Risk Management in the Workplace

Assessing risk is a critical component of eliminating a hazardous workplace environment. Not only does a regular risk assessment limit potential workplace injuries, but it can also be used as a tool to identify any inefficiencies or inconsistencies within your operations.

Truth be told, we prepare our blog articles weeks and sometimes months in advance. When we originally drafted this article, COVID-19 was still in its infancy, and not the global epidemic that it clearly is now. COVID-19 has demonstrated the importance of having mitigation plans in place for when a crisis does occur – and unexpectedly.


What approach should I use to perform a risk assessment?

A risk is ultimately considered a “worst case” scenario. This implies that in order to assess it’s impact on the company and it’s employees, you would need to conduct a scenario analysis. You don’t need to be a risk assessment expert to perform this type of analysis; anyone from your company can do it. A scenario analysis simply utilizes probability and the corresponding outcome to determine if action is required. You should use something similar to the chart below when analyzing each risk.

• If the risk falls within the “Low” category: Monitor these risks on an annual to bi-monthly basis. Keep it on your radar, but you may not need to take any action immediately.

• If the risk falls within the “Medium” category: While these risks may not require your urgent attention, you should develop a plan to mitigate them over the course of a few weeks.

• If the risk falls within the “High” category: These risks need to be addressed as soon as possible.

• If the risk falls within the “Extreme” category: These risks need to be mitigated immediately upon detection and take priority over other risks.
  
  

When and how often should I perform a risk assessment?

Depending on the industry, companies typically perform this type of assessment on an annual basis; however, it is recommended that companies who hire for safety-sensitive positions analyze on a monthly or weekly basis.

You should also perform a risk assessment when your operations change in any way (new machinery, new processes in place, changes made to federal, provincial, or municipal regulations, and pandemics).

What are the ways in which I can correct these risks?

1. Employee training programs – Education for your employees is a crucial piece to ensuring a healthy and safe workplace. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought education to the forefront, now more than ever. Ensuring your staff understands your company protocols, processes, and what staff can do to ensure they are educated and safe, are imperative. It’s alright to over-communicate in challenging times. Staff will feel comfortable when hearing/reading updates, as opposed to being left in the ‘dark’ and having questions that are not addressed or answered. Employee training can also include proper insight and knowledge when using various machinery in different scenarios. Additionally, your supervisors should be trained and certified to be able to detect when employees are showing signs of impairment on the job. This is a requirement if your company operates under The Department of Transportation (DOT). The DOT also acts as a “Gold Standard” for many other industries. It is important to have frequent and re-occurring employee training programs in place.

2. Frequent machinery replacement/repairs – Ensure you designate an employee to evaluate machine maintenance often. Employee training also applies here – employees should be trained to be able to detect if a machine is not operating normally, on their own. If the machinery begins to malfunction in any way, immediately schedule an expert to take a look to determine if a replacement is needed.

3. Have a drug and alcohol policy in place – A drug and alcohol policy is a way to deter dangerous employee behaviour. It’s very important to have drug and alcohol testing of employees in place for those who hold safety-sensitive positions. It is recommended that you seek consultation from industry experts to ensure the proper substances are included in your testing panels. Industry experts can also help determine if your company’s reasons for testing are legitimate and defensible.

4. Injury management – Have an injury management program in place for your employees in the case that they do experience a workplace injury. These programs offer immediate medical attention and assessments, reducing the risk of further complications on the job site, and potential liability concerns for your organization.

Risks come in many shapes and forms and while some are unavoidable, others are easily mitigated. COVID-19 has changed the way companies operate globally. It is not too late to start conducting risk analysis and mitigation plans for potential business altering actions.

Regardless of the type of risk, it is critical that every employer conduct risk assessments on a regular basis to prevent the unimaginable. You do not need to be an expert to assess risk, however, when it comes to managing risk, it is recommended that you utilize external resources and professionals to take the necessary steps to minimize and correct hazardous situations as soon as possible.

KERI SCHRADER

BBA, MBA Candidate

Account Manager
DriverCheck Inc.

Keri is an Account Manager for DriverCheck and is pursuing her Master’s degree in Business Administration at the University of Calgary. As a highly motivated MBA Candidate with a Business degree, a Finance specialization and a Minor in Economics, she has developed strong business acumen while focusing on strategic problem solving, risk assessment, financial reporting, and consumer behavior. Keri contributes value to DriverCheck’s Client Support team by building and maintaining robust relationships with large clients across the Western region of Canada.