Skip to main content
Back

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

  • Complete Review of Section

    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

  • 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

  • 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.

    Hazard Risk Assessment

Controlling Risks

  • 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.

  • Test your knowledge. Take the quiz!

    Question icon

    Question 1 of 1:

    What are the four main types of hazards?

    Quiz Complete!

    You got out of correct.

Move on to the next topic: Health and Safety Meetings