Adapted from the Federal Aviation Administration Office of System Safety, FAA System Safety Handbook, Chapter 3, Principles of System Safety, December 30, 2000, Chapter 4, Pre-Investment Decision Assessment
Roughton, James, Nathan Crutchfield; Job Hazard Analysis. A Guide to Compliance and Beyond, Butterworth-Heinemann, 2008
Roughton, James; Developing an Effective Safety Culture: A Leadership Approach, Butterworth-Heinemann, 2002
