How well do you know your Risk Profile?

A WHS risk profile is an overview of an organisation's main work health and safety risks. It shows what could harm workers or others, how serious and likely that harm is, and how effectively the risks are being controlled.

It commonly includes:

• Workplace hazards: such as machinery, hazardous chemicals, manual handling, falls, fatigue, bullying, or occupational violence.

• People exposed: employees, contractors, visitors, customers, and the public.

• Risk ratings: based on the likelihood and potential consequences of harm.

• Existing controls: measures already used to eliminate or reduce each risk.

• Residual risk: the level of risk remaining after controls are applied.

• Required actions: additional controls, responsible persons, and completion dates.

• Trends and history: incidents, injuries, near misses, audit findings, and workers' compensation claims.

As a Person Conducting a Business or Undertaking (PCBU), officers have specific obligations and responsibilities that are outlined in WA WHS legislation and mandates that a PCBU shall provide a safe workplace. These obligations and responsibilities are also known as the primary duty of care and are applicable to:

• Workers engaged, directed, or influenced by the PCBU.

• Other people who may be affected by the work, such as visitors, customers, contractors, and members of the public

As part of the Primary Duty of Care, Officers of the PCBU have an obligation to exercise due diligence. This includes keeping WHS knowledge current, understanding operational hazards, providing appropriate resources and processes, responding to safety information, and verifying that the PCBU complies.

This is an ongoing duty: the PCBU must not only introduce controls but also maintain, monitor and review them.

Therefore, how does a PCBU ensure it provides and maintains a safe workplace?

A PCBU ensures a safe workplace by applying an ongoing systematic risk management process rather than reacting to incidents. Practical examples include:

• Identify hazards

Regularly inspect the workplace, observe work activities, examine incident and near-miss reports, review safety information, and consult workers. Include physical and psychological hazards.

• Eliminate or minimise risks

Eliminate risks where reasonably practicable. If elimination is not possible, apply the hierarchy of controls, prioritising from substitution to PPE as the least effective.

• Provide safe systems and conditions

Maintain safe premises, plant, equipment, structures, work methods, access and exits. Provide adequate welfare facilities, emergency arrangements and first aid.

• Train and supervise workers

Give workers the information, instruction, training and supervision necessary to perform their work safely. Confirm that workers understand and follow safe procedures.

• Consult and coordinate

Consult workers and health and safety representatives about hazards, controls and proposed workplace changes. Consult, cooperate and coordinate with contractors, labour-hire providers and other PCBUs that share responsibilities.

• Maintain controls

Inspect, test, service and repair equipment and safety controls. Make sure procedures are followed and controls remain suitable, available and effective.

• Monitor health and workplace conditions

Where required, monitor matters such as noise, airborne contaminants, fatigue, workloads and workers' health. Protect the confidentiality of health information.

• Prepare for emergencies

Maintain emergency plans, evacuation procedures, first-aid resources, trained personnel and communication systems. Test emergency arrangements periodically.

• Report and investigate incidents

Record and investigate injuries, illnesses, hazards and near misses. Notify the relevant regulator of legally notifiable incidents and preserve incident sites where required.

• Review and improve

Review controls following incidents, workplace changes, consultation feedback, new information or signs that controls are ineffective. Update the WHS risk profile, risk register and action plan accordingly.  

Therefore, a risk profile identifies the risk, the controls and the actions required to ensure that activities conducted under the control of the PCBU are as safe as reasonably practicable. A useful risk profile identifies:

• The PCBU's highest or critical risks.

• Whether controls meet legal and operational requirements.

• Control weaknesses and overdue actions.

• Responsible managers and officers.

• Assurance measures such as inspections, audits and performance indicators.

• Matters requiring leadership attention, funding or escalation.

If you are unsure of your risk profile or it has been a while since it was reviewed, Perth Workplace Safety Consultants can assist you.

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