Objective

General Objective

The Hazard Identification, Risk Assessment and Risk Control (HIRARC) is a study for
occupational safety and health evaluation which has been conducted on the staff from
respective units including of Unit Kualiti Air Minum, Unit Keselamatan dan Keselamatan
Makanan, Unit Inspektorat dan Perundangan and Administrative Units at Pejabat
Kesihatan Bahagian Mukah.This is in conjunction to help increasing the awareness of the
management and safety officer on the existing hazards. The results attained from this
study can be used as a guideline to minimize the associated risk and increase the safety
of the workplace and work process.

Thus, the specific objective for the HIRARC are as follows :-

a. To identify all the factors that may causes hazards from both safety and health to
the employees based on observation using standard checklist and interviews with
the employees.
b. To estimate what are the risk of those hazards that would actually giving harms to
the employees in the circumstances of a particular case and the possible severity
that could occur.
c. To perform a job hazard analysis to classify the hazards and the causes followed
by an evaluation of associated risk using a standard scales for risk assessment.
d. To assess the current risk control measures used by the workplace for a
mitigation.
e. To plan and introduce a preventive measures to ensure that the risks are
controlled at all times in the workplace.
Methodology

This chapter describes the methodology that was used to identify the hazards
followed by risk assessments to improve the safety of employees in the workplace. The
methodology was divided into three sections which is :-

1. Hazard identification,
2. Risk assessment
3. Recommendation for risk control measures.

In general, the common HIRARC form from Department of Safety & Health was used
to identify, collect and analyze all the above parameters. In this study, the form is used to
collect and identify all of the parameters shown above while the data collection was done
by interviewing the employees and staff who work is different units in a workplace which
is Unit Kawalan Mutu Air Minum, Unit Keselamatan dan Kualiti Makanan, Unit Inspektorat
dan Perundangan and Administrative Unit, Pejabat Kesihatan Bahagian Mukah. Several
site visits were also conducted to achieve data collection.

The aim of HIRARC is to find out every parameter that is considered as a hazard to
reduce the level of risk and increase the safety. Therefore, this study has implement a
process to identify the hazard, risk assessment and also risk control measures. The flow
chart of the process to identify those parameters are shown below.

Hazard identification
Workplace Audit
based on Hazard
(Observation,
Identification
Inspection, Interview)
Checklist

Job hazard analysis Reviewing existing

and planning a accident incident
current control investigation report
measures and safety procedure

Figure 1 : Method of hazard identification

 Identify the Identify the
Likelihood of severity of
Occurence hazard

Risk matrix Analysing a risk

ranking assesment

Figure 2 : Method of risk assessment

Identify the source Identify the Engineering

point of the hazard severity of hazard Control

Uses of Protective
Adminstrative
Personal
Control
Equipment

Figure 3 : Risk Control Measures Implementation

Method for hazard identification, risk assessment and risk control measures.

1. Method for Hazard Identification

In this study, hazard identification referred to identification of undesired events leading

to hazard occurrence. Several techniques were used to complete the hazard
identification at the study area. The following methods were used to identify the hazards
associated with each job task at the studied area

1.1 Workplace inspection (observation and interview for job hazard analysis)

1.1.1 Observation

Visits were conducted to each identified workplace. Inspections were used as tools
for assessing workplace hazard. In this study, inspection was a general walk- around
inspection at the workplace condition and work process has been conducted to identify
any hazard occurrence. Worksite observation was crucial because it is the most effective
tool used to identify behaviors that related to workplace injuries. It shows how these
behaviors would interact with the hazardous environment.

1.1.2 Interview

An interview was conducted in private with the handling staffs from each of the
respective units. This will allowed to collect more information from the employees
themselves about the work process that they conduct and what health and safety impact
that has occurs during the work process. History and records of last accidents during the
work process in their respective workplace are also been gained to look up the past
records of existing hazards occurs during the work process.

1.2 Hazard classification and risk assessment

Hazard classification is done through job hazard analysis. The identified hazards
were categorized as either safety or health hazard followed by classification into
biological, chemical, ergonomic, physical, mechanical, physiological and electrical
hazards.

1.2.1 Job Hazard Analysis (JHA)

The job hazard analysis helps in identifying hazards associated with each
particular job task. In this study, JHA was conducted by breaking down the activities of
each work process in different respective units, according to job tasks, followed by
identifying the potential hazards related to each job task. This provides a way to eliminate
or control the related hazards and reduce the risks. It helps in implementing control
measures and avoiding the injuries to employees.
 2. Method for risk assessment

Risk assessment is done to determine the likelihood and severity of the

accident/event sequences in order to prioritize identified hazards. Risk assessment can
be done by quantitative, qualitative, or semi quantitative approaches. This study is done
quantitatively for better results. Quantitative analysis gives value to risk in numerical
terms and not the descriptive scales which used in qualitative and semi-quantitative
analysis. Both severity and likelihood are given values.

