A free risk assessment template was developed by Workplace Safety North (WSN) in partnership with Sudbury Action Centre for Youth (SACY) With offices in downtown Sudbury and headquarters in North Bay, WSN chose to be part of the solution with regard to the opioid epidemic and the large quantity of used needles found in public areas.
The sample risk assessment template helps organizations identify site-specific dangers (Hazards) along with ways (Controls) to manage risks associated with needle pick-up, handling and disposal.
It’s important to note that companies should use the sample data provided as reference only. Each company will have its own unique job tasks, hazards and controls which they will want to capture for ongoing improvement.
The risk matrix provided in the template is one of many that exist, and organizations may also choose to use their own risk matrix to match their company’s risk management program.
General Guidance on Performing a Risk Assessment
- Identify the different job tasks (for example: needle pick-up, needle storage, containment, dealing with media, etc.).
- For each job task, identify the hazards (or unwanted events).
- Identify the existing controls to control each hazard.
- Using the risk matrix, assess the likelihood that hazard will cause an unwanted event.
- Assess the consequence of the hazard (worst possible outcome of the harm that can occur—such as fatality, disabling, injury).
- Evaluate the risk (Likelihood multiplied by Consequence on the risk matrix).
- Determine if there are any weaknesses or problems with the existing controls.
- Once the initial risk is assessed, the organization needs to determine acceptable risks, and decide if controls need to be improved or put new ones in place.
- Re-assess the Likelihood and Consequence ratings based on the new or improved controls, and re-evaluate remaining risk.
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