Health Risk Assessments
Health risk assessments are key aspects of setting up an occupational hygiene and health risk management programme. Assessment will be completed by certified occupational hygienists and conducted in accordance with international best practice.
Our health risk assessments incorporated aspects of several published health risk assessment models, including those developed by the New Zealand Occupational Hygiene Society (NZOHS), the Australian Institute of Occupational Hygienists (AIOH), the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA), and the Health and Safety Executive of the United Kingdom (HSE UK).
The assessment involved a walkthrough incorporating real-time hazard detection technology to identify each similar exposure group (SEG) and the health risks (stressors) they are exposed to.
Health Risk Assessments provide:
-
Comprehensive Insight
Identifies potential health and safety hazards such as chemical exposures, noise levels, dust, ergonomics, and physical hazards.
-
Early Detection
Pinpoints emerging issues before they become significant risks, aiding in preventive measures.
-
Contextual Understanding
Provides a clear understanding of how workers interact with their environment, tools, and materials.
-
Tailored Risk Evaluation
Helps in assessing specific risks associated with particular processes or work activities.
-
Targeted Interventions
Facilitates the design of interventions to reduce or eliminate hazards, directly improving workplace safety.
-
Health Preservation
Identifies conditions that could lead to chronic illnesses, such as respiratory issues or hearing loss, allowing for mitigation.
-
Feedback Collection
Provides an opportunity to engage with employees and gather their insights on safety concerns.
-
Safety Culture Promotion
Reinforces the organisation's commitment to health and safety, improving morale and trust.
-
Baseline Establishment
Creates a benchmark for future hazard evaluations and improvements.
-
Informed Decision-Making
Provides data to guide policies, training programs, and engineering controls.
Conducting a detailed health risk assessment typically allows for substantial cost reductions in additional work by:
Reducing the number of people or stressors that need to be monitored or reducing the number of samples that have to be taken.
Reduce the number of SEGs included in health monitoring programmes.
Ensure key exposures don’t get missed from the monitoring scope reducing the likelihood of issues associated with unidentified hazards.
In summary, an occupational hygiene walk-through survey is a proactive, cost-effective approach to safeguarding worker health, ensuring regulatory compliance, and improving workplace productivity.