Risk Assessment in the Workplace - Case Study Example

Introduction This poster aims to provide a critical evaluation of the national risk of civil emergencies for individuals and organizations. It will do this by critically examining the strategic decisions made by the government to avert situations that threaten to seriously damage human welfare such as loss of life, human illness and injury, homelessness, damage to property, disruption to a supply of money and food and energy, disruption in the transport and communication system, and health provision in the United Kingdom. It will critically asses the strength and weaknesses of the risk assessment tools used and asses the government’s choice to use the risk assessment tool. Risk Assessment tool A qualitative risk assessment method was used. A redefined value matrix was used as the main assessment tool alongside threat ranking by risk evaluation. The matrix is crafted mainly from historical facts indicating threats that have faced the country. These threats are then predicted as potential risks and emergencies. A combination of historical events and expert analysis give a prediction of the likelihood of an event or a risk factor (Hawkesbuty.nsw.gov., 2012). The likelihood of a civil emergency and the impact of such an emergency are assessed on different and independent scales. A numeric scale is combined with expert analysis in predicting the possible outcome of each specific risk event. However, this is done subjectively where every risk is balanced against the potentiality of the causer event or person to affect it. This information is then used in planning. To establish the extent of risk impact on civilians, the expected consequences are viewed against the risk act. The assessment tool used in this assessment has strength of relying on expert information alongside history in predicting the possibility of events. The risk assessors have characteristics of experience, expert, and competence in them. The numerical values used are not real figures but are relative based on opinions. The assessment process is also unambiguous, meaning results are replicable when different assessors are used. The weakness of the tool is that the assessors are limited in considering possible consequences and probabilities in threat realization. The consequences were exclusively used to determine the values of all parameters. Secondly, the factor of independent assessment is missing hence unreliability of the results. The information obtained from history and/or experts may be prejudiced making the assessment insignificant. The threat ranking by risk evaluation tool used has a weakness of giving invalid results. While two parameters were considered here, i.e. impact of a risk event against the likelihood of its occurrence, it was assumed that each impact is equivalent to a corresponding resource value. This cannot be actualized since threats are observed differently relative to susceptibility. This therefore means several factors may affect an assessed risk. Generic Risk Assessment The risk assessment is consistent with national civil emergencies experienced in the UK. It is, by a significant extent, informed by history of the country and as well expert analysis. The findings of this assessment are therefore valid to the objective of the assessment. The validity should be viewed from the context that the identified risks are perennial occurrences with varied consequenses. Most of them are likely to reoccur in the near future since they are influenced by natural, social, economic, and political factors that are consistent with the countries history. However, it cannot be elucidated from the assessment what time in the five years a specific event would occur, equally the magnitude of damage one event might cause. To this end, there is an embedment of the predicted instances on chance or probability. Nevertheless, if issues at hand are specially assessed rather than everything, a more clear report would be made. Such a report would be reflective of the extent of impacts of the damages. Results Several risks were identified each affecting specific or general aspects of civil lives with varied impact. The evaluation of a risk will be subject to the overall economic implication to the country rather than specific consequences of the risk. This is more objective and it provides a level evaluation ground for all risks. According to the National Risk Register of Civil Emergencies, the risks have been classified on the basis of likelihood of occurrence. The most significant is the Pandemic Influenza; this is followed in order by: coastal flooding, and catastrophic terrorist attack, severe effusive (gas-rich) volcanic eruptions abroad. The civil emergencies include: human diseases, Flooding, volcanic hazards, severe space weather, animal diseases, major industrial accidents, major transport accidents, disruptive industrial action, malicious attacks, attacks on crowded places, attacks on infrastructure, attacks on transport system, unconventional attacks, and cyber security. All the mentioned risks have a place in the history of UK and were identified in order of arrangement as prevalence and with significant short and long term economic implications. The human diseases, according to the report, stand to affect labour by keeping away potential workers from work. Such an effect will reduce daily labour output which will affect the general performance of the economy. Secondly, it will mean the government has to spend on medication and increased medical insurance and compensations in cases of fatalities. Floods will destroy structures and property of many Britons. This will force the government to engage resources in evacuation and providing relief services. Flooding will also ground industries in affected areas with an overall effect of an economic regress. Disruptive industrial actions will lower labour productivity. Time wastage during strikes and go slows together with property destructions associated with them will only lower the net production rate causing impair to the economy (Pinheiro, 2012). Accidents and attacks of different kinds will reduce the economically active population. It will also cause a lot of spending on the medication and insurance of the affected. With terrorist attacks, investors will relocate to safer countries while the tourism industry will also melt down. Repetition Significant levels of repetitiveness surround the risk assessment. Each event considered as a factor to