Risk Assessment Communication Challenges at the Organizational Level

Paul EspositoPresident, STAR Consultants

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STAR> Overview

STAR has been in business since 1997 ◦ Safety Through Accountability and Recognition

STAR specialized is◦ Culture Improvements◦ Management Systems ◦ Risk Assessments◦ Leading Metric’s◦ Strategic Planning ◦ HSE Coaching

Paul Esposito is a CIH and CSP, with over 34 years of experience.

Mr. Esposito is a member of ASSE’s Risk Assessment Institute and a developer and presenter of their 40 Hour Risk Assessment Certificate Program.

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Copyright

Copyright and Use Restrictions

This presentation (materials) is copyrighted by STAR and Paul A. Esposito. Other than the exceptions listed below, no part of these materials may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior consent of the copyright holder. Students may reproduce the material for internal, non-commercial purposes. Unauthorized copying of the presentation, or any use of the material through modification, merging, or inclusion with other printed material as a commercial product to be resold is prohibited. Any use for an external client or setting must acknowledge the origin of the document and the STAR and Paul A. Esposito copyright.

Permissions granted to SRA and ASSE for printing and distribution.

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Outline

Problems with Risk Communication Getting a Handle on Incident Causal Data Choosing a Risk Assessment Method Performing the Risk Assessment with

Worker Involvement Defining Metrics to

◦ involve management and workers and ◦ drive accountability and recognition

Lessons Learned

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Background

An R&D facility, with over 3000 personnel and 8 departments

Incidence rates have been flat for a few years

Common practices have accepted risks Incident analysis seldom identified causal

factors and root causes. Causation seemed to be random.

Incident corrective actions were recorded and communicational but never closed.

Management was focused on measuring accidents, not prevention or risk reduction.

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Risk Communication

Problem ◦ Ineffective hazard identification and risk

analysis◦ One way communication (Training) was

ineffective in motivating safe behaviors Worker and Management

◦ Roles and responsibilities for communication were delegated – thus, came with no authority

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Incident Causation Data

Three factors seem to be common◦ Ineffective Hazard identification and risk

analysis ◦ No accountability to close action plans from

Incident analysis or Hazard analysis

◦ No accountability metrics to measure conformance

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Risk Assessment Model

Hazard Checklist◦ Common language◦ Common process

Hierarch of controls centric◦ Risk reduction (residual risk) tied to type of

control and its effectiveness Critical to Safety (CTS) Definition

◦ Focus of communication, inspections, conformance rate and accountability Supervisor – performance Worker – recognition

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Hazard Checklist?

Does the presence of chemicals or substances pose a threat to the safety and health of the workers?

Is there an environment capable of producing an unwanted release of energy?

Could the employee overexert from pushing, pulling, bending, twisting, repetitive motion, vibration or lifting?

Is there potential for a person or object slipping, tripping, or falling due to gravity?

With Employee

Involvement

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Hazard Checklist

Is the workplace configured so that workers can be caught in, on, between equipment and that employee can strike an object?

Can an employee be struck by an object or be struck by a moving mechanical object?

Is the environment hazardous to safety and/or health?

Is the task designed to be either too complicated, too simple or contribute to human error?

Over 32 hazard aspects

listed

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Hierarchy of Control

Mitigation reduction factors quantified, based in part on ANSI B11.0

Hierarchy of Controls Mitigation Reduction

Factor

Most

Preferred

Least Preferred

Risk Avoidance: Prevent entry of hazards into a workplace by selecting and incorporating appropriate technology and work methods criteria during the design processes.

100 %

Eliminate: Eliminate workplace and work methods risks that have been discovered.

100%

Substitution: Reduce risks by substituting less hazardous methods or materials.

80-90% severity

Engineering Controls: Incorporate engineering controls/safety devices.

40-70% Likelihood

Warning: Provide warning systems. 20% Likelihood

Administrative Controls: Apply administrative controls (the organization of work, training, scheduling, supervision, etc.).

20% Likelihood

30% with inspection

Personal Protective Equipment: Provide Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

10% Likelihood – Multiple

5% likelihood- Single

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Critical To Safety

CTS◦ Initial high severity◦ Residual high risk

Control added to inspections

Conformance rate calculated by department

Used for performance assessment and recognition

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Department Scorecard

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Lessons Learned

Communication needed◦ Common language◦ Three way, closed loop

Metrics Accountability Recognition

◦ Employee engagement was also key Required a checklist and semi-quantitative mitigation reduction strategy

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SummaryASSE has begun a 40 hour certificate program in Risk Assessment

First presentation will be at ASSE Seminarfest in February 2015

Thank You!!!

Paul Esposito, CIH, CSP

Paul.esposito@starconsultants.net

www.starconsultants.net