The best way to manage risks is by eliminating them, but if that's not possible, they must be minimized to a reasonably practical extent. This blog post provides a step-by-step approach to managing Workplace Health and Safety (WHS) risks effectively.

You must manage WHS risks if you are:

• a person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU)
• a designer, manufacturer, importer, supplier or installer of plant, substance, or structure
• an officer, such as a company director.

Eliminating the risk is the best control. If you can’t, you must minimise the risk so far as is reasonably practicable. The hierarchy of control measures assists duty holders to select the highest control measures to effectively manage risk.

A step-by-step approach

To manage WHS risks you should:

1. Identify hazards
2. Assess risks
3. Control risks
4. Review control measures

At each step, you must consult with workers and their health and safety representatives. Workers have knowledge, experience and ideas that can help you manage WHS risks.

Risk management should be used for both physical risks and psychological risks in the workplace. Psychological risks are risks to someone’s psychological health (mental health).

Step 1 - Identify hazards

Hazards are things and situations that could harm a person. Find out what could cause harm in your workplace.  

Step 2 - Assess risks

Undertake a risk assessment to identify the hazards in your workplace, which may cause harm (death, injury, or illness).  A risk assessment involves looking at what could happen if someone is exposed to a hazard and the likelihood of it happening.

A risk assessment can help you work out:

• how severe a risk is  
• if your control measures are effective  
• what action you should take to control the risk  
• how urgently you need to take action.

You may not need to undertake this step if the hazards, risks, and control measures are well-known.

Step 3 - Control risks

You should always aim to eliminate risks, as this is the best way to manage risks.  Where this is not possible, you must minimise risks so far as is reasonably practicable.

To control risks, you can follow the hierarchy of control measures, which are ranked from the highest level of protection and reliability to the lowest.  

Step 4 - Review control measures

Review your control measures to make sure they work as planned.

Managing WHS risks is crucial for creating a safe and healthy workplace. By following a step-by-step approach, duty holders can identify hazards, assess risks, control risks, and review control measures effectively. This not only protects workers from physical and psychological risks but also ensures compliance with WHS regulations.

If you need any advice and need help, please reach out at hello@hrdynamics.com.au or 1800 877 747