Risk Mitigation and Work Health: Case Study Analysis and Solutions

This report, submitted by a student, focuses on risk mitigation and work health within the context of a construction site. It begins with a letter of transmittal outlining potential risks such as injury, theft, and noise pollution. The executive summary highlights the paper's concern with identifying hazards, particularly the theft of chemical substances, and proposes a risk management model. The introduction defines strategic and operational risks, setting the stage for a discussion of identified hazards, including injury from various sources, noise pollution, and theft. The core of the report centers on designing a risk management system for chemical hazards, explaining the principles of risk management, hazard control through elimination, substitution, and isolation, and developing a systematic approach to risk assessment. This includes identifying hazards, assessing risks based on likelihood and consequence, and utilizing a risk matrix to prioritize responses. The report emphasizes the importance of a structured approach to managing risks and ensuring workplace safety.

Running head: RISK MITIGATION AND WORK HEALTH
RISK MITIGATION AND WORK HEALTH
Name of student:
Name of university:
Author note:

1
RISK MITIGATION AND WORK HEALTH
LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL
CEO
Corpus Construction Group
West Middleton, Perth
Australia
Dear CEO
Subject: Letter of transmittal for risk assessment
This is in regard to the number of potential risk that has been observed at the construction site are
injury that may be caused due to forklift, theft due to the goods being left open in the truck
overnight, theft of chemical hazards and noise pollution created due to the operations taking
place near the residential area. There is a specific discussion about the chemical hazard that is
being posed due to the theft of harmful chemical substances.
Therefore, it is important to analyse the scenario with the help of a risk management model and
recommend effective solutions to deal with the same
I would be highly obliged if you look into the risk management model and the recommendations
to mitigate the risk.

2
RISK MITIGATION AND WORK HEALTH
Yours faithfully
Cathy Mitchell Sobriano
Risk mitigation Manager
Risk Solution Private Limited

3
RISK MITIGATION AND WORK HEALTH
Executive summary
This paper is concerned with the risk management model and the identification of different risks
and hazards in the specific case study. It has been identified that there are different kinds of
hazards that emerges in the context of the construction site. The paper also explores the risk of
theft of important goods by thieves when they are kept in the truck overnight and the creation of
the risk management model to respond to the potential risk that emerges due to the theft of
chemical hazards.

4
RISK MITIGATION AND WORK HEALTH
Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................4
Discussion........................................................................................................................................5
List of readily identified hazards and their consequences...........................................................5
Designing a risk management system for the management of chemical hazards.......................6
Developing a system....................................................................................................................8
Recommendation...........................................................................................................................11
References......................................................................................................................................12

5
RISK MITIGATION AND WORK HEALTH
Introduction
The term strategic risk refers to the risks that are related to the strategic planning of an agency
and the management process that is associated with it. The impact of strategic risks are evident in
the in the challenges faced by an organization in achieving the vision and the strategic objectives
that are documented in the strategic plan of the agency (Glendon, Clarke & McKenna 2016).
There are certain kind of risks that requires identification, monitoring, treatment and
management through the involvement of the executives of the company (Clarke & Cooper 2004).
The operational risks pertain to the challenge in achieving the individual programs for the
management objectives. The operational risks entail the senior officers who are responsible for
the branch, work unit and division. The aim of the paper is to identify the different kinds of risks
in context of the case study and elaborate on them. In addition to it, there is discussion on one
specific hazard and analyze it through the risk management model.
Discussion
List of readily identified hazards and their consequences
The risks that have been identified from the given case study are injury from the high
chain wire that surrounds the fence. The second risk pertains to the use of the forklift that may
lead to injury. The third risk in this context pertains to the noise pollution that is caused due to
the late night operations that leads to extreme level of noise pollution for the residential areas
that are located in close proximity to the area of operation. The fourth hazard that can be

