In order to ensure the health and safety of employees, it is important for companies to conduct a risk assessment. A detailed guide about EHS risk assessment can be found below.
What is EHS?
EHS stands for ‘Environment, Health and Safety. It refers to the management of potential hazards that exists in the environment to human health or safety. This can be done by taking proactive measures to protect employees during their work period.
Risk Assessment Definition
EHS risk assessment is a method used by companies to identify, assess and control risks posed to employees’ health or safety during their work periods. The aim of this process is to prevent injury or avoid loss under any circumstances (including possible or actual events). Before conducting an EHS risk assessment, it is important for companies to determine their purpose as well as specific objectives so they will know what they are focusing on. Moreover, there are rules and regulations regarding EHS risk assessment, which need to be followed.
What is EHS Risk Assessment Procedure?
There are 6 steps in the EHS risk assessment procedure. They include:
Identifying Hazards
Evaluating Hazards
Controlling Hazards
Operating Procedures
Evaluate Work Practices and Conditions
Monitoring Employee Health and Safety
As discussed briefly above, there are 6 steps of the process. We will discuss each of them in depth below.
1) Identify Potential Hazards
It is important for companies to identify potential hazards that may exist around the workplace so they can take proactive steps to control them before they harm or result in injuries or loss to employees or third parties. In this step, it is important to look at the potential hazards that employees face during their work period. The following are some examples of potential workplace hazards:
Physical Hazards
Noise and Vibration
Chemical and Biological Agents
Physical Agents
Biohazards
2) Evaluating the Risk of Each Hazard
Once companies have identified potential hazards in the workplace, they need to assess how risky each hazard is. This can be done by considering a number of factors such as severity, likelihood, and controllability. In EHS risk assessment, this should be done for every single hazard that has been identified before moving on to other steps.
3) Controlling the Hazards
After evaluating the risks associated with each hazard, it is time for companies to determine the best way to control them. This will be done by taking appropriate action to reduce or eliminate the threat associated with each hazard. If it is not possible to completely eliminate the risk, companies can implement measures or equip their employees with personal protective equipment or machinery so they can work in a safer environment and avoid injury. The following are some examples of controlling hazards:
Barriers
Warning Signs
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Engineering Controls
4) Developing Operating Procedures
Since EHS risk assessment aims to protect employees from harm at all times, it is important for companies to develop and implement operating procedures in accordance with standards and regulations in order for their employees to operate safely and efficiently in the workplace.
Conclusion
This detailed guide about EHS risk assessment provides a comprehensive overview of the process, from beginning to end. It’s an invaluable resource for safety professionals who want to learn more about how to conduct a risk assessment and protect workers from potential hazards in the workplace. We hope you find it helpful!
