Student RiskAssess: an easy way to meet the safety requirements of the new Australian Curriculum

1. Student RiskAssess:an easy way to meet the safety requirements of the new Australian Curriculum Phillip Crisp EcoSolve Australia Pty Ltd

2. Advantages of risk assessments • reduced frequency of injuries to students to school staff • reduced costs for paperwork, litigation and payouts • compliance with the law (c.f. industry) • helps maintain variety of chemicals and equipment • compliance with the Australian Curriculum

3. Safety requirements in the Australian Curriculum for Science Years 4-12Students to take increasingly active role in consideration of risk and safety Years 9 &10“Assess risk” (Content description)“identify potential hazards of chemicals and biological materials . . .” (Elaboration) Years 11 & 12“Conducting risk assessments (Inquiry skill)

4. Australian Curriculum for Science Implementation dates: South Australia DECD 2013: Year 8 2014: Year 92015: Year 10 Completion: R-7 in 2015 & 8-12 in 2017 Other States and Territories2012-2014 depending on school system

5. Student RiskAssess is a • fun • interesting • instructive way to meet the safety requirementsof the Australian Curriculum

6. RiskAssess “RiskAssess” “Student RiskAssess” for Staff for Students Started 2008 NEW in 2013to meetAust Curriculum

7. Student RiskAssess • web-based risk assessment tool • tailored to the school situation • customised for students • provides electronic templates (AU/ISO) database information on risks (chemical, equipment, biological) equipment ordering lab scheduling • easy for teachers, especially RA users

8. Logic • separate sections for student, teacher and laboratory technician • initial assessment of inherent riskif low, go to endif medium or more, record control measuresif high or extreme, third reviewer required • cross-checking by teacher/labtech/reviewer • scheduling and ordering system to save time • inexpensive ($160 + GST per school per year)

9. Details • access from school/home • nothing to install on computer (instant update) • unlimited number of simultaneous users and risk assessments (virtually) • minimal data entry • complements MSDS/SDS • continuing input from science staff • multiple backups of data & backup server • support and advice

10. Electronic devices • computers • laptops • iPads (and other tablets) • smart phones (iPhones, Android, etc) Digital technologies* are emphasised in Science Inquiry Skills, Years 7-10 *technology systems that handle digital data including hardware and software for specific purposes

11. Summary of benefits • student engagement • uses newest technologies • training in life skills • inexpensive • happy students and teachers!

12. Work Health & Safety Act 2012 . . . a duty . . . to eliminate/minimise risks to health and safety as far as is reasonably practicable. . . . taking into account and weighing up all relevant matters including:(a) the likelihood of the hazard or the risk concerned occurring; and(b) the degree of harm that might result from the hazard or the risk. . . . Part 2, Sections 17 and 18

13. DECDRisk Management Framework • Based on ISO 31000 Risk Management • Context, Identify/Analyse/Evaluate/Treat risks • Review risks at least annually • Risk Assessment template + Risk Matrix DECD, Procedure No: 07/4385Risk Management Framework, 1 Feb 2011.

14. You should: Riskassessment • identify • analyse • evaluate • treat Riskcontrol risks Before: Establish the context After: Monitor and review Always: Consult and communicate

15. Risk identification • history of “accidents” and “near-accidents” at schoolat similar schools • brainstorming, preferably with colleagues • checklists of possible risks

16. Risk analysis To assess the severity of a risk, you need to consider: • the consequences of the event, and • the chance that it will occur (likelihood) AU ISO 31000:2009 “Risk management” HB 89:2012 “Risk management guidelines”

17. Risk evaluation To evaluate the severity of a risk, you need to use a decision matrix, known as a “risk matrix”. Severity of a risk is the output of a table, based on: • the consequences of the event, and • the chance that it will occur (likelihood)

18. Risk treatment Hierarchy of options: elimination substitution isolation engineering administration personal protective equipment

19. Advantages of risk assessments • reduced frequency of injuries to students to school staff • reduced costs for paperwork, litigation and payouts • compliance with the law (c.f. industry) • helps maintain variety of chemicals and equipment