6
RISK MITIGATION AND WORK HEALTH
identified in this instance is the robbery that happens during overnight. In the same light, another
hazard that has been identified is that there may be theft of harmful chemicals. If this chemical is
passed on to the wrong people, it will lead to chemical hazards. Another hazard that has been
identified in this context is the installation of chain wire that is topped with the barbed fence. The
last hazard that has been identified is boring holes in the ground that may lead to earthquakes and
create problem for the community.
Designing a risk management system for the management of chemical hazards
There are multiple definitions of risk that are commonly used in the discourse of risk
management and workplace safety, however a more sophisticated understanding of risk implies
the opportunities and possible threats and the ability of these threats on the organization or the
agency to meet the objectives. Therefore, in other words is associated with both the challenges
and the opportunities for an agency. A standard distinguishes between operational risks and
strategic risks (Clarke & Cooper 2004). The notion of risk management represents the culture of
an organization. This is the process of recognition, evaluation and response to the risks and the
different responses to the communication of the outcome of the risks through engagement of the
appropriate parties. The objective of an effective risk management system is to improve the
process of planning and enabling the key focus to be fixated on the core business and the
appropriate delivery of the service (Geller 2005). It would reduce the tendency of the costly
surprises and helps in the preparation of the undesirable and challenging outcomes and events.
The principals of effective management in the context to the Queensland government agencies
are that the risk management framework is weaved with the different agencies that are processed
by the government that includes the operational planning, strategic planning and the executive
management functions (Hale, Borys & Adams 2015). The risk management needs to be

7
RISK MITIGATION AND WORK HEALTH
supported by the program of education, development for the staff and training that is to be
devoted at each of the levels in the agency (this includes the manger, supervisor, executive and
the director. The risk management process designates the clear ownership of the accountabilities
of risk and the associated duties and responsibilities of risk. The discourse of risk management
involves both the lessons learnt over a period of time and the existing experiences.
Hazards can be controlled through the hierarchy of control elimination, substitution,
isolation, engineering, administration and personal protective equipment (PPE). The stage of
elimination is concerned with the controlling the measures entail the elimination of the risks.
There are high levels of risk that pertains to the theft of the goods from the parks that are parked
overnight. The thieves are climbing over the fenced and passing on the goods over the fence to
the lightweight utility vehicles.
The control factor in this situation would be having a security guard near the trucks to
ensure that there is someone to look after the goods and thereby prevent the theft. An alternative
to this would be to shift the goods in a storage house instead of keeping it overnight in the truck
that enables the thieves to steal the products easily from the truck. The next stage is the stage of
substitution. This stage involves the substitution of the hazards with a safer material or a process
once on recognition of the hazardous process or the identification of the material. Risk: It has
been identified that the presence of harmful chemicals in the trucks would provoke the thieves to
steal it and thereby the objective should be to substitute the harmful chemicals with the less
harmful alternatives. Control- The control measure in this situation would be to immediately
substitute the goods with other kinds of substances so that it does pose any threat to the wider
community even in a situation when it is trespassed.

8
RISK MITIGATION AND WORK HEALTH
Another kind of respond against hazard can be the stage of isolation. In this control
would be separating the hazard or the hazardous work practise from that of the employees
through sectioning off the area or through the erection of barriers or relocating the hazardous
work practise of the other employees and the practises associated with their work. For example
since the hazard in this case is the misuse of chemicals and the potential threat that may emerge
in the context of the theft of the harmful chemicals. Another risk in the light of the theft is the
transferring the goods from the truck that are parked overnight. Through the application of the
isolation strategy, the measure would be keep the area fenced with barbed wire or through the
transference of the hazardous materials to a safe place.
Developing a system
This step is concerned with the assessment of risks and the potential impact on the business.
It is not sufficient to rely on the perception that may be misconstrued and therefore lead to
repercussions or unplanned outcomes. This results to the demand for systematic approach to the
management of risk. Although there are a number of methodologies in this regard, there five key
elements or five steps to this- Identification of the hazard, assessment of risks, controlling the
risks, allocation of the responsibilities with the aim of dealing with problems and the final step is
the evaluation of the problems.
 Identification of the hazard- This is the first step of risk management and is concerned
with the appropriate identification of hazard taking into account all the elements of the
workplace. The hazard that has been identified at this stage is chemical hazards.
Chemical hazards are caused by the chemical substances that are found in every
workplace and leads to a number of risks of variable nature ad that may bore severe
consequences (Geller 2005). Hazardous substances include correction fluid, photocopier

