Essay Sample on Hazard Identification: Risk Assessment and Mitigation Process

The risk management process begins with the recognition of hazards and their possible damage. Safety risks are then evaluated in terms of possibility and severity, to ascertain the level of safety risk. In case evaluated safety risks are identified to be tolerable, suitable action is taken and the process continues. Finished hazard identifications and safety risk evaluations, as well as mitigation processes, are documented and verified as suitable and form the basis of a safety information management system. In risk management studies, hazards are known to have the capability of causing injury, death, disease, equipment, environmental and property damage (Dalezios, 2017). Hazard identification entails an examination of each work area and works task for the purpose of identifying all the hazards which are 'generic in the job'. Work areas can entail laboratories, workshops, office areas, stores, maintenance settings, teaching spaces, lecture theaters, and other regions where work can be conducted. Risk assessment entails the evaluation of the risks linked to each of the hazards recognized so the nature of the risk can be comprehended. The paper explains the risk assessment process and the mitigation process.

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Need and Importance of Conducting Risk Assessments

The purpose of undertaking a risk assessment is to enable a person to take the measures essential for the safety and health protection. The measures entail prevention of occupational hazards, provision of information to the concerned parties, provision of training and provision of means to execute the essential measures. Whilst the purpose of risk assessment entails the aversion of occupational hazards, while this should often be the objective, it is not always attainable. Where eradication of hazards is not possible, the risks ought to be reduced and the residual hazard controlled. Risk assessment is also a legal requirement and needs to be undertaken before the concerned party completes work on existing, new or unknown sections, processes or materials (Perry, 2003). A good risk assessment will help avert accidents and ill health. Hazards have the power to ruin lives and could also increase costs to businesses through lost output, higher insurance premiums and compensations claims.

A proactive effort to execute risk management systems can avert the majority of incidents that may happen. The risk assessment also helps the interested party to think about the possible harm, identify individuals who may be at risk, safeguard the people at risk, plan the work safely, create improvements, adhere to the law and review the existing controls. Risk assessments should be undertaken to ensure that people are safe. Risk assessments do not require being complex. In most cases, the hazards are few and understandable. Employers are ethically bound to do all they can to ensure that their workers do not suffer accidents or death in the occurrence of the hazard. The risk assessment also ensures avoidance of hefty fines that are caused by health and safety breaches-therefore putting a big emphasis is paramount. In addition, risk assessments are very crucial as they form a key part of an occupational health and safety management plan (Rougier, Sparks & Hill, 2017). Ecclesiastes 11:4 notes, "He who observes the wind will not sow, and he who regards the clouds will not reap." Risk assessment entails the observance of the hazards before they happen. Then the precautions are placed to ensure that the hazard does not cause huge damages. Mitigation process entails looking at the possibility of the risk occurring and then putting measures to control the effects.

How Risk Assessment Is Conducted and What It Should Include

There are no set rules on how a risk assessment ought to be undertaken, yet there are few general principles that ought to be followed. Five steps to risk assessment can be followed to facilitate a proper review.

Stage 1: Identify the Hazards

For proper identification of hazards, it is crucial to comprehend the difference between a 'risk' and a 'hazard'. A hazard has a possibility of causing harm while a risk is the likelihood of that possible harm being realized. Hazards can be recognized by using techniques like walking around the area of interest or asking the employees of that particular site (Islam & Ryan, 2016).

Stage 2: Decide Who Might be Harmed and How

Once the identification of the hazards is done, it is crucial to comprehend the group that can be harmed and how they can be affected.

Stage 3: Evaluate the Risk and Decide on Control Measures

After identification of the hazards and the most vulnerable group, it is crucial to devise strategies that can safeguard the people from potential harm. The hazards can either be eliminated completely or the risks controlled so that the harm is not realized (Nishat, Banwet & Shankar, 2006).

Stage 4: Record Your Findings and Implement Them

The findings ought to be recorded because it is a legal requirement to do so especially when there are more than five people involved. The recording of the findings illustrates the hazards identified, the decision of the people to be harmed and how they can be injured. It also illustrates the plan to eliminate the hazards and risks (Popov, Lyon & Hollcroft, 2016).

Stage 5: Review Your Assessment and Update if Necessary

It is crucial to review the risk assessment and update the aspects when necessary. The risk assessment is a continuous process and ought to be undertaken on an annual basis and certainly more frequently if there has been a significant change in the risk profile (Hockings & Humie, 2009). It is also important to revisit the risk library annually, as hazards and risks may develop and change from year to year.

