Safety matters with Dr Paul
Controlling Risk
The Queensland Work Health and Safety Act 2011 places a primary duty of care on a Person Conducting a Business or Undertaking (PCBU) to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety of workers and other people who may be affected from the work carried out as part of the conduct of the business or undertaking (section 19).
The Act specifically requires the PCBU to eliminate risks to health and safety, so far as is reasonably practicable. If elimination is not reasonably practicable, then the PCBU must minimise those risks as far as is reasonably practicable (section 17).
A useful tool for a PCBU to manage health and safety risks is a Hierarchy of Control which applies the principle in the Act. It is a tool in common use by health and safety professionals. The Queensland Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011 specifically requires a PCBU to use a hierarchy of control measures (section 36).
The Hierarchy of Control sets out the stages in the preferred order of implementation when considering how to control workplace risks. Elimination must be the first control considered. The diagram illustrates the requirements in the Regulations.
Stages higher in the hierarchy are generally more effective in minimising risks. Implementation of the higher stages should be considered before considering the lower stages.
Disposing of a dangerous piece of equipment or a hazardous chemical that are no longer required are examples of eliminating risks to health and safety. Substituting a hazardous chemical with a non-hazardous alternative is an example of substitution.
Some of the lower level controls can be used to support higher level controls. For example, machine guarding is an engineering control. Additional control measures could be employee instruction on machine hazards and safe operating procedures (administrative controls) and operators required to wear safety equipment (personal protective equipment control).
In addition to generally being less effective by them self, the lower level controls often lead to higher monitoring, training and supervision which can introduce hidden costs in managing risk.
This article provides general information only and should not be a substitute for seeking professional advice regarding your specific situation.
Dr Paul will be contributing regular articles to assist and advise PCBUs and their workers on the management of health and safety.
