Health and Safety at Work: Risk Assessment - Essay Example

? Health and Safety at Work: Risk Assessment s Introduction Health and safety at work is an issue of priority not as a requirement of the law but because the circumstances under which a work is done defines the amount and value of output. Health at work also referred to as occupational health, is defined as the provision of an environment free from physical, social and mental distraction at work. It involves availing good hygiene, fitness facilities gym, and proper sanitation. Safety at work requires that employees are protected against distractions and hazards at their places of work. Risk assessment is a managerial process that involves qualitative and quantitative analysis of risks at work with the aim of adopting proper mechanisms to avert the potential risk factors. Health and safety practices are known to enhance morale at work, improve innovation, bring about teamwork and attract employees which make it at the centre of an organizations success. This research work compares an investigated situation with the current legislation on health and safety at work to provide appropriate recommendations. Areas of Health and Safety at Work Observed areas at work where health and safety measures forms a critical part of management and includes the building in which the work is hosted. The structures in which work related activities are performed should meet certain set conditions. As safety measures require, it should be ensured that sufficient space is availed for work place, space in this context defines the ease of movement within the office or the place of work. Enough of it limits the number accidents from tools and objects besides the fact that it is more efficient to work in a spacious environment. Buildings housing places of work should have immediate response mechanism in the event of fire and this is facilitated by having fire extinguishers at several strategic points as seen in number of well organized offices. Obtaining such data requires a walk through the office. It shocks to realize that most offices only have a single fire extinguisher which increases the risk of casualties in the event of a fire breakout as it may not be sufficient when needed should fire start from different points simultaneously. Emergency exits or doors also forms part of safety measures as they are the most secure means of eluding deleterious situations and the significance lies in the number and location of exits. An office or building with more exits that are distant from one another is more secure since in the event of danger, people do not scramble to pass through one but have several safe exit options. Employees are safer in a working environment equipped with first aid kits in the event of an accident. Should an accident occur, then the first aid kit provides an opportunity of averting any potential risk before seeking the help of a doctor. Health with regards to the building or office requires that a healthy environment prevails throughout the working process. The building should be equipped with proper ventilation to circulate fresh air and reduce instances of suffocation. A choked up room poses a potential health risk and to provide healthy environment, the working place needs to be circulated with air or have more openings which aids in air circulation as seen in some of the offices or working place. This can be further achieved with the help of HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) systems that is a requirement in all office buildings. With regards to human resource which also defines the level of health and safety at work, there be should seminars to emphasize on the health and safety at work because through these forums, employees obtain crucial information that helps them in observing safety and maintaining a healthy working environment. Seminars could be the place they get enlightened on the health and safety policies. Other measure not to be overlooked is organizing services such as gym, and retreats involving physical exercise activities of the body to foster fitness and healthy living. Assessment of Working Practices and Risk Assessment Quantitative and qualitative analysis of risk factors highlights a number of elements that have adverse effects on health and safety in work places. Quantitative method is a mathematical procedure that involves calculation of two parameters used in risk assessment. In this procedure, risk is abbreviated as R and the two parameters which are the quantity (magnitude) of potential loss abbreviated as L and the probability of risk occurrence as P. Mathematically, it is expressed as R(total)=?LiP(Li). Quantitative calculations are of three types. This are: Single Lose Expectancy (SLE) calculation, which occurs due to security incident. Annulated Rate of Occurrence (ARO) calculation, which is a threat due to vulnerability and, Annualized Loss Expectancy (ALE ), that is a calculation done to come up with a countermeasure mechanism to protect an asset. It also shows the number of loses due to risks, vulnerability and threats and it is the product of SLE and ARO. It is worth noting that the methods differ between organizations. Risk management requires consideration of some factors, significantly, the affected persons. It is required that workers with special needs are considered and this includes expectant mothers at work, and people with disabilities. This is done to avoid any circumstances that may risk their job or life. If not considered in planning for risks, their chances of being victims should any harm occur are usually high because they may not find exits with ease among other normal employees. Views of all employees should be sought to ensure that safety policies in place are owned by those they intend to protect. Consultations should therefore be made in the event of any intended policy change. This limits the chances of them being hurt by employers’ decisions. In a case where the workplace is shared, then people need to understand how their work affects others to ensure smooth correlation at work. Carrying out a risk assessment exercise This was initiated by just going round the workplace or office to identify any