Risk Assessment and Evaluation - Example

Evaluating Risk Name: Institution: Introduction. The work space under consideration in this report is the engine attachment segment of a motor vehicle assembly line. The segment is referred to as a manual handling segment in a manufacturing process. Manual handling tasks are defined as activities that requiring the use of force exerted by an individual, to carry, lower, lift, restrain or move an inanimate or animate object[Fin96]. According to the American Bureau of labour, the manufacturing industry recorded 304 injuries in 2013 statistics, (An average of two employees per every 100 employees in the industry). [Bur14] This made it the fifth riskiest industry in America. Therefore, it is important to examine some of the risk factors associated with this industry.  Description The local area is the engine and Axle fixing area of the chassis line. In this stage, a conveyor belt and hydraulic lifts are used to fix the engine and the axels to the car body. Manual handling is required to lock all the parts into place. The adjacent area comprises of the entire assembly processes (trim assembly, chassis assembly and final assembly)[Gra95]. The external part is the city the business is located in while the remote area is the entire country. Assessment and evaluation Frequency of risk Impact scale 1. More than one year per event 1. $1000 or less 2. Once a year 2. $1001 to $99,999 3. Every three months 3. $100,001 to $999,999 4. Every month 4. $1,000,000 to $1,999,999 5. Every week or more than once a week 5. $2,000,000 or more The combined score (figure is calculated by multiplying the score of a particular risk factor on the frequency scale to its score on the impact scale (FS * IS) 1). LOCAL A) PEOPLE Mishandling of machines leading to injury/ loss of life/ disability/ loss of income (5*2) The threat of fire in the assembly line leading to loss of life/ injury/ loss of income/ litigation costs (1*4) Mental disorders due to the strain of the job/ leads to loss of income and loss of life/ litigation costs (3*2) Leakage chemical products/ causes injury/ death / loss/ disability / loss of income/ litigation costs (2* 2) Noise pollution/ may cause disability/ loss of income/ litigation costs (1*1) Accidents falls or collision with machinery/ causes death/ injury/ loss of income/ litigation costs (4*3) Strikes and go slows by employees/ causes loss of income (1*5) B) PROCESS Electricity failure/ interrupts production flow/ loss in revenues. (2* 4) Failure of the computer software/ causes an interruption in the mechanized segments of the line/ halts other processes along the line/decreases production rate/ loss of revenues (1*4). Mechanical failures in assembly machines/ causes disruption in production rate/ increased production costs/ loss of revenues (3*3). C) PLACE Fire hazards / causing damage to the equipment and section of the building (1*5). Air pollution/ causing the environment to be inhospitable (1*4) Noise pollution: causes the working environment to be inhospitable (1*1). D) PRODUCT Poor quality of output due to negligence (1*5) 2) ADJACENT A) PEOPLE The threat of fire in the factory, leading to loss of life/ injury/ loss of income/ litigation costs (1*4) Use of chemical products/ causes injury/ death / loss/ disability / loss of income/ litigation costs (2*3). Noise pollution from other parts of the factory building/ may cause disability/ loss of income/ litigation costs (1*1) Accidental falls, collision and negligence machinery by employees in other segments / causes death/ injury/ loss of income/ litigation costs (4*3). Poor management/ may lead to strikes/ civil action/ litigation costs (1*2). B) PROCESS Electricity failure in the whole factory: Causes interruption production flow/ loss in revenues (1*3). Failure of the computer software/ causes interruption in the mechanized segments of the manufacturing / halts other process along the line/decreases production rate/ loss of revenues (1*3) Mechanical failures in factory machines such as trucks: causes disruption in production rate/ increased production costs/ loss of revenues (2*3) Delays in inventory supply: causes derailment of the assembly process (1*3). C) PLACE Fire hazards / causing damage to the equipment and section of the building (1*5). Air pollution/ causing the environment to be inhospitable (1*5) Noise pollution/ causing the working environment to be uncomfortable (1*2) D) PRODUCT Fire/ causing damage/ destruction to the finished products (1*4) Poor quality of output due to negligence by other departments such as purchase of substandard inputs (1*4). 3) EXTERNAL A) PEOPLE Cases of insecurity in the city: It may cause death, injury, high medical costs 3*2). Natural disasters in the area/ causing death/ injury/ loss of revenue (1*5) Incidences of civil disobedience and civil unrest: Causes injury and loss of revenues (1*4). B) PROCESS A failure in the regional electricity grid: Causes loss of power/ interruption of manufacturing processes (1*4). C) PLACE Extreme weather conditions: causing the shutdown of operations/ damages to property/ loss of revenues (1*4). The local infrastructure conditions: Raises repair and transport costs due to poor transport system (2*3). D) PRODUCT Changes in state laws regarding safety measure/ causes loses in terms of changes to existing/ litigation costs stock (1*5). Innovation or improved quality of substitutes/ causes a slump in the demand levels for the product (1*4). 4) REMOTE A) PEOPLE Incidences of civil disobedience and civil unrest across the country: Causes injury and loss of revenues (1*4) Acts of terrorism: May affect the mental state of workers causing low morale and productivity (1*3). Country outbreak of infectious diseases: Causing anxiety among employees/ low productivity/ absenteeism (1*3) Incidences of war: Causes anxiety among employees/ low productivity/ absenteeism (1*3) B) PROCESS Slump in the economy: Leads to lower production rates (1*5). C) PLACE Changes in national laws regarding safety measures: causes lose in terms of changes to existing infrastructure (1*5). D) PRODUCT Changes in national laws regarding safety measure/ causes loses in terms of changes to existing/ litigation costs stock (1*5) Innovation or improved quality of substitutes/ causes a slump in the demand levels for the product. (1*5) Evaluation. The risk catalogue shows that risk factors affecting people in all four areas occur most frequently. However, they do not cause as much impact so the overall score is not extremely high. On the other hand, risk factors to the process or the property plant and equipment are more costly. However, the fact that the frequency is low for the latter three segments shows that the management has put in place mechanisms to mitigate such events. Priority The four most critical risk factors are, 1 Accidental falls or collision with machinery in the local and adjacent areas (12) 2 Mishandling of machines at the local area (10 3 Mechanical failures in assembly machines in the local area (9) 4 Mental disorders due to the strain of the job (6) As observed, the threat to the employee well being is the most critical risk factor due to the frequency rather than the impact of each incident[Hea13]. The machines and equipment condition come second due to their cost and their importance in the whole assembly process. Measures need to be taken to ensure that the employees are better trained and equipped to handle the machines correctly to protect themselves and the equipment[Hug11]. Reference Fin96: , (Finch, et al., 1996, p. 14), Bur14: , (Bureau Of Labour Statistics, 2014, p. 4), Gra95: , (Graham, 1995, p. 75), Hea13: , (Health and Safety Executive, 2013, p. 3), Hug11: , (Hughes & Ferrett, 2011, p. 35), Read More