Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2016L00414:body:0:p8
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2016L00414
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 18001–20799

about hazards and risks relevant to particular industries and types of work is available from regulators, industry associations, unions, technical specialists and safety consultants.
Manufacturers and suppliers can also provide information about hazards and safety precautions
for specific substances (safety data sheets), plant or processes (instruction manuals).
Analyse your records of health monitoring, workplace incidents, near misses, worker complaints, sick leave and the results of any inspections and investigations to identify hazards. If someone has been hurt doing a particular task, then a hazard exists that could hurt someone else. These incidents need to be investigated to find the hazard that caused the injury or illness.

3. STEP 2 – HOW TO ASSESS RISKS

A risk assessment involves considering what could happen if someone is exposed to a hazard
and the likelihood of it happening. A risk assessment can help you determine:
    * how severe a risk is
    * whether any existing control measures are effective
    * what action you should take to control the risk
    * how urgently the action needs to be taken.
A risk assessment can be undertaken with varying degrees of detail depending on the type of hazards and the information, data and resources that you have available. It can be as simple as
a discussion with your workers or involve specific risk analysis tools and techniques recommended by safety professionals.

3.1 When should a risk assessment be carried out?
A risk assessment should be done when:
    * there is uncertainty about how a hazard may result in injury or illness
    * the work activity involves a number of different hazards and there is a lack of understanding about how the hazards may interact with each other to produce new or greater risks
    * changes at the workplace occur that may impact on the effectiveness of control measures.
A risk assessment is mandatory under the WHS Regulations for high risk activities such as entry into confined spaces, diving work and live electrical work.
Some hazards that have exposure standards, such as noise and airborne contaminants, may require scientific testing or measurement by a competent person to accurately assess the risk and to check that the relevant exposure standard is not being exceeded (for example, by using noise meters to measure noise levels and using gas detectors to analyse oxygen levels in confined spaces).
A risk assessment is not necessary in the following situations:
    * Legislation requires some hazards or risks to be controlled in a specific way – these requirements must be complied with.
    * A code of practice or other guidance sets out a way of controlling a hazard or risk that is applicable to your situation and you choose to use the recommended controls.