IDENTIFYING

A N D A N A LY S I N G
SAFETY RISKS

I D E N T I F Y I N G A N D A N A LY S I N G S A F E T Y R I S K S
IDENTIFYING
Unidentified safety risks could take an enterprise by surprise and really harm its financial
future. Identifying and Analysing Safety Risks maps out a path for business owners, entrepre-
A N D A N A LY S I N G
neurs and safety practitioners to accurately and systematically identify, assess and eliminate
these risks in their organisation. SAFETY RISKS

All rights reserved. May not be reproduced in any form without permission from the publisher, except fair uses permitted under U.S. or applicable copyright law.
To create the context, the authors discuss the origins of safety risks and explain the legal
requirements that must be met to ensure a safe working environment. Most of the book is
dedicated to the analysis and assessment of safety risks: the process and scope of safety risk
assessments and the ultimate evaluation of safety risks. The role that cross-functional teams
play in safety risk assessment is explained in detail. The book concludes with practical guide-
lines on developing and implementing safety controls.

Identifying and Analysing Safety Risks includes:

• clearly defined learning outcomes and key terms at the start of each chapter to help
readers navigate the contents
• self-assessment questions at the end of each chapter to test the reader’s understanding
of the material
• definitions and practical examples to support explanations of important concepts

EDITOR: LEONIE LOUW

• practical guidelines on eliminating risks that can be used by all types of organisations in
South Africa and Africa.

Safety management students, safety officers and practitioners, managers and business
owners will find this book an informative and practical resource.

About the editor

Leonie Louw is a lecturer in Safety and Environmental Management at Unisa. She
holds a BCom in Business Management and a BCom Hons in General Management,
both from Unisa. Leonie has completed various postgraduate certificates in environmental
management and safety management and has co-authored several publications. She is
currently enrolled for an MCom degree at Unisa.
Copyright 2016. Juta and Company [Pty] Ltd.

www.juta.co.za EDITOR: LEONIE LOUW

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 Identifying and Analysing
Safety Risks

Editor
Leonie Louw

Contributors
Elriza Esterhuyzen
Leonie Louw
Dr Sarel Smit

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 Identifying and Analysing Safety Risks

First published 2016

Juta and Company (Pty) Ltd

PO Box 14373, Lansdowne 7779, Cape Town, South Africa

© 2016 Juta and Company (Pty) Ltd

ISBN 978 1 48512 108 4 (Print)

ISBN 978 1 48512 475 7 (WebPDF)

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any
form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or
any information storage or retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from
the publisher. Subject to any applicable licensing terms and conditions in the case of
electronically supplied publications, a person may engage in fair dealing with a copy of
this publication for his or her personal or private use, or his or her research or private
study. See section 12(1)(a) of the Copyright Act 98 of 1978.

Project manager: Marlene Rose

Editor: Anne-Louise Taylor
Proofreader: Jean Kilroe
Cover designer: Mignon Deacon
Typesetter: Henry Daniels at Elinye Ithuba

Typeset in 10.5 pt on 13 pt Rotis Serif

The authors and the publisher believe on the strength of due diligence exercised that
this work does not contain any material that is the subject of copyright held by another
person. In the alternative, they believe that any protected pre-existing material that
may be comprised in it has been used with appropriate authority or has been used in
circumstances that make such use permissible under the law.

