Work Health and Safety Risk Assessment: Team Leader

Reactive and proactive quality improvement and risk management process related to experiences, or an experience of a colleague, or a potential experience, in a Medical Imaging Department. There are 5 parts of the assignment, please see attached files for instructions and content.

TASK / ACTIVITY RISK ASSESSMENT MATRIX / REGISTER
What is the task/job being assessed?
Date Assessment Conducted:
Location:
Site:
Team Leader:
Investigating team members:
Primary Legislative references: Examples Work Health and Safety Act 2011
Work Health and Safety Reg 2011
Health Practitioner Regulation National Law Act 2009
Secondary Legislation: Example How to manage work health and safety risks Code of Practice 2011
Other References: Examples Australian Sonographers Association Guideline – Infection Prevention and Control Guidelines for Sonographers
Australian Guidelines for the Prevention and Control in Healthcare
PPE Required: Example Gloves – minimal precaution other PPE as required by site departmental procedures
RISK ASSESSMENT PROCESS
List of events/steps in the
activity or identified hazard/s
Describe the hazard and
possible risk
Risk Inherent
Risk
Ranking/
Score
Control measures
Risk Residual
Risk
Ranking/
Score
Controls
Implemented?
Consequence Likelihood Consequence Likelihood Yes No
Example: Handwashing and X.1 Allergy to product Minor Possible 6  Have alternative Minor Rare 2 X
Task Based Risk Assessment – Safety Unit Page 1 of 10 Updated: 29th January 2015

RISK ASSESSMENT PROCESS
List of events/steps in the
activity or identified hazard/s
Describe the hazard and
possible risk
Risk Inherent
Risk
Ranking/
Score
Control measures
Risk Residual
Risk
Ranking/
Score
Controls
Implemented?
Consequence Likelihood Consequence Likelihood Yes No
sanitising X.2 Contact dermatitis available for
sensitive skin
 Have moisturising
hand cream
available
 Training
1. Injury due to electrical hazards 1.1 Lack in maintenance of the
electrical equipment.
1.2 Utilization of older electrical
cables.
Moderate Possible 9  Training
 Routine check-up
of electrical
equipment.
 Renewal of all the
electrical cables.
Moderate Rare 3
2. Risk of fire 2.1 Incorrect wiring
2.2 Improper utilization of the
equipment.
Moderate Possible 9  Proper handling of
the flammable and
combustible
materials.
 Safe housekeeping
methods should be
maintained for
reduction of the
risks of danger.
Minor Rare 2
3. Poor design of clinical
workplace
3.1 Lack of advanced design
3.2 Lack of advanced facilities
Moderate Possible 9  Implementation of
advanced
machineries.
 Training.
 Adaptation to the
new changes.
Moderate Rare 3
4. Exposure to chemicals 4.1 Gases, fumes etc. can harm
the health of the patients
and the staffs.
4.2 The person can faint or
develop skin irritation due
to this harmful gases of
the chemicals.
Major Possible 12  Training
 New label of
requirements
should be followed.
 The flammable
gases should
always be checked
upon.
Moderate Rare 3
5. Slippery floors 5.1 Leads accidental fall of the
staffs and the patients.
Moderate Possible 9  The floor should
properly dried after
Minor Rare 2
Task Based Risk Assessment – Safety Unit Page 2 of 10 Updated: 29th January 2015

RISK ASSESSMENT PROCESS
List of events/steps in the
activity or identified hazard/s
Describe the hazard and
possible risk
Risk Inherent
Risk
Ranking/
Score
Control measures
Risk Residual
Risk
Ranking/
Score
Controls
Implemented?
Consequence Likelihood Consequence Likelihood Yes No
5.2 The injured person might
develop fractures,
dislocations etc.
cleaning up the
spills.
 Utilization of rugs
and mats in specific
areas.
Risk Control Action Plan
What needs to be done By who Comments
Seek Approval for undertaking procedure Higher Authorities The higher authorities are responsible for approval.
If Approved, assist with implementation Risk manager Once approved, the implementation will be done by the risk manager.
Review Procedure and Risk Assessment Risk manager The procedures will be reviewed and the risks will be assessed.
Task Based Risk Assessment – Safety Unit Page 3 of 10 Updated: 29th January 2015