Best Practices for Conducting Risk Assessment

When undertaking a risk assessment, it is crucial to define what the goals are for and what needs to be done. Risk and vulnerability assessments offer essential information about the potential hazard.

The Decision on Assessment Scope

A risk assessment can encompass a wide range of hazards contingent on the nature of the activity. From the start, the experts involved in undertaking the risk assessment ought to ascertain the areas to address in the assessment. This will be crucial not only in ascertaining the resources and required skills are essential for the evaluation but also to guide the review (Wood, 2014).

Recognition that One Size Does Not Fit All

It is good to note that one-size-fits-all compliance programs are generally impractical and ineffective. That is because some of the most pertinent hazards will differ from one sector to another or even among the most crucial areas. Evaluating hazards requires insights into the mitigation models, best practices and places where they are likely to occur. At a minimum, a suitable risk assessment will entail a review of pertinent materials of the target area and interviews (Ostrom, 2019).

Acquisition of Relevant Materials

A crucial stage of the risk review is to collect and assess all pertinent information of the target area that may be crucial in assessing the hazard. Example of scripts to be evaluated entail; i) hazard planning manuscripts on existing operations and strategic plans; ii) adherence policies and processes; iii) previous risk assessments; iv) investigation reports; v) monetary management resources; vi) list of the main parties. Such assessments can assist organizations in to ascertain their hazard profiles and recognize current weaknesses (Abbott & Hetzel, 2010).

Conduct of Interviews

Interviews are usually a crucial stage in a risk assessment as they assist in the identification of specific hazards. The selection of interviewees will rely on the scope of the evaluation. It will generally emphasize leadership, operational management and where suitable, lower level workers. It is crucial that interviews should be undertaken in-person or on site.

Consider the Scope of Practices

Standards of compliance programs have changed and will continue to evolve with new guidelines and regulatory guidance as well as with patterns in enforcement activities, cases, and best practices. Due to this, organizations ought to be conscious of the stages that others in their sector are taking to address the hazard (Theoharidou, Kotzanikolaou & Gritzalis, 2011).

Mitigation Process

Hazard mitigation process illustrates actions taken to assist or eradicate long-term threats caused by hazards or disasters like earthquakes, flooding, landslides, wildfires or dam failure. State, community and local governments participate in hazard mitigation planning to identify threats and susceptibilities linked to natural disasters and create long-term approaches for safeguarding individuals and property from future hazard occurrences. The process of mitigation entails;

Organize the Planning Process and Resources

At the state, the state or local agencies ought to emphasize on assembling the materials required for a prosperous mitigation planning process. This entails hiring technical expertise, delineating the planning area and identifying major people, neighboring jurisdictions, agencies, enterprises and other shareholders to engage in the process (Hanlon, Brorby & Krishan, 2016). The planning procedure for state and local government must incorporate prospects for the public to participate in the plan.

Evaluate Risks and Capabilities

The government requires recognizing the features and possible repercussions of hazards. It is crucial to comprehend the geographic areas each hazard might affect and what individuals, resources or other materials might be susceptible.

Develop a Mitigation Strategy

The government then establishes priorities and establishes long-term approaches for avoiding or reducing the undesired impacts of disasters. The mitigation strategy deals with how the process of mitigation actions will be executed and imposed (ChePa, Nor & Murad, 2015). Proverbs 27:12 notes, "The prudent sees danger and conceals himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it." The quote informs that people should always be ready for a hazard occurrence.

Adopt and Implement the Plan

Once the adoption plan has been received from the governing agency and approaches it, the mitigation can be implemented. To ensure prosperity, the plan must remain pertinent, living document through the routine maintenance. The state or local agencies need to undertake periodic assessments to review changing threats and priorities and make revisions when required (Bahn, 2013). 2 Timothy 1:7 notes, "For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of influence and love and self-control." The quote informs that people are talented and have the capability to understand the prevalence of hazards or risks. The risk assessments are expected to identify the measures which need to be taken to adhere to statutory guidelines.

Governing Legislation or Policy Guideline

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has stipulated the laws, policies, and regulations that guide the states and local governments. The Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act as adjusted by the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000, offers the legal foundations for the state, community and local governments to conduct risk-based strategies to decreasing natural hazard risks through mitigation process. The Stafford Act necessitates state and local agencies to develop and implement FEMA-approved hazard mitigation approaches as a condition for acquiring particular types of non-emergency disaster assistance (Aven, 2016). The Stafford Act allows;