Occupational Safety and health is an important and often overlooked facet in the management of the workforce. Once such factor of this practice is risk management - of the working environment and practices of workers.

"A construction worker was yesterday crushed to death and three others injured when an embankment under which they were digging a foundation for an apartment complex collapsed on Donhead Avenue in Liguanea, St Andrew." - The Jamaica Observer, Tuesday, March 11.

"A man yesterday fell about 100 yards from the roof of the Pavillion Mall in Half-Way Tree while effecting repairs to the leaking roof." - The Jamaica Observer, Friday, October 12, 2007.

"A family is mourning the loss of their beloved relative after he died in hospital on Sunday from injuries he sustained inside a mechanical concrete mixer at Newport West in Kingston. McKenzie was cleaning the inside of the concrete mixer when it was switched on." - The Gleaner, Tuesday, February 27, 2007.

Work-related accidents

The International Labour Organisation (ILO) estimates that in the Latin America and Caribbean alone, 36 work-related accidents occur every minute and 300 workers die every day as a result of these accidents. However, accidents don't just happen; they are caused by unsafe acts or unsafe conditions. Exposing yourself to high-risk situations on the job should not be "all in a day's work" - risks can and should be managed in the workplace.

Risk management is the process of identifying hazards, anticipating and assessing risks and implementing proactive measures to control and reduce them - the first and most important step being the identification of hazards.

What are hazards?

A hazard is anything that may cause harm, such as chemicals, electricity, working on ladders or even an open drawer, while risk is defined as the chance, high or low, that somebody could be harmed by a hazard, together with an indication of how serious the harm could be. (Source: Health and Safety Executive, www.hse.gov.uk).

Improper hazard identification can severely undermine even the best risk-management efforts, thus, proper identification is key to any risk-management process. Having identified the risks and those affected by them, risk may be managed with a view to keep the chances of inflicting harm remote. The ILO, in its report for World Day for Safety and Health at Work - 2008, recommends four key steps to reduce risks:

1.	Eliminate or minimise risks at source
2.	Reduce risks through engineering controls or other physical safeguards
3.	Provide safe working procedures to reduce risks further
4.	Provide, wear and maintain personal protective equipment.

These steps also indicate a hierarchy of control. The first step should always be an attempt to remove the hazard altogether. This may be done through substitution with a less hazardous material or an alternative work process and procedures. If this is not feasible, then risks may be reduced through engineering controls, such as ventilation, sound barriers or guard rails.

Safe work practices can also mitigate risk, as each worker has a personal responsibility for safety and thereby, risk management. A permit required confined space procedure prevents worker exposure to hazardous gases and allows for non-entry rescue if necessary.

Last line of defence

The final and last line of defence is personal protective equipment (PPE). Though seemingly popular, PPE is the least effective method of controlling your risk at work. PPE must be appropriate for the hazard it is protecting against and must be used and maintained properly in order to be effective. It should be used only when all other efforts have been exhausted.

Even if you are not employed in a heavy industrial setting, there may be hazards to which you are exposed at work. Always remember to play it SAFE.

The MIAS is a non-profit organisation of the University of the West Indies, Pure & Applied Sciences Department, offering analytical, technical and Web services and specialised science projects. If you have any question or comments about these articles, please email: mias@uwimona.edu.jm or contact the MIAS Analytical Services Division at 970-2042 or 512-3067 for enquires on services offered.

Source: Nova Scotia Public Service Commission at

http://www.gov.ns.ca/psc/pdf/Corporate%20OHS/Hazard%20ID%20Materials/Participant/Hazard%20ID%20Power%20Point.pdf

1. Non-adjustable chair no back support - back pain; musculoskeletal problems

2. Monitor is too low - neck and shoulder pain

3. Too close to monitor - awkward posture, eye strain

4. Reaching for mouse - hand, wrist, shoulder pain

5. Box on floor - trip hazard