scholarly journals Biological risk assessment: A challenge for occupational health and safety practitioners during the COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) Pandemic

Work ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Carlos Carvalhais ◽  
Micaela Querido ◽  
Cristiana C. Pereira ◽  
Joana Santos
Keyword(s):  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Occupational Safety ◽  
Assessment Method ◽  
Occupational Safety And Health ◽  
Risk Level ◽  
Biological Risk ◽  
Occupational Risks ◽  
Qualitative Risk Assessment ◽  
Safety And Health ◽  
Medium Risk

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 global pandemic brought several challenges to occupational safety and health practice. One of these is the need to (re)assess the occupational risks, particularly, biological risks. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this work is to promote guidance to occupational safety and health practitioners when conducting a biological risk assessment in this context. METHODS: The main steps of the biological risk assessment are explained with some inputs regarding the novelty posed by SARS-CoV-2 and an example of a qualitative risk assessment method is presented. Also, its application to two different activities was exemplified. RESULTS: In both cases, the assessment considered that vulnerable workers were working from home or in medical leave. The results showed low or medium risk level for the assessed tasks. For medium risk level, additional controls are advised, such maintain social distancing, sanitize instruments/equipment before use, use proper and well-maintained PPE (when applicable), and promote awareness sessions to spread good practices at work. Employers must be aware of their obligations regarding biological risk assessment and OSH practitioners must be prepared to screen and link the abundance of scientific evidence generated following the outbreak, with the technical practice. CONCLUSIONS: This paper could be an important contribution to OSH practice since it highlights the need to (re)assess occupational risks, especially biological risk, to ensure a safe return to work, providing technical guidance.

scholarly journals Development and Validation of HOSHRA Index for Occupational Safety and Health Risk Assessment in Hospitals

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mehdi Jahangiri ◽  
Amirreza Mostafavi ◽  
Alireza Choobineh ◽  
Mahnaz Shakerisn ◽  
Hamid Reza Tabatabaei ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Health Risk ◽  
Health Risk Assessment ◽  
Content Validity ◽  
Occupational Safety ◽  
Occupational Safety And Health ◽  
Risk Level ◽  
Validity And Reliability ◽  
Safety And Health ◽  
Wide Range

Background: Despite huge advances in science, technology, and medical equipment, numerous concerns grow over healthcare workers (HCWs) since they are exposed to a wide range of biological hazards due to the nature of their work. Objectives: The current study aimed at developing and validating an index to assess the risk of occupational safety and health (OSH) in hospitals and healthcare settings. Methods: In the current cross-sectional study, an index called the hospital occupational safety, and health risk assessment (HOSHRA) was developed and validated through the face and content validity as well as internal consistency and inter-rater reliability. Ultimately, the developed index was utilized to assess OSH risks in 36 teaching hospitals affiliated to Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. Results: The mean score of the HOSHRA index among the selected hospitals was 71.53 ± 5.93, indicating that the OSH risks were at a moderate level. According to the HOSHRA action levels, OSH risk level for ergonomic hazards was high, but it was moderate for physical, chemical, ergonomic, and psychological ones. In terms of physical hazard subcategories, the risk of electrical hazard, as well as fire and explosion, was high, but it was moderate for fall and slip, and radiation. Conclusions: The developed observation-based method showed an acceptable content validity and reliability for OSH risk assessment of hospitals. The HOSHRA index could also be used for hospitals as an applicable measure to improve their OSH.

scholarly journals Comparison of the Qualitative and the Quantitative Risk Assessment of Hazardous Substances Requiring Management under the Occupational Safety and Health Act in South Korea

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 1354
Author(s):  
Hyung-Il Moon ◽  
Sang-Woo Han ◽  
Saemi Shin ◽  
Sang-Hoon Byeon
Keyword(s):  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Occupational Safety ◽  
Assessment System ◽  
Occupational Safety And Health ◽  
Quantitative Risk Assessment ◽  
Hazardous Substances ◽  
Exposure Level ◽  
Hazard Risk ◽  
Qualitative Risk Assessment ◽  
Safety And Health

