Vulnerability Assessment- Phyllis Young

Risk Assessment

Leland D. Vaughn

CJMS 630.9041

March 31, 2013

Turnitin.com 4%

Risk assessment tools

Introduction

A risk assessment is the process of identifying probable risks and scrutinizing what might happen after the risks occur. Different hazards can occur at any time depending on the location, extent and the timing. The procedure of risk management entails taking into consideration the risks and fears, and assessing and putting into place safety measures to compress risks (Hopkin, 2012).

This study was done with the main aim of identifying a risk assessment tool that can be used in the workshop to avoid suffering from probable hazards. A risk assessment tool is an indicator of the probable hazards that can befall any business, home or even projects. For risk assessment to be effective there must be a thorough search for hazards and situations that can be harmful.

In modern age, there are different steps in which a business can use to set a risk assessment tool. When setting up a risk assessment tool you have to focus on those hazards that can occur and potentially bring damage in your workshop (Hopkin, 2012). In the workshop, it is impossible to eliminate all risks but ensuring the risks are minimized is far much important. This research was conducted on a company. The main aim of setting the assessment tool in the workshop was to identify whether the management and the employees work hand-in-hand to assess, evaluate and reduce the risks.

Literature review

Where there is co-operation between the employees and the management in an organisation, assessing the risks is very simple. In the AMEC Tech workshop, the risks are well known and applying the risk management measures is not complicated. For a small organization, risk assessment does not involve hiring safety and health experts. You can do the risk assessment at your own pace considering the views of the employees since they also know where the floor is slippery, where many people fall and where accidents occur at the workshop. In a large organization, the advice of a safety and health expert is required. The staff should also be included in the process since they might have useful information to disclose when assessing the risks.

Steps To Follow When Assessing the Risks

Categorize the hazards

A hazard can be defined as anything that can cause harm. These things can be chemicals, open drawers and electricity. You have to think how the employees can be harmed. It is easier to overlook some hazards when you are at the same workshop. You have to stroll about in the place of work and explore what can lead to harm. When strolling, inquiring for information from the employees is highly regarded since they might have been aware of things that you might not see.

Researching from the Internet about how and where hazards happen is also advisable. In the Internet, you will find information on how to control these hazards and information on the effects of the hazards. There are also regulatory guidelines on how to set the workshop from trade associations (Dalton, 1998). When using chemicals, it is advisable to make sure that the instructions printed on the labels are followed. On these instructions, the dangers and hazards are clearly stipulated. You have to make sure that when mixing or using the chemicals, a specialist is available. If an accident had happened previously, it is important to remember its cause and identify the reasons for its occurrence.

Identify those that can be harmed

You must identify those likely to be harmed by these hazards depending on the departments where they work. Those who work near chemicals are more likely to be harmed by these chemicals and those who work in the stores may suffer from backaches for lifting heavy boxes. When it comes to identifying where the employees are to be deployed, you must consider the disabled, expectant and new or young workers . Changes in the workshop should also be notified to all the employees. When machines are moved from one place to another, tiles mounted and various fittings changed, it is advisable to allow only those who have knowledge of the changes to those areas.

Sharing the workshop entails a lot of responsibility and it should be extremely emphasized. Irresponsible workers will most likely cause great risk to the rest. Some workers spill water and chemicals on the floor and leave it wet and slippery. The next thing that happens is a colleague falling and breaking the backbone. Who is to blame? The management should be on record to note all reckless employees and issue them with notices, warnings and subsequent dismissal to minimize such hazards.

Evaluate risks and take precautions

After realizing the hazards, you have to come up with an idea of tackling them. There are regulations by the law that an employer should do everything possible to protect the employees from any harm (Hopkin, 2012). Neglect of the obvious hazards that can harm the employees is punishable by law. You should check at what you are doing first and if you feel confused, you can compare it with the set guidelines. It is easier to manage your own workshop through your own controls that those set by the government.

When evaluating and taking precautions for minimizing hazards, it is very important to use a less dangerous alternative. Use the less harmful chemicals and always control access of the chemicals. To avoid on employees stumbling on each other at the workshop, barriers should be put in place to avoid collision between the working and the moving. The workers should be provided with protective clothing in terms of gloves, goggles, helmets, footwear, etc. to protect them from the hazards. Arranging mirrors at blind corners will cost less but will play a great role at preventing accidents at the workshop (Spiers, 2003).

Document and apply finding

After assessing and evaluating the risks, you have to put the findings of the assessment into exercise. Documenting the results and involving the employees formulates a great difference in the workshop. Make the notes simple to allow easy interpretation. A risk assessment is not always perfect but it is appropriate and satisfactory. The risk assessment tool should be reassessed and modernized where necessary. Many workshops experience changes in machinery and in workforce. It is advisable to review the assessment tool where changes occur (Spiers, 2003). You should consider setting up review dates to avoid hazards happening due to being forgetful.

Rationale of selecting the workshop

The reason behind basing this research to a workshop is that there are many hazards in the work place than in the home and institutions. In the workshop, there are different people, departments, hazards and risks. Most of these accidents are caused by neglect and identifying the hazards and setting up rules minimizes the dangers (Dalton, 1998). Many businesses and companies are closed down due to the ignorance of assessing the risks.

When risks are identified on time in the workshop, you enjoy maximum productivity since the barriers that may arise in the course of duty are eliminated. You also have to provide the employees with the proper clothing and working implements to enjoy this. When employees feel that their safety in the workshop is guaranteed, the feel motivated and minimized hazards will see less employees skipping duty due to illness. When hazards are reduced in the workshop, fewer costs are experienced in paying the hospital bills and compensating the workers. Negligence has seen many companies close down since they have no funds to compensate the workers in times of accidents (Dalton, 1998).

Qualitative assessment

When dealing with qualitative assessment, you have to determine whether the assets you want to protect are of much value. The outcome of the qualitative assessment relies on the expertise of those involved in carrying out the research. The risk stages can be concluded to be high, low or medium. You prioritize the possible hazards by use of a rating scale (Hopkin, 2012).

Quantitative Assessment

Numerical values to both possibility and value are assigned to the risk stages in quantitative assessment. It rates the probable outcomes and gauges the aim of attaining the objectives. In quantitative assessment, you create an attainable and a sensible cost. You require high-quality information and a list of prioritized hazards when carrying out quantitative assessment (Hopkin, 2012). According to this research, it is evident that a risk assessment tool requires maximised consideration when it comes to identifying the hazards. When you stay out of negative publicity, your business will flourish since workers have the oomph to produce more.

References

Dalton, A. J. P. (1998). Safety Health & Environmental Hazards. Farmington Hills, MI: Cengage Learning

Hopkin, P. (2012). Fundamentals of Risk Management: Understanding, Evaluating and Implementing Effective Risk Management. London, UK: Kogan Page Publishers

Spiers, C. (2003). Tolley's Managing Stress in the Workshop. Boca Raton, FL: Taylor & Francis

�Vague description of the property/place. I don't know what this is.

�If so, then describe them. I need to see more discussion about specific threats and vulnerabilities rather than description of what goes into a risk assessment.

�Very confusing because you did not set out a clear description of what this workshop is.

�Avoid stating the obvious or truisms.

�Need you analyzing how to offset the hazards rather than describing what they could be.

�Confused.