RISK ASSESSMENT MATRIX
LIKELIHOOD
Almost certain Is expected to occur in most circumstances
Likely Will probably occur in most circumstances
Possible Might occur at some time
Unlikely Could occur at some time
Rare May occur only in exceptional circumstances
CONSEQUENCE
Extreme Incident causing death/s
Major Incident causing disability or longer term hospitalisation
Moderate Incident requiring hospital treatment
Minor Incident requiring medical treatment
Insignificant Incident requiring first aid only
RISK MATRIX
LIKELIHOOD
CONSEQUENCE
Insignificant Minor Moderate Major Extreme
Almost certain Moderate
5
High
10
High
15
Extreme
20
Extreme
25
Likely Moderate
4
Moderate
6
High
10
High
15
Extreme
20
Possible Low
3
Moderate
6
Moderate
9
High
12
High
15
Unlikely Low
2
Low
4
Moderate
6
Moderate
8
High
10
Rare Low
1
Low
2
Low
3
Moderate
4
Moderate
5
Task Based Risk Assessment – Safety Unit Page 4 of 10 Updated: 29th January 2015

Discussion of hazard 1: Injury due to electrical hazards
The patients as well as the staffs at the clinical workplace might develop injuries due to various electrical
hazards which might be very dangerous. This may take place due to the striking as well as the flashing of
lights. Heat is generated whenever the electrical current passes through the body of any patient or any
staff present at that particular clinical workplace [1].
Additional information
The injuries that are caused to the people by the various electrical hazards are very dangerous and can
require hospitalization. The type of situations are expected to occur if the electrical equipment are not on
a regular basis. The electrical hazards can cause cardiac arrest to the people present at the clinical
workplace. The damages of due to the electrical hazards also comprises of burnt skin, damage in the
internal tissues and the organs [2].
Who might be
harmed:
Patients
Staff
Organization
How they might be
harmed:
- The patient
might develop a
skin burn as a
result of the
electrical
hazards.
- The patient
might face
cardiac arrest as
a result of
electrical hazard.
- The internal
tissues as well as
the organs of the
patients can also
get damaged.
- The staff might
develop same
symptoms as
that of the
patient as a
result of the
clinical hazard.
- The electrical
hazard may lead
to the financial
loss as well as
face loss.
Consequences
Minor
Minor
Minor
Minor
Minor
Likelihood
Possible
Possible
Possible
Possible
Possible
Task Based Risk Assessment – Safety Unit Page 5 of 10 Updated: 29th January 2015

Discussion of hazard 2: Risk of fire
The risk of fire is one of the dangerous issues faced by the patients and staffs at the clinical workplace.
The fire may cause due to the flammable materials or combustible materials which has been stored near
the clinical workplace. The fire hazards may lead to its survivors which hospitalization [3].
Additional information
In the clinical workplace, fire can be caused due to several faults in the electrical equipment as the
electrical equipment are not looked upon a regular basis. The fire also occurs due to the overloading of
the power sockets. As its check is not routinely done because of negotiation and error of the electrical
workers associated with the particular clinical workplace. The faults in the electrical wiring is also
accountable for the fire hazard. These can affect the respiratory system of the people and also cause death
[4].
Who might be
harmed:
Patients
Staff
Organization
How they might be
harmed:
- The patient
might develop a
skin burn as a
result of fire
hazards.
- The patient
might face
negative impacts
of fire in their
respiratory
system as a
result of
electrical hazard.
- The occurrence
of fire can even
lead to the death
of the patients
too.
- The staff might
develop same
symptoms as
that of the
patient as a
result of the
clinical hazard.
- The fire hazard
may lead to the
financial loss as
well as face loss.
Consequences
Minor
Minor
Minor
Minor
Minor
Likelihood
Possible
Possible
Possible
Possible
Possible
e
Task Based Risk Assessment – Safety Unit Page 6 of 10 Updated: 29th January 2015

Discussion of hazard 3: Poor design of clinical workplace
The poor design of the clinical workplace is also a hazard as the patient cannot be analysed without the
advanced facilities as well as machineries. The poor design of the workplace comprises of absence of the
advanced machineries, absence of ventilation, excessive amount of noise, inappropriate amount of
lighting.
Additional information
It is very important for a clinical workplace to be remain advanced on the basis of its machineries, design
as well as facilities. Poor support of the supervisor leads to poor treatment and analysis of the patients. It
also occurs due to poor channel of communication, poor form of development. The clinical workplaces
with poor designs will also consists of poor safety measures and absence of personal equipment that
would help in providing protection [5].
Who might be
harmed:
Patients
Staff
Organization
How they might be
harmed:
- Poor analysis
and treatment of
the patient.
- Poor facilities
and machineries
for analysing the
students.
- Poor analysis
leads to poor
report and wrong
treatment of the
patient.
- The staff might
develop same
symptoms as
that of the
patient as a
result of the
clinical hazard.
- This hazard may
lead to the
financial loss as
well as face loss.
Consequences
Minor
Minor
Minor
Minor
Minor
Likelihood
Possible
Possible
Possible
Possible
Possible
Task Based Risk Assessment – Safety Unit Page 7 of 10 Updated: 29th January 2015