The risk assessment of hazardous substances has become increasingly important for the efficient prevention and management of various diseases or accidents caused by increased amounts of hazardous substances in the workplace. In this study, risk assessment was conducted for 36 kinds of hazardous substances requiring management by using qualitative and quantitative risk assessments. Qualitative risk assessment was performed by multiplying the exposure level class by the hazard class according to the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency’s (KOSHA) Chemical Hazard Risk Management (CHARM). The quantitative risk assessment was followed by a four-step risk assessment system presented in the Guidelines for Hazard Risk Assessment of Chemicals (KOSHA GUIDE W-6-2016). In the quantitative assessments, we presented a new method of classifying risk levels into four steps, much like qualitative assessments. In this study, the quantitative risk assessment was considered difficult to predict through qualitative risk assessment. Therefore, it is necessary to perform a quantitative risk assessment after a qualitative risk assessment for a higher level of risk assessment.

scholarly journals EVALUASI KESELAMATAN DAN KESEHATAN KERJA PADA PRAKTIKUM PERANCANGAN TEKNIK INDUSTRI II MENGGUNAKAN METODE JOB SAFETY ANALYSIS

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 11
Author(s):  
Rina Sulistiyowati ◽  
Bambang Suhardi ◽  
Eko Pujiyanto
Keyword(s):  
Engineering Design ◽  
Occupational Safety ◽  
Safety Analysis ◽  
Occupational Safety And Health ◽  
Industrial Engineering ◽  
Risk Level ◽  
Analysis Method ◽  
Safety And Health ◽  
Workplace Accidents ◽  
Job Safety

Praktikum Perancangan Teknik Industri II(PPTI II) merupakan bagian dari praktikum terintegrasi di Program Studi Teknik Industri UNS yang melakukan kegiatan manufakturdaribahan baku sampai menjadi produk. Prosesmanufaktur menggunakanmesin yang menimbulkan suara bising yang belum sesuai dengan Keselamatan dan Kesehatan Kerja(K3).Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengevaluasiK3 pada PPTI IIuntuk mengantisipasi terjadi kecelakaan kerja. Analisis K3menggunakan metode Job Safety Analysis(JSA)denganmengidentifikasi dan menganalisis potensi risiko kecelakaan kerja. Metode penelitian ini dilakukan dengan pengukuran kebisingan dan suhuserta melakukan wawancara terstruktur kepada praktikan. Pengukuran yang dilakukan adalah pengukuran kebisingan dan suhu dalam laboratorium dan untuk memperkuat hasil pengukuran dilakukan wawancara terstruktur terhadap 20 praktikan dari total praktikan yang berjumlah 71 mahasiswakemudian melakukan analisis menggunakan JSA. Hasil penilaian tingkat risikodiketahui bahwa 66,67% potensi risiko paling tinggi adalah karena kebisingan diatas Nilai Ambang Batas. Abstract [Title:Work Safety and Health Evaluation on Industrial Engineering Design Practicum II using Job Safety Analysis Method]Industrial Engineering Design Practicum II (IEDP II) is part of an integrated practicum in the UNS Industrial Engineering Study Program that carry out manufacturing activities from raw materials to products. The manufacturing process usesmachines that cause noise that are not in accordance with Occupational Safety and Health (OHS). This study consisted to evaluate OHS in IEDP II to anticipate workplace accidents. OHS analysis uses the Job Safety Analysis Method by identifying and analyzingthe potential risk of workplace accidents. The method of this research is carried out by measuring noise and temperature and conducting structured interviews with practitioners.Measurements made were measurements of noise and temperature in the laboratory and to strengthen the results of measurements conducted structuredinterviews of 20 practitioners from a total of 71 students who then analyzed using JSA. The results of the risk level assessment revealed that 66.67% of the highest risk potential was due to noise.Keywords:JobSafety Analysis;Occupational Safety and Health; Industrial Engineering Design Practicum II

scholarly journals Utilization of Machine Learning in Supporting Occupational Safety and Health Decisions in Hospital Workplace

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 7262-7272
Author(s):  
K. Koklonis ◽  
M. Sarafidis ◽  
M. Vastardi ◽  
D. Koutsouris
Keyword(s):  
Machine Learning ◽  
Occupational Safety ◽  
Area Under The Curve ◽  
Predictive Performance ◽  
Machine Learning Algorithms ◽  
Occupational Safety And Health ◽  
Occupational Risks ◽  
Safety And Health ◽  
Average Accuracy ◽  
Accident Data

