Student RiskAssess:an easy way to meet the safety

requirements of the new Australian Curriculum

Phillip Crisp

EcoSolve Australia Pty Ltd

Advantages of risk assessments

• reduced frequency of injuries to students to school staff

• reduced costs for paperwork, litigation and payouts

• compliance with the law (c.f. industry)• helps maintain variety of chemicals and

equipment• compliance with the Australian Curriculum

Safety requirements in the Australian Curriculum for Science

Years 4-12Students to take increasingly active role in consideration of risk and safetyYears 9 &10“Assess risk” (Content description)“identify potential hazards of chemicals and biological materials . . .” (Elaboration)Years 11 & 12“Conducting risk assessments (Inquiry skill)

Australian Curriculum for Science Implementation dates:

South Australia DECD

2013: Year 8 2014: Year 92015: Year 10

Completion: R-7 in 2015 & 8-12 in 2017

Other States and Territories2012-2014 depending on school system

Student RiskAssess

• fun• interesting• instructive

is a

way to meet the safety requirementsof the Australian Curriculum

RiskAssess

for Staff

“RiskAssess”

for Students

“Student RiskAssess”

Started 2008 NEW in 2013to meet

Aust Curriculum

Student RiskAssess• web-based risk assessment tool • tailored to the school situation• customised for students• provides

electronic templates (AU/ISO) database information on risks (chemical, equipment, biological) equipment ordering lab scheduling

• easy for teachers, especially RA users

Logic• separate sections for student, teacher and

laboratory technician • initial assessment of inherent risk

if low, go to endif medium or more, record control measuresif high or extreme, third reviewer required

• cross-checking by teacher/labtech/reviewer• scheduling and ordering system to save time• inexpensive ($160 + GST per school per year)

Details• access from school/home • nothing to install on computer (instant update)• unlimited number of simultaneous users and

risk assessments (virtually)• minimal data entry• complements MSDS/SDS• continuing input from science staff• multiple backups of data & backup server• support and advice

Electronic devices

• computers • laptops• iPads (and other tablets)• smart phones (iPhones,

Android, etc)

Digital technologies* are emphasised inScience Inquiry Skills, Years 7-10*technology systems that handle digital data including hardware and software for specific purposes

Summary of benefits

• student engagement • uses newest technologies• training in life skills• inexpensive• happy students and teachers!

Work Health & Safety Act 2012. . . a duty . . . to eliminate/minimise risks to

health and safety as far as is reasonably practicable.

. . . taking into account and weighing up all relevant matters including:(a) the likelihood of the hazard or the risk concerned occurring; and(b) the degree of harm that might result from the hazard or the risk. . . .

Part 2, Sections 17 and 18

DECDRisk Management Framework

• Based on ISO 31000 Risk Management• Context, Identify/Analyse/Evaluate/Treat risks• Review risks at least annually• Risk Assessment template + Risk Matrix

DECD, Procedure No: 07/4385Risk Management Framework, 1 Feb 2011.

You should:

• identify

• analyse

• evaluate

• treat

risks

Before: Establish the context

After: Monitor and review

Always: Consult and communicate

Riskassessment

Riskcontrol

Risk identification

• history of “accidents” and “near-accidents” at schoolat similar schools

• brainstorming, preferably with colleagues• checklists of possible risks

Risk analysis

To assess the severity of a risk,

you need to consider:

• the consequences of the event, and

• the chance that it will occur (likelihood)

AU ISO 31000:2009 “Risk management”

HB 89:2012 “Risk management guidelines”

Risk evaluation

To evaluate the severity of a risk,you need to use a decision matrix,known as a “risk matrix”.

Severity of a risk is the output of a table,based on:• the consequences of the event, and• the chance that it will occur (likelihood)

Risk treatment

Hierarchy of options:

eliminationsubstitution

isolationengineering

administrationpersonal protective equipment

Advantages of risk assessments

• reduced frequency of injuries to students to school staff

• reduced costs for paperwork, litigation and payouts

• compliance with the law (c.f. industry)• helps maintain variety of chemicals and

equipment

Advantages of a formalised system

• ensures proper consideration of risks and control measures

• standardisation• storage of records for legal purposes• communication between teachers and

laboratory technicians

Is it practical?

