Integrated Safety Management Systems Instructions: Risk Assessment: Hazard Identification and Worksite Analysis Using the Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) model develop a safety and health implementation plan. For this unit’s assignment, you are in a critical aspect of the planning (P) phase of implementation. You will be assessing your workplace to identify hazards and determine the level of risk the hazards pose to the organization. Your assessment must include the following information: - identification of the workplace or industry assessed, - date the assessment was performed, - name and title of the person conducting the assessment, - identification of five hazards in the workplace, identification of the category each hazard falls into (e.g., physical, safety, ergonomics, etc.), - identification of the consequences that could result from exposure to each hazard (i.e., what can happen),

Integrated Safety Management Systems Instructions: Risk Assessment: Hazard Identification and Worksite Analysis Using the Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) model develop a safety and health implementation plan. For this unit’s assignment, you are in a critical aspect of the planning (P) phase of implementation. You will be assessing your workplace to identify hazards and determine the level of risk the hazards pose to the organization. Your assessment must include the following information: - identification of the workplace or industry assessed, - date the assessment was performed, - name and title of the person conducting the assessment, - identification of five hazards in the workplace, identification of the category each hazard falls into (e.g., physical, safety, ergonomics, etc.), - identification of the consequences that could result from exposure to each hazard (i.e., what can happen),

These steps in hazard assessment comply with the HAZOP and FMECA inspection methods.

A safety inspection is, of course, also part of the assessment. Doing a safety inspection involves a tour around the workplace with the objective of looking for issues of safety related to people, products, equipment, and machinery (McKinnon, 2017, p. 42). Safety inspections should be a regular and recurring managerial duty especially in a retail establishment where customers who are not employees could be at risk for the same hazards as employees. Things to evaluate during an inspection include the processes being used, working conditions, short cuts, workarounds, and high-risk behaviors. Once these are identified, they can be addressed or alleviated using a proactive approach.

Risk Analysis

The risk analysis is the determination of the probability of severity and frequency of possible accidents or injuries occurring because of a hazard. It is done to reduce the probability and uncertainty surrounding risks. It looks at what has occurred in the past and could recur in the future (McKinnon, 2017, p. 47). The Unit V Study Guide suggests using a risk matrix to analyze simple situations using a low, medium, high risk designation, but an algorithm may be required for a more complex situation (Columbia Southern University, 2019, p. 4). Using a matrix or an algorithm should result in a risk score that represents the probability of a hazard occurring.

Hazards in the Workplace

Several categories of hazards exist including biological hazards, chemical hazards, ergonomic hazards, safety hazards, environmental hazards, and psychosocial hazards (Columbia Southern University, 2019, pp. 2-3). In the retail industry there are several types of hazards that may occur that fall under one of these categories.

Retail involves some potential physical hazards, but other types as well. Brittain (2018) of Loss Prevention Magazine explains some of the types of accidents or injuries that can occur in the retail workplace including overexertion injuries that involve excessive physical effort. Another type of hazard in retail is lifting and handling materials. Slips, trips and falls are potential hazards in most industries and in the retail industry as well. Brittain (2018) says, “The severity of the injury is typically based on the velocity of the impact (how far and how fast you fall); the hardness and other characteristics (smooth, rough, etc.) of the surface that you land on; and the orientation of the body upon impact” (Brittain, 2018). Both exertion and lifting hazards are ergonomic hazards caused by improper lifting, pushing, pulling, lowering and twisting. Slips, trips and falls are safety hazards. Other safety hazards include injuries from knives, box cutters and other sharp objects often used in retail to open boxes and other containers quickly. These types of injuries are the result of improper training, failure to use PPE and to follow safety procedures, and employees being in a hurry. Forklifts or pallet jacks are also considered safety hazards.

Environmental hazards in the retail workplace include loud noises from tools or equipment and workplace violence. “Workplace violence refers to any act or threat of physical violence, abuse, harassment, intimidation, or other threatening disruptive behavior that occurs in the work setting. It can range from threats and verbal abuse to physical assaults and even homicide” (Brittain, 2018). In this era of mass shootings, workplace violence should be something about which every employer is concerned.

Psychosocial hazards present in the retail workplace include stress at work which may involve “harmful physical and emotional responses that occur when the requirements of the job do not match the capabilities, resources, or needs of the worker” (Brittain, 2018). Another psychosocial hazard is workplace bullying, which Brittain (2018) defines as “persistent, unreasonable actions directed towards a subordinate or coworker which are intended to intimidate, degrade, humiliate, or undermine; or which create a risk to the health or safety of the employee. This may involve verbal, nonverbal, psychological, physical abuse and humiliation” (Brittain, 2018). There are probably other hazards, but those listed are the ones with the most potential to cause hazards in the retail workplace.

Possible Consequences

The consequences of an overexertion injury include inflammation of the joints and sore muscles. Overexertion may bother some people greatly and others not at all. Other ergonomic hazards can result in strains, sprains, and other injuries. Box cutters and other sharp objects can cause punctures, lacerations and other wounds that could cause serious blood loss or death. Forklifts, pallet jacks and other mechanical equipment can