Hazard Assessment and Risk Management

1. Hazard Assessment 2. Risk Assessment

• Potential Hazard • Risk = Hazard x Exposure x Assumptions

o Chemical / Biological / Radioactive o Identify Hazards
o Physical / Natural / Situational o Evaluate Potential Exposure
o Knowledge / Training / Experience o Recognize Assumptions
o Behavior
• Acceptable Risk Perspectives
• Routes of Exposure o Administration / Management
o Inhalation Lungs ƒ No Liability vs. Liability
o Ingestion Mouth o EHS / Safety
o Absorption Through Skin / Eyes ƒ Probability vs. Severity
o Body Contact On the Skin o Laboratory / Work
o Injection Punctures or Cuts ƒ Benefit vs. Consequence

• Incident Causes • Safety Standards

o Hazards Not Understood o Permissible Exposure Limits
o Unsafe Acts / Carelessness / Shortcuts o Regulatory Standards / Interpretations
o Distraction / Stress / Exhaustion o Institutional Policies / Procedures
o Improperly Used Safety Equipment o Prudent Practices

3. Risk Management 4. Risk Factors, Examples of

• Reduce Risk and Maximize Benefit • Personal Safety

o Eliminate Unnecessary Exposure
o Prudent Practices
o As Low As Reasonably Achievable (ALARA)
o Liability
ƒ Institutional / Professional / Personal
• General Safety
• Hazard Communication (HAZCOM)
o Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)
o Standardized Safety Forms / Policies
o Formal / Informal training and education
o Prudent Practices not followed, not enforced
o Improper use of Personal Protective Equipment
o Improper use of safety equipment
o Disabling or circumventing safety devices
o Chemicals not segregated by hazard class
o Chemical containers not labeled
o Improper sharps disposal (glass/plastic/metal)
o Blocked aisles and congested work spaces

• Hazard Controls / Protective Barriers • Compliance

o Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) o No documented safety procedures
o Engineering Controls o Minimal training conducted or documented
o Administrative Controls o Out of date chemical inventory lists
o Material Safety Data Sheets not available