5.

2 Determine Hazard Based On Risk Rating

Based on Table 5, the work activity is using the microscope to help the student
to study the microorganisms, the cells, the crystalline structures and the molecular
structures. By doing this activity, the hazard was found when one of the microscope
have an exposed electrical parts from the wire. This hazard may happen due to lack of
knowledge and information about how to properly use the microscope and store them.
Electrical shock burns and fall may happen if the student does not aware with the
situation. The risk control does state to use the instrument with care but most people
does not usually check the instrument if there is any faulty. The students and even
worker must be aware with all the faulty equipment and report straight to the lab
assistant. The likelihood rating is 3 as the exposed electrical wire parts can happen
because the plastic layer of the wire are quite thin and the wire are really near to the
user every time they use it. The severity rating is 4 because electrical shock can be fatal.
From the risk matrix table, the result is 12 which is high and it indicates red colour.
This is the highest risk and most severe of safety hazard then all the work activities
stated. It is advised to not hold the event without consultation with Risk Management.

Then, the second work activity is the process of handling the apparatus that
already prepared from the laboratory. Safety hazard can be found when the students
mistreating apparatus and usage of broken apparatus. Student just use all the apparatus
prepared by the lab assistant without making sure it is safe to use or not. This can lead
to cut parts of body and chemical may leak through the apparatus, thus can stain the
clothes or even corrodes it. Risk control that already exist states that all the students
and workers must wear proper clothes such as lab coats, suitable shoes, gloves and
googles before going in to the laboratory. Everyone should follow this risk control to
avoid any incident happen and if it happen, the severity of it can be decrease. The
likelihood rating of this is 3 because most apparatus are made of glass and they are
really fragile if use it harshly. Severity rating is at 3 as cuts or chemical burns can be
overcome with safety equipment prepared by the lab. The risk value is 9 which is
serious and indicates orange colour. This behaviour must be stop because it leads to
serious risk to people.

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 After that, the third work activity is the process of discarding biological wastes
such as bacteria culture and cells. The students do discard the wastes in the special
dustbin provided for biological waste but after the lab was done, the lab assistant tied
up the waste and just leave it on the floor. This can be a hazard because by leaving it
on the floor, much possibilities can happen like people saddled to it and causes the
plastic to torn. The wastes can cause infections, allergy and poisoning to people
surrounding. This incident can lead to biological hazard which is one of the part of
health hazard. A special dustbin are provided to every station for risk control. The
likelihood rating is 2 because usually people can see it clearly as the plastic is bright
yellow with pictogram on it and lab assistant usually dispose it right after students are
done with experiment. The severity rating is 4 as biological hazard can be deadly. Risk
value for this situation is at 8 and indicates serious. This is the highest risk for health
hazard and it is advised to seek additional event planning support.

The fourth work activity is the position of seating on the chair and condition if
it. This can be a safety and also a health hazard because unstable chairs can make the
students to loss body balance then lead to falling, Students slouching and improper
sitting can lead to poor body positioning that causes backache. Likelihood of this
activity is 3 as most experiment does not need to stand to held it and there are many
chair that are not in a good condition. Some of them have broken legs, torn up and even
rusty. The severity rating is 2 because students only stay in the lab for a maximum of 3
hours and in that period, most students will not stay in one place while doing their
experiment but this behaviour can effects the body in the long run. The risk value
indicates 6 which is medium risk and action must be documented on the risk assessment
form to let people know the possibility of this incident.

Next, fifth work activity is walking in the lab from one place to another. Broken
tiles found on some parts of the floor and it is on the work area of the student. One of
the area have sharp parts of broken tiles hanging. This obviously can be a safety hazard
as students can trip and injured themselves. One risk control was taken which is placing
a hazard sign on the dangerous area of the floor. The likelihood of the situation is 2
because most students have the awareness about the dangerous area and will not walk
through it. The severity of it is 3 because tripping on a broken tiles can cause severe

15
wounds that also leads to further complications such as infection, breaking bones or
breaking of apparatus if the student is trip while doing an experiment. The risk value is
6 which indicates medium risk. Action must be recorded on the risk assessment form
to let people aware the possibility of this incident.

The last work activity is improper working environment which is student does
not give a suitable condition while the experiment is running. Most students leave their
stationeries and other unnecessary scattering on the table rather than neatly tidy up the
stuff and put on the undisturbed area of the table. Hazards can happen as students may
accidentally hit objects, especially sharp ones when they are working at their work
station. Risk control already explained in the lab manual given and notices are also hang
in the lab for student to easily read the rules in the laboratory. Likelihood rating is 2 as
the lecturer and lab assistant always reminds the students to tidy up the table before
doing the experiment and most experiment need a large area to held so the student
already know they need to clean up the working area. The severity rating of this activity
is 2 as student does not get any severe complications from the accident. From the table,
the risk value is 4 and it indicates medium also the lowest value than the rest of the
work activity. The activity is considered okay to be proceeded however risk mitigation
efforts should be made to reduce the risk.

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6.0 RECOMMENDATIONS

6.1 Control Measures in Accordance to the Hierarchy of Risk Control

Hierarchy of hazard control is a system used in industry to minimize or

eliminate exposure to hazards. It is a widely accepted system promoted by
numerous safety organizations. The idea behind this hierarchy is starts with the
controls perceived to be most effective and moves down to those considered least
effective. Following this hierarchy normally leads to the implementation of
inherently safer systems, where the risk of illness or injury has been substantially
reduced.

The most critical hazard either safety or health must be controlled. The control
measures of these hazards were done in according with means of hierarchy of
control.

For safety hazard, exposed electrical parts of the wire can be overcome by
substitution, administrative controls and PPE. First, substitution for a new
microscope which have the best condition to use can definitely eliminate the risk of
electrical shock. However, this method is an expensive option as the microscope is
costly to buy. For administrative controls, lab assistant can make a precaution to
check the condition of the microscope and put it in the report every week so students
can use the equipment safely. PPE is the last resort on controlling risk but it can be

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a precaution as lab coat with long sleeves can protect the skin and gloves from
electrocuted from the wire.

Next, not properly discard the biological waste for health hazard can be
eliminated by elimination, administrative controls and PPE. Elimination is the
most effective way of controlling risk because by disposing it right after
experiment is done, the risk of hazard can be overcome completely.
Administrative control by forcing to take out the waste after finished with the
experiment should be done as the biological waste can cause severe effects to the
laboratory environment and also human. Lastly, PPE can be used to protect
ourselves from contamination and infection by the bacteria or cells from the
experiment and waste.

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7.0 CONCLUSION

To conclude, there are so much benefits that can gain from controlling and
minimizing the risk of a workplace for a company and of course the worker itself. One
of the benefits is it will give a good name for the company as they provide good and
safe workspace for their worker. The productivity of the company can be increase as
there are less to no accident happened, thus the work can be done smoothly without
interruption. Then, worker will increase their awareness and knowledge on the
importance of practising safety and health at the workplace. For instance, wearing PPE
every time while working can protect themselves from danger and reduce accident to
the worker. This also will provide a good yet comfortable working environment not
only for themselves, for others too.

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8.0 REFERENCES AND APPENDIX

- https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/hierarchy/default.html
- https://www.matec-
conferences.org/articles/matecconf/pdf/2016/29/matecconf_ibcc2016_00105.pdf
- https://safetyculture.com/topics/electrical-hazards/
- https://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/hsprograms/hazard_identification.html

Health hazard Safety hazard

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