Managing Risk
Employers are required to maintain a physically and psychologically healthy and safe workplace. Identifying, assessing and controlling hazards is the foundation of workplace health and safety, as required by the Workers Compensation Act and Occupational Helath and Safety Regulations.
Managing Risk Steps
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Managing risk in your clinic involves considering what might cause harm to your staff and determining whether you, as the employer, are taking reasonable steps to prevent that harm from happening.
Be on the Lookout for Hazards
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Identify Hazards in the Workplace
Managing risk begins with identifying workplace hazards, which can be accomplished by:
- Walking through the site to observe how tasks are performed
- Assessing activities, processes, equipment, and substances used by workers
- Consulting workers about any health and safety issues they’ve experienced
- Reviewing incident and first aid records
There are four main categories of hazards: physical, chemical, biological and psychosocial.
Physical Hazards Lifting and handling loads Repetitive motions Slipping and tripping hazards Equipment Ergonomic Fire Electricity (e.g., poor wiring, frayed cords) Excess noise Inadequate lighting Extreme temperatures Vibration Workplace violence (e.g., aggressive language, threats) Lasers Cautery equipment Sharps Chemical Hazards Chemicals (e.g., solvents, cleaners, medications such as antineoplastics, cytotoxic or hazardous drugs) Sterilizing agents (e.g., glutaraldehyde) Bleach Dusts (e.g., bone dust) Smoke Fumes, mists, and vapours Gases (e.g., anesthetic gases or oxygen) Liquid nitrogen Formaldehyde Mercury (e.g., broken thermometers or sphygmomanometers) Hydrogen peroxide Latex Biological Hazards Viruses, bacteria, and fungi (e.g., influenza, varicella, rubeola) Moulds Blood and body fluids (e.g., hepatitis A, B, and C or HIV) Sewage Airborne pathogens Psychosocial Hazards Working conditions (e.g., workload) Stress Fatigue and burnout Working alone Workplace violence Working with chronically ill and dying patients Bullying, embarrassment, and harassment
Hazard Risk Assessment
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Complete Hazard Risk Assessment
After identifying the hazards in your workplace, evaluate the risks they pose to workers. This helps you assign the right level of attention and control to each hazard.
Hazard risk assessments should be completed annually or reviewed sooner if there are any changes in the operations of the business.
Controlling Risks
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Risk Control
After identifying hazards and assessing their risks, the next step is to control them. Prioritize the highest risks. If elimination isn’t possible, implement control measures to minimize them.
The hierarchy of controls can help you select and implement more effective measures to mitigate health and safety risks in your workplace.
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