CONTINUOUS MEDICAL

EDUCATION (CME)
Hazard Identification, Risk Analysis and Risk Control
(HIRARC)
By
Alflavius Anak Jandan
Objectives

 Know how to apply risk management principles by identifying, assessing and

reporting hazards and potential risks in the workplace
 Hazards associated with your workplace and best methods to control for them
 Employer should implement best and most effective practices/policies to
protect workers from hazards
 CHEMICAL & DUST
HAZARDS
(cleaning products,
pesticides, asbestos, etc.)
BIOLOGICAL ERGONOMIC
HAZARDS HAZARDS
(repetition, lifting, awkward
(mold, insects/pests,
communicable diseases, etc.) postures, etc.)
WORK
ORGANIZATION
HAZARDS
Things that cause STRESS!

SAFETY HAZARDS PHYSICAL HAZARDS

(slips, trips and falls, faulty (noise, temperature
equipment, etc.) extremes, radiation, etc.)
 HIRARC
Before the process of identifying any hazards begin, it is
necessary to know how to classify what is hazard, risk and
danger.

Hazard - anything that can cause harm.

Risk - a probability of harm actually being done.

Danger - the relative exposure to a hazard.

 4-step process to manage
clinical risks
 identify the risk
 assess the frequency and severity of the risk
reduce or eliminate the risk
 cost the risk
 HIRARC
Hazards can also be sub-classified into HEALTH or SAFETY HAZARDS.

I. Examples of HEALTH HAZARDS (health contributing hazards) are:

I. Physical : noise, heat, radiation, vibration, pressure, machinery,

electricity
II. Chemical : gases, vapors, acids, alkali, poisons, aerosols, irritants
III. Biological : pathogens, fungi, other micro organisms
IV. Psychosocial : stress, social problems, accidents at workplace/home,
fear of failure, retrenchment
V. Ergonomic : workplace design, layout of workstation, excessive
manual handling, design of tools
 HIRARC
II. Examples of SAFETY HAZARDS are:

I. Mechanical : cuts, entanglement

II. Heights : falling objects
III. Electrical : shock, burns
IV. Fire/Explosion : burns, injury, death
V. Confined space : poisoning
 HIRARC
Risk assessment can be achieved by:

- Gathering information about each hazard

identified
- Using of the information to assess the
likelihood and consequence of each hazard
- Producing a qualitative or quantitative risk
table
Hazard identification
1. work place inspections
2. task safety analysis or job hazard analysis
3. preliminary investigations
4. potential accident factors
5. failure analysis
6. accident and incident investigations.
Risk Assessment

Consideration of the possible results of someone being exposed to

a hazard and the likelihood of this occurring. A risk assessment
assists in determining:
- How severe a risk is
- Whether existing control measures are effective
- What action should be taken to control a risk
- How urgently action needs to be taken.
QUALITATIVE HAZARDS ASSESSMENT
QUALITATIVE HAZARDS ASSESSMENT
 Risk Assessment
• Prioritize : categorizing the hazards into different groups
• Note that we cannot control all hazards due to limited
resources
• Select certain groups for risk elimination, reduction and
control
Control Measures
Elimination or inactivation can be carried out:

- At source : The closer the better, applying engineering

control

- At the path of worker : Between the source and worker

- At the level of the worker : PPE, but least desirable

Effective controls:

• Protect workers from workplace hazards

• Prevent injuries, illnesses, and incidents
• Minimize or eliminate safety and health risks
• Provide workers with safe and healthy working conditions.
Hierarchy of Control
 Hierachy
HierachyIn
InControl
ControlMeasure
Measure
1. ELIMINATE HAZARDS EG. CHANGE NOISY EQUIPMENT, PURCHASE PRE-CAST
ITEMS, REMOVE EQUIPMENTS IMMEDIATELY
If it is not practical, then
2. SUBSTITUTE TO LESS RISK EG. LIFT LIGHTER LOAD, USE LESS HAZARDOUS
ALTERNATIVES - MINIMIZING CHEMICALS, FORKLIFT FROM DEISEL POWERED TO
ELECTRIC, USE VACUUM CLEANER INSTEAD OF BROOM.
If it is not practical, then

3. USE ENGINEERING CONTROLS EG. USE OF TROLLEY TO CARRY HEAVY OBJECTS,

INSTALLED GUARD AROUND ROTATING MACHINE
If it is not practical, then
4. USE ADMINISTRATIVE EG USE JOB ROTATION, SHORTER TASK, ENSURE
CONTROLS EQUIPMENT ARE MAINTAINED REGULARLY, SAFETY WORK
CULTURE, TRAINING
If it is not practical, then
5. USE PERSONEL PROTECTIVE EG USE EYE AND NOISE PROTECTION, SAFETY HELMET,
EQUIPMENt (PPE) GLOVES
MUST ALWAYS AWARE OF THE OPPORTUNITIES TO GET BETTER CONTROL METHODS

18 3/20/18
Source: JKKP MALAYSIA
Hazard Elimination

 The most effective measure.

 Done by eliminating the hazard completely away from the
workers.
 Example is moving working place from higher level in
construction site to the ground level.
 Another example is to remove damaged office facility in order to
protect workers from injury and ergonomic discomfort
Hazard Substitution
 If a particularly dangerous chemical or work process cannot be completely
eliminated, then try to replace it with a safer substitute.
 There are examples where a material that was thought to be safer was found
to be as bad as, or worse than, the original hazard.
 A classic example is asbestos. Fibreglass has been used as a substitute for
asbestos; however, it is now known that fibreglass is also a hazardous material
and is not a completely safe substitute for asbestos.
 vacuuming up dust instead of sweeping it, or using “wet methods” to control
dust are safer ways to work with dusty materials.
 A substitute may be better than the original hazard, but that does not mean
it is safe.
Engineering Control
 includes designs or modifications to plants, equipment, ventilation systems, and
processes that reduce the source of exposure.
 Examples are self-capping syringe needles, ventilation systems such as a fume hood,
sound-dampening materials to reduce noise levels, safety interlocks, and radiation
shielding.
 Another example is puncture-resistant sharps containers which are leak-proof on the
sides and bottom used to dispose of needles and other sharps.
 Providing appropriate air exchanges in patient care settings, including treatment
rooms.
 Labeling products containing any form of hazards.
Administrative Control
 training, procedure, policy, or shift designs that lessen the threat of a hazard to the
workers.
 Examples of administrative controls include:
o Limited time exposure to hazards
o Written operating procedures,
o Work practices, and
o Safety and health rules for employees.

 Ensuring that all laboratory personnel have been provided with adequate training to
enable them to conduct their duties safely
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

 Last line of defence in protecting workers from hazard, either alone or in additional
with other measures.
 Not the most effective safety measure.
 Engineering controls do not eliminate hazard
 While engineering controls are being developed
 Administrative controls and safe work practices are not sufficient protection, and
 During emergencies.
Types of PPE
 Eye protection
 Face protection
 Hand protection
 Foot protection
 Body protection
 Respiratory protection
 Ear protection