risk. After identifying the risk, an effort to establish the harmful effects of the risk to workers and the extent to which caused harm can be serious was made. At this stage, employees were asked on their knowledge of the risks seen and if they have lodged any concerns with regards to the observed risks. It is at this point that their input on mitigation of these risks was sought. All observed risks should be recorded and appropriate follow ups made. The observation activity should be random to ensure that hazards are properly eliminated through regular upgrades of obsolete risk avoidance facilities. Risk mitigation Mitigation simply means what is done to reduce the caused damages. Mitigation can be taken at individual level as well as at management level. The process puts into consideration number of factors which affect both the employee and the employer. There should be a clear evacuation procedure in the event of an emergency with a designated convergence point away from the office building. This point helps in taking human inventory should there be any disaster. Employees should receive regular training on how to use safety equipments like fire extinguishers. Mock fire or disaster scenarios should be staged to test the level of preparedness. Employees to be provided with subsidy to fitness centers to minimize exercise related diseases. Food stores at work places should be stocked with healthy diets to improve the quality of food consumption by members of staff If an employee gets hurt to the point of not being able to work, then compensation should be arranged. Upon liaising with court in the process of mitigation, one should be aware that any compensation awarded for loss of earnings which were to be obtained in future is subject to deduction by court for any earnings dating from the verdict day to end of the contract or work file. All the above mitigation issues are in place at our company. Audit of Current Working Practices To audit basically is to evaluate a condition, person, system or organization among other things. Auditing working practices entails evaluation and ascertaining whether the required working conditions for a healthy and safe working environment are in place. Elements of health and safety environment must be ascertained with emphasis is now drawn to the current measures. These include; the number of fire extinguishers, number of emergency doors or exits, first aid kits, insurance among others. As earlier said, it is safer to work in workplace secured with safety measures such as high number of exits and fire extinguishers among the current adopted measures in ensuring health and safety working place prevails (Stranks, 2006)1. Due to the high number of people getting employed, work related health and safety concerns have in the present day been given emphasis (Mitigation, 2012)2. Trends that have emerged include adoption insurance for the employer, employees and work place. Health and safety at work place has been further enhanced by some companies adopting drug and alcohol tests. In USA, it has been achieved by screening all applicants for selected or all posts by using pre Employment Substance Testing, Random Substance Testing for workers on irregular posts and Scheduled Annual (Semi Annual) Substance Test for those on rehabilitation, while those who are suspected to have abused drug or alcohol tested by For Cause Reasonable Substance Testing (Mindy, 2007)3. The company audited has shown its compliance to these safety requirements. Comparison of Health and Safety Policy and the Current Legislation Company policies outline the nature of the respective working , it is therefore, of significance to have a look at the company’s policies and compare it with policies defined by legislation such as those provided by the Health and Safety at Work Act 2011 (The current legislation). These Regulations clearly define the duties of employer and employees. Section 8 of the Safety, Health and Welfare at work Regulation 2007 outlines the duties of employer in ensuring that employees’ health is not risked and that they are safe. Section 13 of the same document gives the duties of employees’. With regards to the risk assessment done, it is our company has complied with most if not all of these requirements. This they have achieved by putting measures and mechanisms in place to avert potential threat to health and safety at work. For instance, provision of protective clothing and equipment, appointing a Safety officer, provision of instruction and training to employees on health and safety with the aim of preventing improper conducts that put health and safety at risk in the work place, are in line with the laws stipulated. Recommendations Many workers are unaware of what is required of them while at their working place. They may therefore be exploited and denied some rights and freedom they rightfully deserve. This is attributed to the fact that they are either not informed on policies of the company that governs their job or they are ignorant on what the law requires of in ensuring health and safety at work. It is Therefore required that employees familiarize themselves with both the laws that govern health and safety at work and the company’s policies to identify any areas of non compliance. Employers should also ensure that work place is of good health and safe as required by the law. Bibliography Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 a€“ legislation explained. (n.d.). HSE: Information about health and safety at work. Retrieved April 21, 2012, from http://www.hse.gov.uk/legislation/hswa.htm Chapman, M. (2007, August 8). Drugs and Alcohol Workplace Trends -- Occupational Health & Safety. Occupational Health & Safety: keeping the workplace safe from hazards and in full compliance with laws and regulations -- Occupational Health & Safety. Retrieved April 21, 2012, from http://ohsonline.com/articles/2007/08/drugs-and-alcohol-workplace-trends.aspx STRANKS, J. W. (2006). The manager's guide to health & safety at work. London, Kogan Page. http://www.books24x7.com/marc.asp?bookid=13024. Mitigation - Workplace Fairness. (n.d.). Workers, Employee, Employment and Job Rights - Workplace Fairness. Re Read More