Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Health and Safety Risk Assessment

By Morgan Green


Risk assessment involves looking for specific indicators on a job site that could cause possible harm to people. Therefore, a risk assessor has a very weighty responsibility. They base their decisions on specific knowledge of safety measures that should already see in operation on a site and make recommendations of any precautions deemed necessary to minimize potential risks as much as possible. However, it is unreasonable to expect them to eliminate every safety risk that could occur.

The competence model

Being realistic can help someone who wants to become a risk assessor work toward becoming competent in their field without trying to reach perfection. This typically involves being detail-oriented and focused while conducting their duties. Like with any new experience it takes time for most individuals to become comfortable with performing their task well. Gaining competence usually comes in gradual stages. Maslow's four stages of competence development model explains how an individual can achieve their goals once they reach a level of confidence and familiarity with the training they're receiving.

First Stage

Stage One- This stage is where the individual is unconsciously incompetent or has no knowledge of the routine of their job description and what it entails. Perhaps he or she may not even feel that learning certain skills are necessary or be aware of how each one ties together so that they can correctly execute the risk assessment job at hand.

Second Stage

Stage Two- This stage is where the individual becomes consciously incompetent. He or she becomes aware that they don't possess the proper knowledge or skills required, and learns the ins and outs of their trade. Having the right mindset while learning the proper steps is equally important. The individual training to be a risk assessor will be open minded to tips or suggestions to become more comfortable with a number of skills they will need to use while on a work site.

Third Stage

Third stage- you complete the initial stages of learning. The individual has successfully completed their training course and is now considered to be consciously competent. The individual continues to make visible progress by quickly remembering appropriate actions to take when they encounter various risk assessment situations.

Fourth Stage

Stage 4- Becoming unconsciously competent is when the individual has repeatedly performed risk assessments jobs to the point where it becomes automatic. They are consistent in the most minor details of risk assessment, and make very few or no mistakes at all while performing their job.

Training

A professional risk assessor will always need to learn additional requirements to carry out their job duties efficiently. They should never think that they know everything there is to know about their job. When it comes to safety there can be no room for error! Continual education classes are regularly scheduled to help a professional risk assessor remain competent in their field. This is also known as continual professional development.

Risk Assessment

According to guidelines, the only qualification required to perform a risk assessment is for the person involved to be competent. The assessor should be able to analyse any risks in relation to work activities. They should also possess the authority and the expertise to collect all the relevant data as well as possess the skills and knowledge to make informative decisions about how to control exposure.




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