The prediction of possible future incidents or accidents and the efficiency assessment of the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) interventions are essential for the effective protection of healthcare workers, as the occupational risks in their workplace are multiple and diverse. Machine learning algorithms have been utilized for classifying post-incident and post-accident data into the following 5 classes of events: Needlestick/Cut, Falling, Incident, Accident, and Safety. 476 event reports from Metaxa Cancer Hospital (Greece), during 2014-2019, were used to train the machine learning models. The developed models showed high predictive performance, with area under the curve range 0.950-0.990 and average accuracy of 93% on the 10-fold cross set, compared to the safety engineer’s study reports. The proposed DSS model can contribute to the prediction of incidents or accidents and efficiency evaluation of OSH interventions.

scholarly journals Development of risk assessment tool using damaging energy and argumentation theory for evaluating construction occupational safety and health risks

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nor Haslinda Abas ◽  
Nick Blismas ◽  
Helen Lingard
Keyword(s):  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Phase I ◽  
Occupational Safety ◽  
Damage Model ◽  
Argumentation Theory ◽  
Occupational Safety And Health ◽  
Assessment Model ◽  
Risk Assessment Model ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Safety And Health

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to describe the development of a risk assessment model to assess the occupational safety and health (OSH) risks presented by different construction approaches, namely traditional and industrialised building system (IBS). The development process applies the concept of argumentation theory, which helps construction designers integrate the management of OSH risk into the design process. In addition, an energy damage model is used as an underpinning framework for developing the model.Design/methodology/approachDevelopment of the model was achieved through two phases. Phase I involved collection of data on the activities involved in the construction process and their associated OSH risks, derived from five different case studies, field observation and interviews. Knowledge of design aspects that have the potential to impact on OSH was obtained from document analysis. Using the knowledge obtained in phase I, a model was developed in the form of argument trees (Phase II), which represent a reasoning template with regard to options available to designers when they make judgements about aspects of their designs. Inferences from these aspects eventually determined the magnitude of the damaging energies for every activity involved. Finally, the model was validated by panels of experts, and revisions and amendments were made to the model accordingly.FindingsThe risk assessment model development revealed that the concept of argumentation theory and energy damage model is suitable to represent design safety risk knowledge and effectively address the designer's role in making decisions in their designs and further illuminate the level of OSH risk their designs pose.Practical implicationsThe developed model provides best-practice reasoning support for construction designers, which help them to understand the impact of their designs decisions on worker's safety and health, and thereby assist them to further mitigate the risk to an acceptable level.Originality/valueThis study departs from the existing tool in that the model was developed based upon the combination of argumentation theory and energy damage model. The significance of the model is discussed.

scholarly journals Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment in Water Treatment Plant considering Environmental Health and Safety Practice

2018 ◽  
Vol 31 ◽  
pp. 06011
Author(s):  
Fajrul Falakh ◽  
Onny Setiani
Keyword(s):  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Water Treatment ◽  
Occupational Safety ◽  
Treatment Plant ◽  
Water Treatment Plant ◽  
Hazard Identification ◽  
Occupational Safety And Health ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Safety And Health ◽  
Environment Control

Water Treatment Plant (WTP) is an important infrastructure to ensure human health and the environment. In its development, aspects of environmental safety and health are of concern. This paper case study was conducted at the Water Treatment Plant Company in Semarang, Central Java, Indonesia. Hazard identification and risk assessment is one part of the occupational safety and health program at the risk management stage. The purpose of this study was to identify potential hazards using hazard identification methods and risk assessment methods. Risk assessment is done using criteria of severity and probability of accident. The results obtained from this risk assessment are 22 potential hazards present in the water purification process. Extreme categories that exist in the risk assessment are leakage of chlorine and industrial fires. Chlorine and fire leakage gets the highest value because its impact threatens many things, such as industrial disasters that could endanger human life and the environment. Control measures undertaken to avoid potential hazards are to apply the use of personal protective equipment, but management will also be better managed in accordance with hazard control hazards, occupational safety and health programs such as issuing work permits, emergency response training is required, Very useful in overcoming potential hazards that have been determined.

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