9
RISK MITIGATION AND WORK HEALTH
toners and ozone, adhesives to name a few. In the context of the case study, there has
been no mention of specific chemical substances that are being stolen by the thieves. It
has been identified that construction sites are replete with chemical substances that may
cause hazards. Ingestion of the chemical substances may lead to poisoning and damage of
heath of the person.
 The second stage is the risk assessment stage that is concerned with two key aspects.
The first is the likelihood or the probability of risk of an event and the repercussions on
its occurrence. According to Stranks, this is concerned with the identification of the risks
and it has been understood and defined as the third parameter. The likelihood of an event-
taking place can be assessed on an appropriate scale. There are five points in this regard-
rare, unlikely, possible, likely and almost inevitable. In the context of the case study, the
likelihood or probability of the theft of goods and chemical substances are quite likely
considering that those are left in the truck without any security.
 Risk consequence- The third stage in the risk assessment is similar to the likelihood
stage. In this stage there are five measurements like insignificant, minor, moderate, major
and critical that needs to be taken into account. Considering the theft of harmful
substances along with the important goods that are useful for the construction project of
the company, it can be stated that the risk consequence is of major nature. This is because
the chemical substances that have been stolen may be used for wrong reasons and thereby
can cause severe damage to the health. It will cause immediate threat to the people.
Secondly, the goods that have been stolen will interfere with the work of the company
and the company may have to incur loss for the days when there are no work. The

10
RISK MITIGATION AND WORK HEALTH
company will have to repurchase the goods that will add to the cost of the company along
with the cost of the labour
 Risk matrix- The fourth stage has been identified as the risk matrix stage. This stage is
concerned with the urgency for responding to the risk. This can be achieved through two
methods-one through the calculation of the score and another through the matrix. Often
colour-coded tables are used. Since a single risk has been identified in this case, it can be
stated that the likelihood of the risk is quite likely and the consequence of the risk is
major. Based on this outcome, it would be easier to provide justification and decide o the
priorities of the organization in responding to the risk. Considering the framework of
WHS, the risk management model should incorporate the tasks and occupations
associated with risk, the number of people who are the receiving end of the risk, the
probability of the hazard that may lead to the injury, the duration of exposure of the
person to the hazard, controlling the measures that are already in place and the possible
consequences of the risk (Hillson & Murray-Webster 2017).
 Risk control- The final stage of the risk management is concerned with the controlling
the risks that includes elimination, substitution, engineering, administration and the
personal protective Equipment (PPE).
Recommendation
There is a need for the implementation of the risk management model with the objective
of managing the risks. The term implementation is concerned with the actual adaptation of the
controlling of the risk management strategies. This stage involves the agreement, commitment
and the acceptance of the risks that are to be developed by the managers, users and the system

11
RISK MITIGATION AND WORK HEALTH
designers. There needs to be a consensus regarding the nature or characteristic of risks, the
concomitant issues that emerge with the prevalence of the risks and the control measures that
have been adopted in the process (Christian, Bradley, Wallace, & Burke 2009). Secondly, there
is a need for acceptance of responsibility with the aim of successful implementation of the risks
and the various stakeholders who would be committed towards the management of the risk. In
this case, it is important for the site manger to deploy security guard and the risk management
designer to create plan that would appropriately respond to the risk. Thirdly, there is an
imperative for risk monitoring which is the most neglected area of risk management. The feature
of this stage is to refer to the different kinds of risks and monitoring of the hazards and in the
assessment of the effectiveness of the control measures in a periodical manner. This stage would
allow in redefining the priorities. The entropy model of risk can be adopted in this context. This
model is concerned with the risks that are present in the natural systems as well as the entropy
that is the degradation of the universe (Goetsch 2011). The adoption of this model is motivated
for countering and tackling the different kinds of risks that have emerged in this case study.

12
RISK MITIGATION AND WORK HEALTH
References
Christian, M.S., Bradley, J.C., Wallace, J.C. & Burke, M.J., 2009. Workplace safety: a meta-
analysis of the roles of person and situation factors. Journal of Applied Psychology,94(5),
p.1103.
Clarke, S. & Cooper, C., 2004. Managing the risk of workplace stress: Health and safety
hazards. routledge.
Geller, E.S., 2005. Behavior-based safety and occupational risk management.
Glendon, A.I., Clarke, S. &McKenna, E., 2016. Human safety and risk management. Crc Press.
Goetsch, D.L., 2011. Occupational Safety and Health for Technologists, Engineers, and.
Hale, A., Borys, D. & Adams, M., 2015. Safety regulation: the lessons of workplace safety rule
management for ma
Hillson, D. & Murray-Webster, R., 2017. Understanding and managing risk attitude. Routledge.
Vredenburgh, A.G., 2002. Organizational safety: which management practices are most effective
in reducing emp