What is Risk Assessment?
What can we do to stay "safe"?
As a safety measure, it is considered important to create a system for managing risks (risk management), and to then analyze risks and create and implement measures against them (risk assessment).
Risk assessments involve assessing danger and harmfulness, which means identifying and evaluating operational dangers, etc., and considering and implementing countermeasures.<br>
The Industrial Safety and Health Act (Article 28, No. 2) stipulates that employers are obligated to make efforts to carry out risk assessments. Especially in modern times, various equipment and substances are used, and danger and harmfulness are diversifying along with that. Therefore, it is necessary to identify risks, establish priorities, and enact countermeasures.
1. Determining Machine Limitations
Determine specifications such as the range of use of each machine, where it can be placed, and when or how long it can be used.
2. Identifying Hazards
Identify and clarify what kind of dangers exist in the ranges specified in number 1.
Identifying is the act of searching for an attribute in an existing field that relates to a certain subject.
ISO12100 contains a list of hazards, so we search by looking in the section that relates to what we are looking for and checking that hazard list, which is why we call it identification.
3. Risk Estimation
For each potential source of danger, determine the severity and probability of harm, the priority to give the risk, etc. and then estimate the risk.
This risk estimation method is based on ISO 13849-1:1999.
Estimates are decided by selecting categories that serve as indicators for determining specific safety measures.
S: Degree of injury
- S1
- Minor injury
- S2
- Serious injury including death (loss of limbs, death, etc.)
F: Frequency and duration of risk
- F1
- Very infrequent, occasional, and for short periods of time
- F2
- requent to continuous, and for long periods of time
P: Potential to avoid danger
- P1
- Avoidable under certain conditions
・ There are operators with sufficient experience
・ Operation at low speeds can avoid danger
・ Danger can be detected in advance using signals, etc. - P2
- Almost impossible (cannot be avoided)
・ Operated by inexperienced operators
・ Operates at high speeds or starts up quickly
・ No way to detect danger
4. Risk evaluation
Evaluate whether risk reduction is necessary and whether safety is being ensured.
5. Risk reduction
If risk reduction is necessary, take measures to reduce the risk as much as possible.