Implement work safety requirements

4.2. WHS risk assessment

Workplaces must have a system for identifying hazards and conducting WHS risk assessments. It will usually involve the following steps.

HSRs and managers often apply a risk matrix to rate the likelihood of a hazard causing harm or injury and the impact of the consequence, if an injury or accident did occur. See the risk matrix below.

First the hazard is identified, then the likelihood of an injury occurring is identified by selecting from almost certain to rare, (down the left hand column).

The next step is to rate the consequence; if an injury or accident did occur how would you rate the consequence from minor to catastrophic (across the top row).

The rating of low, medium, high or extreme, will inform the risk mitigation strategy, designed by managers, to prevent an incident from occurring at work.