Risk management: techniques and practices

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses about risk management—techniques and practices. Workplace inspections are undertaken with the aim of identifying risks and promoting remedial action. Many different individuals and groups within an organization will, at some time, be involved in a workplace inspection—directors, line managers, safety adviser, supervisors, and safety representatives. Management/worker discussions can also be useful in the identification of risks. Formal discussions take place during meetings of the safety committee with informal discussions occurring during on-the-job contact or in conversations between supervisor and worker. Independent audits can also be used to identify risks. The term “independent” refers to those who are not employees of the organization, but who, from time to time, undertake either general or specific workplace audits or inspections. Hazard and operability studies are useful as a risk identification technique, especially in connection with new designs/processes. The technique was developed in the chemical process industries, and essentially it is a structured, multi-disciplinary brainstorming session involving chemists, engineers, production management, safety advisers, and designers.