What is Risk Management
Risk management involves having a systematic process for addressing hazards in the workplace. It is the process of:
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Identifying any foreseeable hazard - anything in the workplace that has potential to harm anyone at the workplace, eg moving parts in machinery, toxic chemicals, manual handling tasks.
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Assessing the risk from the hazard - finding out how significant the risk is eg will it cause a serious injury, illness or death and how likely is this to occur?
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Eliminating the hazard or if this is not possible, controlling the risk from the hazard - implementing strategies to eliminate or control the hazard eg. design equipment differently, add machine guards, use safer chemicals, providing lifting devices to minimise manual handling or use personal protective equipment.
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Reviewing risk assessment – to monitor and improve control measures and find safer ways of doing things.
Risk Management Guidelines
The University of Wollongong utilises the risk management approach in solving workplace OH&S issues. The Risk Management Guidelines provide information on the following:
- Legislative requirements
- Roles and responsibilities
- Steps in the risk management process
- Implementing risk management
Download the Risk Management Guidelines [pdf - 390kb]
What is a Risk Assessment?
Completing a risk assessment is the best way to document strategies on how a hazard is going to be managed. A risk assessment will incorporate the identification of the hazard, what the level of risk is and what can be done to improve the situation.
More information is available in the Risk Management Guidelines.
Download the Risk Assessment Form [doc-110KB] [pdf-144KB]
Other forms of risk assessments include:
What is a Risk Register?
A risk register is used to help minimise the risk of injury of identified hazards. The risk register acts as a register of all report hazards and incidents reported through the Safety Net reporting system and allows a user to see control measures for dealing with a specific risk.
View the Risk Register
Resolving an OH&S hazard or issue
The following flowchart demonstrates the process for resolving OH&S hazards or issues.
Download Resolving an OH&S Hazard or Issue [pdf - 28kb]
 Need more information? Please refer to the WorkCover FAQ for Risk Management.
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