WORKPLACE

ENVIRONMENT
ASSESSMENT
(WEA)
WORKPLACE ENVIRONMENT ASSESSMENTS

- HELPS PREVENT INJURIES AND ILLNESS.

- IT IS NOTHING MORE THAN A CAREFUL EXAMINATION
OF WHAT, IN YOUR WORK, COULD CAUSE HARM TO
PEOPLE SO THAT YOU CAN WEIGH UP WHETHER YOU
HAVE TAKEN ENOUGH
PRECAUTION OR SHOULD DO MORE TO PREVENT THEM.

.
Cause of ACCIDENT AND ILL HEALTH
- RUIN LIVES AND AFFECTS YOUR BUSINESS TOO
. IF;
- OUTPUT IS LOST,
- MACHINERY IS DAMAGED,
- INSURANCE COST INCREASE OR
-YOU HAVE TO GO TO COURT.
 DOLE-BWC requirement;
YOU ARE LEGALLY REQUIRED TO ASSESS
THE RISK IN YOUR WORKPLACE ENVIRONMENT and
comply with the standard..
FIVE (5) STEPS
OF
WEA
STEP 1

SELECTION
SELECT AN AREA, TASK OR ACTIVITY

Priorities should be given to areas, tasks, or

activities with the potential of causing injury to
personnel, damage to equipment or structures,
loss of material, or reduction of ability to
perform a prescribed function, based on:
 Past experience (e.g. accidents, near misses, complaints)

 Concerns Expressed By Staff

 Requirements of Philippine Legislation or company’s

policies and procedures (e.g. workplace changes)

 Request from the various Health and Safety Teams, etc.

STEP 2

HAZARD
IDENTIFICATION
Do know the hazard, you can assess or
control the risk it will create if not
attended.
The types of hazards in a workplace can be
group as follows :

•BIO-CHEMICAL AND POSTURAL

Example:
•Repetitive body movements for more than 1 hour at a time.
Reaching forward more than 30 cm away from body.
•Body twisting or bending while handling materials.
Unbalanced or uneven lifting or carrying.
•Awkward grip on objects being handled (e.g. shifting,
smooth, slippery)
•PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT AND WORKPLACE DESIGN

Example:
•Obstacles in passageways, near equipment, risk of
collision with stationary objects, etc.
Inadequate work platforms, stairs, ladders, guardrails,
harnesses, etc for work at height.
•Exposure to harmful noise levels.
Mismatch between plant, workplace, activity or task
and use r physical characteristics (height, strength,
speed, mobility, fitness, etc).
•Body parts coming in contact with hot components
during testing, inspection, operation, maintenance,
cleaning or repair.
•MECHANICAL
Example:
•Hair, clothing, jewelry, rags, etc., liable to become
entangled in moving components.
Uncontrolled or unexpected movement of machinery,
components, work pieces vehicles or loads.
•Body parts coming in contact with moving, sharp, hot,
or "live” components during testing, inspection,
operation, maintenance, cleaning or repair.
•Persons or body parts trapped or sheared between
moving component & fixed plant, materials or structures.
Persons being injured by damaged, poorly maintained or
unguarded equipment (including electrical).
•ELECTRICAL

Example:
•Contact with "live” components during testing,
inspection, operation, maintenance, cleaning or repair.
•Contact with overhead power lines.
•Contact with underground power cables.
•Explosion or ignition of electrical components, etc.
•Unauthorized access to electrical services, switchboards,
controls, etc.
•CHEMICALS AND TOXICITY

Example:
Explosion or ignition of gases vapors liquids, dusts, etc.
Exposure to toxic concentrations of chemicals (skin,
inhalation, ingestion, etc).
Exposure to oxygen-depleted atmospheres.
•Damage to gas lines, compressed gas cylinders, chemical
storage containers, etc.
•BIOLOGICAL AND HUMAN

Example:
Exposure to venomous or dangerous animals.
Exposure to toxic natural substances (plant, mushrooms,
gases, etc).
•Exposure to (potentially) infectious substances.

•Accidental collision with another person.

•Assault by another person.
•ORGANIZATIONAL AND PROCEDURAL ARRANGEMENTS

Example:
Insufficient first-aid equipment or trained personnel.
Insufficient evacuation, emergency or rescue planning
and facilities.
Access to hazardous equipment by unauthorized or
untrained people.
Insufficient job rotation, rest breaks.
Inappropriate, insufficient or poorly maintained personal
protective equipment.
•PSYCHO-SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT AND TASK DESIGN

Example:
Insufficient consideration given to the probability of
human error and its consequences.
Mismatch between task demands and workers'/people's
behavior or capabilities.

