OHS Risk Planning and Management

Assessing risks

Once hazards are identified, the principal or their delegate must determine the ‘level of risk’ by assessing the hazards, in consultation with school staff who are or are likely to be affected and HSRs, where elected, particularly those with expertise or knowledge of the hazard.

The risk assessment process can support schools to understand the hazard and prioritise the implementation of actions to control the hazard and associated risks. Risks can be primarily assessed using the risk matrix, which school staff can use as a guide (see the section on 'risk matrix' below). Specific situations and hazardous tasks and activities may require the use of a documented risk assessment to determine all associated risks and controls (see the section on 'risk assessments' below).

Note: The mandated risks identified in the OHS risk register have already been assessed by the department, therefore a risk assessment is not required to be undertaken by principals, delegates or school staff. The responsibility of the school is to identify and implement appropriate controls to eliminate or reduce the risk rating (refer to controlling risks).

Risk matrix

All school staff can use the risk matrix as a guide for a quick assessment of a hazard prior to completing a task. See the ‘Risk matrix’ tab in the risk register templates (available from the Resources tab).

Using this risk matrix, follow the below steps:

• consider the consequence of a risk occurring, using the consequence definitions
• consider the likelihood of an incident occurring, using the likelihood definitions
• calculate the level of risk by finding the intersection between consequence and likelihood.

Based on the level of risk, the following actions must be considered by the principal or their delegate, in consultation with school staff who are or are likely to be affected, and HSRs, where elected:

• Extreme risk: Isolate the hazard (if safe to do so). A risk assessment may be completed to better understand the hazard and its associated risk. Controls must be implemented as soon as reasonably practicable.
• High risk: A risk assessment may be completed to better understand the hazard and its associated risk. Controls must be implemented within 48 hours of notification.
• Medium risk: Controls must be implemented within 7 days.
• Low risk: Controls must be planned to be undertaken within a reasonable timeframe.

Risk assessment

For risks that are complex or that are likely to be rated as high or extreme, schools are encouraged to document their assessment process using the risk assessment template (DOCX), before documenting the risk and control in their OHS risk register.

There are also common hazardous activities that involve greater risk and have their own specific risk assessment and management process, with guidance and templates provided by the department. These are:

• plant and equipment
• hazardous manual handling (for example, the removal of gym mats from storage, concert stage set up)
• chemical management (for example, the use of chemicals in science classes, storage of hazardous chemicals).

Where there is unreasonable risk identified using the risk matrix or risk assessment template, cease the associated activity and isolate the hazard (where possible and safe to do so).

The principal or their delegate must update the school’s OHS risk register to reflect the identified hazards and associated levels of risk in response to completing the risk assessment process.

Schools can contact their local regional OHS support officer or the OHS Advisory Service for support if needed.