How to understand risk versus the perception of risk.
Understanding risk management is a fundamental skill for any HR practitioner wishing to explore a career in Health and Safety (H&S). As the Human Resources function continues to increase its role in relation to Health and Safety, risk management is quickly becoming a core competency for any HR practitioner. By understanding risk we can actively implement controls to reduce, or better yet, eliminate safety risks for all employees in the workplace.
The following video clip which explains understanding hazard recognition, risk assessment and controls.
Source: GreenFacts.org. The above content constitutes a link to the source website. Please click on the play icon to stream the video.
This video clip does a great job at summarizing the overall concept of risk management and risk assessment as it touches on terms such as:
- Hazard
- Risk
- Safety
- The Precautionary principle
If a company’s goal is to truly improve workplace safety and eliminate injuries and illnesses, it must have an effective risk management assessment system in order to drive its safety efforts. Risk assessment is a very simple concept that does not seem to get a lot of traction in the workplace. It is a powerful preventative tool that could and should be used effectively.
By developing a comprehensive risk assessment system and then implementing controls to reduce the work with the greatest risks, any organization will be able to achieve the overarching goal of reducing workplace injuries and illnesses.
Discussion Questions:
- As a new HR practitioner, how has this video provided you with a better understanding of: hazard recognition, assessment and control?
- Your company wants you to research and recommend a form to be used as a hazard assessment tool. Research different types of hazard assessment forms that are available. Select one that you think is most effective and explain why you selected it.
- Explain the difference between hazard assessment and risk assessment.