20. Advantages of a formalised system • ensures proper consideration of risks and control measures • standardisation • storage of records for legal purposes • communication between teachers and laboratory technicians

21. Is it practical? Paper-based system NO (almost) Electronic system YES

22. Paper-based system • time consuming • unwieldy forms many prompts - mostly empty space few prompts - requires knowledge & skill • non-searchable • difficult to update • storage problems

23. Electronic system • relatively rapid • prompts sensitive to context • reduces paper consumption • easy to review and update • easy monitoring • easy storage • demonstrated to work in schools(e.g. >800 schools in AU,NZ&CA)

24. RiskAssess • web-based risk assessment tool • customised to the school situation • provides electronic templates (AU/ISO) database information on risks (chemical, equipment, biological) equipment ordering lab scheduling • easy sharing of experiment templates for customisation

25. Logic • separate sections for teacher and laboratory technician • initial assessment of inherent riskif low, go to endif medium or more, record control measuresif high or extreme, third reviewer required • cross-checking by teacher/labtech/reviewer • scheduling and ordering system to save time • inexpensive ($160 per school per year)

26. Details • access from school/home • nothing to install on computer (instant update) • unlimited number of simultaneous users and risk assessments (virtually) • minimal data entry • complements MSDS/SDS • student subscriptions for Aust Curriculum • continuing input from science staff • multiple backups of data & backup server • support and advice

27. Summary of benefits • safer laboratories • better communication • meets legal requirements • reduced costs • happy lab techs and teachers!

28. Risk matrix Code Consequences Minor Severe OK= acceptable risk x Likely Unlikely ? Likelihood ?= doubtful CONSIDER THE OPTIONS ?? OK x= unacceptable risk DON’T DO IT!

29. Written procedure Equipment Materials Chemicals Living organisms People Potential hazards Standard operating procedure Manufacturer User instructions instructions Potential hazards Standard handling procedure EXPERIMENT or ACTIVITY RISK ASSESSMENT Potential hazards Standard handling procedure MSDS Potential hazards Standard handling procedure KEY Component risk assessment Potential hazards Standard handling procedure Overall risk assessment

30. Multi-level scale of consequences • Level 1 : first aid treatment at the school(Minor) • Level 2: treatment by a doctor(Moderate) • Level 3: immediate hospitalization(Severe)

31. Multi-level scale of likelihood • Level 1: known to commonly occur; not unexpected in the class(Likely) • Level 2: uncommon, rare, but sufficiently frequent to have been witnessed by self or a known person(Unlikely) • Level 3: very rare; have heard of it happening; may possibly have been witnessed by self or a known person(Very unlikely)

32. Risk matrix Consequences Code Minor Moderate Severe OK= acceptable risk (low risk) x x Likely Unlikely Very unlikely OK ?= doubtful CONSIDER OTHER OPTIONS Likelihood ? x ??= very doubtful Either DON’T DO IT or PROCEED WITH GREAT CARE OK ?? x= unacceptable risk DON’T DO IT! OK OK

33. DECDMulti-level scale of consequences • Level 1 : incident with or without minor injury(Insignificant) • Level 2: first aid or minor lost time injury(Minor) • Level 3: serious injury and/or illness(Moderate) • Level 4: multiple serious injuries(Major) • Level 5: death of adult or child(Critical)

34. DECDMulti-level scale of likelihood • Level 1: less than once in 15 years (possibility < 5%)(Rare) • Level 2: at least once in 5-15 years (possibility 5-25%) (Unlikely) • Level 3: at least once in 2-5 years (possibility 25-50%) (Possible) • Level 4: at least once in a year (possibility 50-75%) (Likely) • Level 5: multiple times in a year (possibility >75%) (Almost certain)

35. Consequences Insignificant Minor Moderate Major Critical DECDRiskmatrix Almost certain Likely Possible Unlikely Rare Moderate High High Extreme Extreme Moderate Moderate High High Extreme Likelihood Low Moderate Moderate High High Low Low Moderate Moderate High Low Low Low Moderate High