#NIFS - HAZARD AND RISK MANAGEMENT Article by PJ Mohan., Sr.Faculty NIFS

Industrial Hazards are potential harmful conditions that are associated with hazardous raw materials, processes, and work methods. The possibility of these conditions resulting in adverse outcomes coupled with uncertainty and magnitude forms the basis for potential risk which is either high or low. Organizations take up the systematic study of all activities to understand hazards and quantifying the risks associated with the hazards so that appropriate actions are taken at each and every step and controls are kept in place to mitigate the risks.

The next step is to ensure that everyone understands the hazards and risk associated with all the activities they are involved and they take appropriate control measures as per the documented procedures. The top management has to ensure the following for implementation of proper risk control measures which are:

1)     Training of employees: Employees should be well aware of the risks they are exposed to and the harm they might cause, for this they should be trained continuously on controls needed to the taken. Work instructions, standard operating procedures should incorporate these controls.

2)     Communication of risks:   Understanding of hazards and risks and implementation of controls will vary from individual to individual based on their diverse backgrounds, the language and experience can act as a barrier in properly understanding the risks, training has to be designed taking these factors into consideration, classroom training and on the job training has to be taken up continuously.

3)    Safety Signage: These act as an effective visual communication channel in understanding hazards, they are to be prominently displayed at locations like walkways, near machinery, near equipment etc.

4)    Audits/Monitoring:  The effectiveness of controls to be checked and any deviations to be immediately noted and reviewed in the committee meetings where all hierarchical representatives are present. Controls should always be directed in the enveloping the source of a hazard rather than enveloping the individual, for example, Isolating the risk by use of guards and protection of machinery parts rather than  PPE’s.