civil emergency has a possibility of recurrence. The variation, however, rests in the frequency of occurrence, time frame (season) when it occurs, and the duration of one cycle of occurrence(Genaidy et al.,1993) . The tabulated information derived from expert opinion and on history is enough indicator of repetitiveness of the risk events. Relevance of Report The report provided in the assessment above is relevant. This is supported by the historical alignment of the risk factors and the observed relation between these risk factors and socio-economic and political climates in the country. The assessment conclusively made recommendations to be affected government department so as to stimulate mitigations and prevent adverse effect of the identified risk factors. To this end, the civil society and the country at large is ably prepared to receive and deal with any potential threat. The psychological and social damages caused by the sudden occurrence of these events can no longer be feared. The while nation is psychologically prepared for any eventuality. The country is expected to adopt this report in total while a review will be necessary to provide a better focus and direction on the extent to which the recommended adjustments are to be effected. The shortfall of this report is seen in creating anxiety among interested parties. A case is the potential terror attack. While the security personnel will be on a high alert to avert any attack, the local citizen lives in fear of an impending attack. Recommendations The findings of the risk register were based on facts and as a result most of the recommendations made were consistent. The possibilities of having the disasters predicted occurring are high. The chapter 3 of the report outlines the historical perspective of each risk factor, mentioning the prevalence magnitude and the effects it has caused on the country’s economy. It further advises the key stakeholders on mitigations to take so as to avert predicted future economic implications. It should also be discounted that, the report outlined areas of interest to most economies and to varied individuals. These facts make the ideas recommended consequential. A weakness in the recommendations or mitigations taken by the government is in priority choices. For instance, the report outlines that the government is operating a project of dealing with new and emerging infections and its SARS contingency plan would provide the basis for dealing with any future outbreaks should the disease re-emerge. This can be viewed as an inconsequential action. It is known that the outbreak infectious diseases largely affect labour intensity. To this end, it should be recommended that the government prioritize on immunization program which should reach out to a larger fraction of the population. This will ease an economic burden in case of outbreak. Case Studies The cases studied are relevant to the economic interest of the country and the objectives of the assessment. The concerns of every nation are to increase its economic viability by increasing the use of its resources while minimizing risk factors. This being the case, it is important that a risk study be conducted to inform national policy planners and the management of national resources so as to sustain national growth (Euling et al., 2011). Focus on oversee occurrences and their considerations as risk factors is equally a strength of this report. The United Kingdom benefits a lot in term imports and export from countries abroad. It is to this extent that affairs of the partner nations are important. While planning and identifying risk factors involved, the foreign countries in question should be brought on board. Conclusion This report was both necessary and well timed. The development of a nation especially during this era when nations compete for scarce resources to enable economic growth depends much on the ability of its leaders to manage risks. A government in a democracy belongs to the people and is created to serve them. In this regard, what affect the people today and in future should be identified and addressed. Such addresses will ensure the economic, social and political stability of a state. To achieve this, an assessment of the national risks must be conducted by specialist individuals or organizations. The organizations/ individuals must then advice key stakeholders accordingly. The case evaluated above considered what the government of United Kingdom considers as a threat to her citizens in five years spell. It is observed that varied sectors of the economy that contribute towards the welfare of citizens were considered. The threats associated with the sectors were identified and extrapolated relative to historical and expert person’s observations. Their consequences (long & short term) were identified. Recommendations to stakeholders were then made. It is worth noting that the approach to the assessment was viable to the economy of UK. The areas studied are equally relevant to the interest of the country at present while the use of expert enabled preparation of a replicable report. The weaknesses observed in the report relates to the extend to which government strategies and priorities should be aliened with the address of the issues mentioned. An adoption of this assessment report is necessary for sustainable economic growth. However, there is need for review of the recommended actions. References CabinetOffice. (2012). National Risk Register of Civil Emergencies. Retrieved from: https://update.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/sites/default/files/resources/CO_NationalRiskRegister_2012_acc.pdf Euling S, Y et al. ( 2011). Use of genomic data in risk assessment case study: II. Evaluation of the dibutyl phthalate toxicogenomic data set. Retrieved from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21745491 Genaidy A, M. et al. (1993). Ergonomic risk assessment: preliminary guidelines for analysis of repetition force and posture. Retrieved from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8064150 Hawkesbuty.nsw.gov. (2012). Hazard Identification and Risk Assesment Tool. Retrieved From: http://www.hawkesbury.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0009/18999/Hazard-Identification-and-Risk-Assessment-Tool.pdf Pinheiro Angelo et,al. (2012). Risk Assessment in the Workplace” chapter in The Occupational.Environment. http://www.asse.org/education/seminarfest13/docs/PSJ%20Articles/Sem%2015/Assessing%20risk_Pinheiro_0911Z.pdf Read More