Risk assessment approach in the EU

EUCOSH workshop 25.3.2014, Beijing

Heikki LaitinenProfessor, Ph.D.(Engineering)

1Heikki Laitinen 2014

1. The employer shall take the measures necessary for the safety and health protection of workers

2. General principles of prevention:a) avoiding risksb) evaluating the risks which cannot be

avoidedc) combating the risks at source……

EU COUNCIL DIRECTIVE (89/391/EEC) Article 6: General obligations on employers

2Heikki Laitinen 2014

Different approaches of Risk Assessment (RA) in EU countries

1) Participatory approach– Line managers and workers carry out the RA– Safety experts as trainers and advisors– Large variation of practical RA methods for non-

expert use– For instance in Scandinavia

2) Certified expert approach– Certified experts carry out the RA – Line managers and workers do not participate– Formal RA methods, accepted by authorities– For instance in many Southern and Eastern

European countries

3

Implementation rate of RA in EU countries, % of companies (Source: ESENER Survey 2009)

Italy

Spain

Hunga

ry

Czech

Rep

,

Polan

d

Roman

ia

Slove

nia

Austri

a

Latvia

Norway

Estoni

a

Nether

lands

Germ

any

Luxem

bour

g40

50

60

70

80

90

100

4Heikki Laitinen 2014

Fatal occupational accident rate in EU countries Accidents/100000 worker, Industry standardized average, years 2008-2011 (Source : Eurostat)

Great

Britain

Germ

any

Sweden

Norway

Slova

kia

Belgiu

m

Slove

nia

Spain

Hunga

ryIta

ly

Bulga

ria

Cypru

s

Austri

a

Roman

ia0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

5Heikki Laitinen 2014

RA implementation rate and Fatal accident rate in EU countries (Sources: Eurostat, ESENER Survey) N=29, r= 0,199 (not significant)

6

40 50 60 70 80 90 1000

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

Risk Assessment is carried, % of companies

Fat

al a

ccid

ent

rate

in c

ount

ry

Heikki Laitinen 2014

Management involvement in OHS and Fatal occupational accident rate in EU countries (Sources: Eurostat, ESENER Survey) N=29, r=-0,503 (significant)

7

10 20 30 40 50 60 700

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

OHS regularly in management meetings, % of companies

Fat

al a

ccid

ent

rate

in c

ount

ry

Heikki Laitinen 2014

Impact of Risk Assessment on accident risk

• No correlation between RA implementation rate and fatal accident rate on country-level

• Significant correlation between management involvement and accident rate

• “High quality” RA by experts may have no effect, when the managers and workers are not involved

• The key for good safety may be a culture, where managers and workers actively take part in RA and other OHS activities

8Heikki Laitinen 2014

Technical factors• work environment

• machines and tools• materials

Human factors• working practices

• use of PPEs• risk taking

Man

agem

ent Severe health problems

Slight health problems

Near-misses

Moni-toring

OHS MS

Audit

Positive outcomes

Incident reporting & investigation

Risk Assess-ment

Basic OHS Management tools

Training &

consul-tation

Simplified OHS Management results chain Heikki Laitinen 2014

Macro-Level Risk Assessment (MLRA) of new and unknown

hazards

• Scientific studies are conducted to identify and estimate possible new and unknown hazards

• OHS laws and standards are based on this MLRA– Machine safety standards– Occupational Exposure Limit

values for chemical end physical exposures

– Sector specific regulations

• MLRA is the basis for the Workplace Risk Assessment (WPRA)

New and unknown hazards

Scientific studies, laborator

y tests etc.

OHS laws and

standards

Heikki Laitinen 2014

Workplace risk assessment

Obvious

hazard

Hidden hazard

Identify hazard

Evaluate

risk

Remove

hazard

Apply proper

controls

• Known by the person• Can be identified by

senses• Exists at the time and

place of evaluation

• Not known by the person• Cannot be identified by

senses• Exists only rarely or during

unusual work tasks??

www.3tonline.fi/english Heikki Laitinen

New and unknown hazards

Scientific

studies,

laboratory

tests etc.

OHS laws and

standards

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Obvious or hidden risk?

Who is taking risk?

Identification by RA and/or by

OSH performance monitoring?

Thank you for your kind attention!

This is our challenge during the next few

weeks in Shouyun and Fengshan

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION!

谢谢您的关注 !