Discussion of hazard 4: Exposure to chemicals
The exposure of the patients as well as staffs to the various dangerous chemicals present at the clinical
workplace can have adverse impacts. Burning as well as the tearing of the eyes is caused when people are
exposed to various dangerous chemicals. The burning of the throat along with the nose takes place
whenever anyone gets exposed to the dangerous chemicals. These dangerous chemicals carry their own
side effects along with them [6].
Additional information
Whenever anybody gets exposed to any sort of chemical, that person experiences burning of the skin etc.
The chemical exposure not only causes burning to the throat and nose but also causes burning in the other
parts of the body like chest, eyes, skin etc. which is hazardous to the human health [7].
Who might be
harmed:
Patients
Staff
Organization
How they might be
harmed:
- The patient
might develop
damage of the
skin due to the
chemical
exposure.
- The patient
might experience
shortness of the
breadth, cough,
blood in the
sputum etc.
- The internal
tissues as well as
the organs of the
patients can also
get damaged.
- The staff might
develop same
symptoms as
that of the
patient as a
result of the
clinical hazard.
- This hazard may
lead to the face
loss.
Consequences
Minor
Minor
Minor
Minor
Minor
Likelihood
Possible
Possible
Possible
Possible
Possible
Task Based Risk Assessment – Safety Unit Page 8 of 10 Updated: 29th January 2015

Discussion of hazard 5: Slippery floors at the clinical workplace
The floors of the clinical workplace should remain dry all the time as the patients as well as the staffs of
that particular clinical workplace can slip on, fall and get hurt. This might lead to the fracture, dislocation
in the bones of the patients. The patients as well as the staffs might develop severe cuts by falling on the
slippery floor.
Additional information
The clinical workplaces should focus on the cleaning on the floors i.e. after the cleaning of the floors, the
floors must be dried so that nobody slips and get hurt. The utilization of the mats etc. should be done at
various places to counter the slips. The spills should be cleaned up immediately and dried too. Te floors
of the clinical workplace should be kept dried all the time.
Who might be
harmed:
Patients
Staff
Organization
How they might be
harmed:
- The patient
might develop a
severe cut.
- The patient
might experience
fractures,
dislocation of
the bones etc.
- The staff might
develop same
symptoms as
that of the
patient as a
result of the
clinical hazard.
- The electrical
hazard may lead
to the financial
loss as well as
face loss.
Consequences
Moderate
Moderate
Moderate
Moderate
Likelihood
Possible
Possible
Possible
Possible
Task Based Risk Assessment – Safety Unit Page 9 of 10 Updated: 29th January 2015

References
1. Drury S, Williams H, Trump N, Boustred C, GOSGene, Lench N, Scott RH, Chitty LS. Exome
sequencing for prenatal diagnosis of fetuses with sonographic abnormalities. Prenatal diagnosis. 2015
Oct;35(10):1010-7.
2. Ohrndorf S, Backhaus M. Advances in sonographic scoring of rheumatoid arthritis. Annals of the
rheumatic diseases. 2013 Apr 1;72(suppl 2):ii69-75.
3. Kim KE, Kim EK, Yoon JH, Han KH, Moon HJ, Kwak JY. Preoperative prediction of central lymph
node metastasis in thyroid papillary microcarcinoma using clinicopathologic and sonographic
features. World journal of surgery. 2013 Feb 1;37(2):385-91.
4. Park YJ, Kim JA, Son EJ, Youk JH, Kim EK, Kwak JY, Park CS. Thyroid nodules with
macrocalcification: sonographic findings predictive of malignancy. Yonsei medical journal. 2014 Mar
1;55(2):339-44.
5. Romero R, Miranda J, Chaiworapongsa T, Chaemsaithong P, Gotsch F, Dong Z, Ahmed AI, Yoon
BH, Hassan SS, Kim CJ, Korzeniewski SJ. Sterile intra-amniotic inflammation in asymptomatic
patients with a sonographic short cervix: prevalence and clinical significance. The Journal of
Maternal-Fetal & Neonatal Medicine. 2015 Jul 24;28(11):1343-59.
6. Martin K. The future of sonographic education.
7. Carvalho JS, Allan LD, Chaoui R, Copel JA, DeVore GR, Hecher K, Lee W, Munoz H, Paladini D,
Tutschek B, Yagel S. ISUOG Practice Guidelines (updated): sonographic screening examination of
the fetal heart. Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology. 2013 Mar;41(3):348-59.
Task Based Risk Assessment – Safety Unit Page 10 of 10 Updated: 29th January 2015