Insufficient consideration given to consultation prior to

workplace changes.
•NATURAL ENVIRONMENT

Example:
Drowning.
Persons becoming lost or ill in remote locations.
Exposure to extreme environmental conditions
(hot, cold, dry, wet, snowy, stormy, etc).
Possibility of tree limbs falling.
Lightning in exposed locations.
HAZARD IDENTIFICATION TECHNIQUES

•PRELIMINARY HAZARD ANALYSIS TECHNIQUE

•SCENARIO CREATION TECHNIQUE

•WHAT IF TECHNIQUE
•INTERVIEW TECHNIQUE

•CAUSE AND EFFECT TECHNIQUE

•TRAINING REALISM ASSESSMENT TECHNIQUE

•ACCIDENT/INCIDENT INVESTIGATION TECHNIQUE

- CAUSE FACTORS OF ACCIDENT
Human Error
Material Failures
Equipment Malfunction
Environmental Conditions
- ROOT SOURCE
Individual Failure
Leader Failure
Training Failure
Standard Failure
Support Failure
STEP 3

RISK
ASSESSMENT
Risk assessments are based on 2 factors:

FREQUENCY

SEVERITY
EXPOSURE
FREQUENCY
PROBABILITY RISK
SEVERITY
FREQUENCY

The likely frequency of harm is itself based on 2 considerations:

•EXPOSURE •PROBABILITY
Extraordinary Exceptional
Infrequent Could Occur
Occasional Might Occur
Frequent Probable
Routine Expected
 Probability
Exposure Could Might
Exceptional Probable Expected
Occur Occur
Extraordinary Rare Rare Unlikely Unlikely Possible
Infrequent Rare Unlikely Unlikely Possible Possible
Occasional Unlikely Unlikely Possible Possible Likely
Frequent Unlikely Possible Possible Likely Likely
Routine Possible Possible Likely Likely Nearly
Certain
Frequency
SEVERITY

The likely severity of harm relates to the worst injury that

would normally be expected to result from an accident
involving the hazard under assessment. It must take into
consideration the profile of the people likely to be exposed
to the hazard. It does not include the possibility for freak
events or far-fetched scenarios.

Insignificant: no injury (mishap, near-miss)

Minor: first-aid treatment only
Moderate: medical treatment required
Serious: serious eye, head or spinal injury;
permanent partial disability
Catastrophic: permanent total disability, death(s)
 RISK

FREQUENCY
SEVERITY NEARLY
RARE UNLIKELY POSSIBLE LIKELY
CERTAIN
Insignificant Disregard Very Low Low Medium Significant
Minor Very Low Low Medium Significant High
Moderate Low Medium Significant High High
Serious Medium Significant High High Extreme
Catastrophic Significant High High Extreme Extreme
RISK
3 TYPES OF RISK ASSESSMENT
1. QUICK RISK ASSESSMENT
Used when the task or activity to be performed is simple or
straightforward and there is little time available for planning.
It involves mental application and is best used at individual
level to deal with changing situations or environments.

2. DELIBERATE RISK ASSESSMENT

Used for tasks or activities that are moderately complex or
with significant risks. Time is available for planning and
detailed co-ordination is required to ensure smooth
execution of the tasks/activities.

3. IN-DEPTH RISK ASSESSMENT

Used when the tasks or activities involved are complex,
large scale or high risks. It requires input from subject
matter experts and amble time is available for detailed
planning and co-ordination, which may involve several
parties. The task or activity is normally forecasted and
is executed well after 48 hours from the time of planning.
STEP 4

RISK CONTROL
OPTIONS
&
DECISIONS
1. Urgent action is required for risks assessed as extreme.
The actions required may include:
instructions for the immediate end of the work, process,
activity, etc.
isolation of the hazard until more permanent measures
can be implemented.

2. Documented control plans with responsibilities and

completion dates are required for high and significant
risks.

3. The risk control hierarchy ranks risk control measures

in decreasing order of effectiveness. Risk control
measures should always aim as high in the list as
practicable.
Control of any given risk generally involves a number
of measures drawn from the various options (except if
option 1 is selected).

RISK CONTROL HIERARCHY

•Elimination of hazard

•Substitution of hazard

•Engineering controls
•Administrative controls
•Personal protective equipment
REMINDER:
•Create as much risk control options as possible and
then select those that best control risks without
significantly impeding the operations objectives.
• finding the proper balance between risk control
and mission needs.
Risk decision making Requirement
•should be made at the appropriate
level - high enough to tap the experience and
responsibility of those making the decision, and low
enough to give personnel growth.
RISK CONTROL IMPLEMENTATION

•Integrate controls into

standard operating procedures,
operational plans,
operational directives,
lesson plans,
training directives or instructions.
• must be effectively communicated to all personnel,
especially those responsible for
implementing the controls.
STEP 5

SUPERVISION
&
EVALUATION
•To assure effective effort in supervision of
risk controls
•provide feedback on the effectiveness
of risk controls.
SUMMARY

Step 1
Selection

Step 5 Step2
Supervise & Hazard
Evaluate The 5-steps Workplace Identification
Environment Assessment

Step 4 Step 3
Risk Control Risk
Assessment
THANK
YOU !!!