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 Contents
About the editor and contributors.............................................................................................. ix
Acronyms and abbreviations........................................................................................................... x
Chapter 1: Introduction to safety risks – Leonie Louw..................................................... 1
Learning outcomes.................................................................................................................... 1
Key terms....................................................................................................................................... 1
1.1 Introduction................................................................................................................................. 1
1.2 Nature of safety risks............................................................................................................... 2
1.3 Identification of safety risks.................................................................................................. 2
1.4 Purpose of safety risk assessments..................................................................................... 3
1.5 Types of safety risks.................................................................................................................. 3
1.5.1 Speculative loss (financial risks)..................................................................... 3
1.5.2 Pure safety risks.................................................................................................... 3
1.6 The relationship between different types of safety risks........................................... 6
1.7 Situational safety risks............................................................................................................. 7
1.8 Conclusion.................................................................................................................................... 7
Self-assessment questions..................................................................................................... 8
References..................................................................................................................................... 8
Chapter 2: Origins of safety risks – Elriza Esterhuyzen..................................................... 9
Learning outcomes.................................................................................................................... 9
Key terms....................................................................................................................................... 9
2.1 Introduction................................................................................................................................. 9
2.2 Safety hazards and their characteristics.......................................................................... 9
2.3 Types of safety hazards........................................................................................................... 11
2.3.1 Single safety hazards.......................................................................................... 11
2.3.2 Compound safety hazards................................................................................ 12
2.3.3 Multiple safety hazards..................................................................................... 12
2.3.4 Potential safety hazards.................................................................................... 12
2.4 Beginning (origin) of safety risks........................................................................................ 13
2.5 Modes of safety hazard interaction................................................................................... 13
2.5.1 Dormant mode of safety hazard interaction............................................ 14
2.5.2 Armed mode of safety hazard interaction................................................ 14
2.5.3 Non-interactive mode of safety hazard interaction.............................. 14
2.5.4 Active mode of safety hazard interaction................................................. 15
2.5.5 Interactive mode of safety hazard interaction........................................ 15
2.5.6 Reactive mode of safety hazard interaction............................................. 15

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 2.5.7 Synergistic mode of safety hazard interaction........................................ 16
2.5.8 Antagonistic (opposing) mode of safety hazard interaction............. 16
2.6 Process of safety hazard interaction.................................................................................. 16
2.7 Contribution of safety hazard characteristics to safety risks.................................. 18
2.7.1 Contribution of structural characteristics of safety hazards............. 18
2.7.2 Contribution of functioning characteristics of safety hazards......... 21
2.8 Conclusion.................................................................................................................................... 23
Self-assessment questions..................................................................................................... 23
References..................................................................................................................................... 23
Chapter 3: Legal requirements relating to safety risks – Leonie Louw.................... 25
Learning outcomes.................................................................................................................... 25
Key terms ..................................................................................................................................... 25
3.1 Introduction................................................................................................................................. 25
3.2 Ensuring a safe working environment.............................................................................. 25
3.2.1 Humanitarian obligations................................................................................. 25
3.2.2 Financial considerations.................................................................................... 26
3.2.3 Legal requirements.............................................................................................. 26
3.3 Legislative safety risk directives........................................................................................... 26
3.3.1 Definition of risks................................................................................................. 27
3.3.2 Employer’s legal responsibilities concerning a safety risk
assessment.............................................................................................................. 27
3.3.3 Employee’s legal responsibilities concerning a safety risk
assessment.............................................................................................................. 29
3.4 Spectrum of safety risk assessment .................................................................................. 30
3.4.1 Ordinary pre-incident work activities.......................................................... 30
3.4.2 Post-incident safety risk assessment........................................................... 30
3.5 Purpose of safety risk assessment...................................................................................... 31
3.5.1 Safety risk assessment as a legal requirement........................................ 31
3.5.2 Safety risk assessment provides a framework for monitoring
safety risks.............................................................................................................. 31
3.5.3 Safety risk assessment assists employees to understand
safety risks ............................................................................................................. 31
3.5.4 Safety risk assessment provides a basis for innovation....................... 32
3.5.5 Safety risk assessment provides the basis of safety programmes....... 32
3.5.6 Safety risk assessment evaluates safety control measures................. 32
3.5.7 Safety risk assessment prevents re-occurrence of safety
incidents.................................................................................................................. 33
3.5.8 Safety risk assessment provides guidelines for safety training........ 33

iv

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