2.1 Risk matrix ranking

2.1.1 Likelihood of an occurrence

In this study area, the value depended on the likelihood of an event happening.
Assessing likelihood in the plant was based on worker experience, analysis or
measurement. Likelihood levels ranged from 1 to 5.

2.1.2 Severity of hazard

Severity could be divided into five categories. Severity was based upon an increasing
level of severity to an individuals health, the environment, or to property. Severity levels
ranged from 1 to 5

2.1.3 Risk assessment

For risk analysis that used likelihood and severity in the quantitative method, presenting
results in a risk matrix is an effective way to show the risk in a workplace. Risk is
calculated using the following formula:

L x S = Relative Risk

L = Likelihood

S = Severity

The risk matrix table used in this study are shown as below.

Severity (S)
Likelihood (L) 1 2 3 4 5
5 5 10 15 20 25
4 4 8 12 16 20
3 3 6 9 12 15
2 2 4 6 8 10
1 1 2 3 4 5

Figure 4 : Risk Matrix Table

The relatives risk value can be used to prioritize necessary actions to effectively manage
work place hazards. The table below determines priority based on following ranges.

Risk Description Action

A high risk requires immediate action to
control the hazard as detailed in the hierarchy
15-25 High of control. Actions taken must be
documented on the risk assessment form
including date for completion
A medium risk requires a planned approach
to controlling the hazard and applies
5-12 Medium temporary measure if required. Actions taken
must be documented on the risk assessment
form including date for completion
A risk identified as low may be considered a
acceptable and further reduction may not be
necessary. However, is the risk can be
1-4 Low
resolved quickly and efficiently, control
measures should be implemented and
recorded

Figure 5 : Risk Matrix Description and Actions on Scaled Risk

Hazards evaluated as High Risk require immediate actions to resolve or reduce the risk
to life safety and/or the environment. Personnel responsible for taking required action
should do the follow-up inspections to ensure the effectiveness of the implemented
control measures.
 3. Methods for Risk Controls

In this study, four major categories of risk control methods are applied includes the
elimination or substitution at source of hazard, engineering control, administrative control
and usage of personal protective equipment to regulate, reduce or prevent the hazards.
The details of control methods are as bellow:

3.1 At the source of the hazard

Implementation of elimination and substitution parameters at the source of the hazard is

one of the control methods to control hazards by in the workplace.

a) Elimination - Getting rid of a hazardous job, tool, process, machine or substance

is perhaps the best way of worker protection.

b) Substitution -Controls must protect workers from repetitive and any newly created
hazard.

3.2 Engineering controls

Engineering controls prevent and reduce the discharge of hazards into the working
atmosphere through mechanical modification of machinery or processes. This is solely
dependent on the type of hazards as different factors of engineering control can be
applied at the workplace. Table 3.1 shows some different types of engineering controls.

Parameters Remark

Jobs and processes can be reworked for better safety. For

Redesign
example, coolbox can be made easier to hold and lift.

If elimination or replacement is impossible, the hazard can

Isolation sometimes be isolated, contained or otherwise kept away from
workers.

Barriers A hazard can be blocked before it reaches workers.

Figure 6 : Engineering Control Parameters

3.3 Administrative controls

Administrative controls include various policies and requirements that are recognized at
an administrative level. Administrative controls implemented by the authority
(Management, Safety department, safety committee or safety officer). The following
parameters can be implemented as an administrative control to minimize and control
risks in working area.

Parameters Remark

Workers can be required to use standardized safety

Safe work practices. The employer is expected to ensure that workers
procedures follow these practices. Work procedures must be periodically
reviewed with workers and updated.

Initial training on safe work procedures and refresher training

Supervision and should be offered. Appropriate supervision will assist workers
training in identifying possible hazards and evaluating work
procedures.

Can reduce worker exposure to a hazard. For example,

workers can be rotated through jobs requiring repetitive
Job rotations tendon and muscle movements to prevent cumulative trauma
injuries. Noisy processes can be scheduled when no one is
in the workplace.

Housekeeping,
Housekeeping includes cleaning, waste disposal and spill
repair and
cleanup. Well maintained tools, equipment and machinery
maintenance
are less likely to cause injury.
programs

Figure 7 : Administrative Control Parameters

4. Personal protective equipment

Usage of personal protective equipment (PPE) is determined according to hazards

identified. PPE should be the last resort, after exhausting all other controls or when more
significant hazard controls are not feasible. However, PPE usage should be mandatory
for employees based on their job task. In this study personal protective equipment control
focus on employee safety by preparing all protection equipment such as Eye and Face,
Head, Foot and Leg, Hand and Arm, Hearing and Body Protection.