Paper-based system NO (almost)

Electronic system YES

Paper-based system

• time consuming • unwieldy forms

many prompts - mostly empty space few prompts - requires knowledge & skill

• non-searchable• difficult to update• storage problems

Electronic system

• relatively rapid • prompts sensitive to context• reduces paper consumption• easy to review and update• easy monitoring• easy storage• demonstrated to work in schools

(e.g. >800 schools in AU,NZ&CA)

RiskAssess• web-based risk assessment tool • customised to the school situation• provides

electronic templates (AU/ISO) database information on risks (chemical, equipment, biological) equipment ordering lab scheduling

• easy sharing of experiment templates for customisation

Logic• separate sections for teacher and laboratory

technician • initial assessment of inherent risk

if low, go to endif medium or more, record control measuresif high or extreme, third reviewer required

• cross-checking by teacher/labtech/reviewer• scheduling and ordering system to save time• inexpensive ($160 per school per year)

Details• access from school/home • nothing to install on computer (instant update)• unlimited number of simultaneous users and

risk assessments (virtually)• minimal data entry• complements MSDS/SDS• student subscriptions for Aust Curriculum• continuing input from science staff• multiple backups of data & backup server• support and advice

Summary of benefits

• safer laboratories • better communication• meets legal requirements• reduced costs• happy lab techs and teachers!

Risk matrix

Consequences

Likelihood

Minor Severe

Likely

Unlikely

x

??

OK = acceptable risk

? = doubtfulCONSIDER THE OPTIONS

x = unacceptable risk

DON’T DO IT!

Code

OK

?

EXPERIMENT

or

ACTIVITY

RISK

ASSESSMENT

Written procedure

Equipment

Materials

Chemicals

Living organisms

People

Potential hazards

Standard operating procedure

Manufacturer User

instructions instructions

Potential hazards

Standard handling procedure

Potential hazards

Standard handling procedure

MSDS

Potential hazards

Standard handling procedure

Potential hazards

Standard handling procedure

Componentrisk assessment

Overallrisk assessment

KEY

Multi-level scale of consequences

• Level 1 : first aid treatment at the school(Minor)

• Level 2: treatment by a doctor(Moderate)

• Level 3: immediate hospitalization(Severe)

Multi-level scale of likelihood

• Level 1: known to commonly occur; not unexpected in the class(Likely)

• Level 2: uncommon, rare, but sufficiently frequent to have been witnessed by self or a known person(Unlikely)

• Level 3: very rare; have heard of it happening; may possibly have been witnessed by self or a known person(Very unlikely)

Risk matrix

Consequences

Likelihood

Minor Moderate Severe

Likely

Unlikely

Veryunlikely

OK x x

? x

??

OK = acceptable risk (low risk)

? = doubtfulCONSIDER OTHER OPTIONS

?? = very doubtfulEither DON’T DO IT orPROCEED WITH GREAT CARE

x = unacceptable risk

DON’T DO IT!

Code

OK

OK

OK

DECDMulti-level scale of consequences

• Level 1 : incident with or without minor injury(Insignificant)

• Level 2: first aid or minor lost time injury(Minor)

• Level 3: serious injury and/or illness(Moderate)

• Level 4: multiple serious injuries(Major)

• Level 5: death of adult or child(Critical)

DECDMulti-level scale of likelihood

• Level 1: less than once in 15 years (possibility < 5%)(Rare)

• Level 2: at least once in 5-15 years (possibility 5-25%) (Unlikely)

• Level 3: at least once in 2-5 years (possibility 25-50%) (Possible)

• Level 4: at least once in a year (possibility 50-75%) (Likely)

• Level 5: multiple times in a year (possibility >75%) (Almost certain)

DECDRiskmatrix

Consequences

Likelihood

Insignificant Minor Moderate Major Critical

Almostcertain

Likely

Possible

Unlikely

Rare Low

Moderate

Moderate

Extreme

Low

Low

Low

Low

Moderate

High

Moderate High

Moderate

Moderate

Low Moderate High

Moderate

ExtremeHigh

High

High

Extreme

High

High