Support in Performing HIRA

Support in performing Hazard Identifications and Risk Assessments:

While most safety hazards (those resulting in injury of employees) are readily assessed by employers and employees alike, most companies have difficulty in assessing the presence of health hazards (i.e. those resulting in illness of employees – particularly over the longer term). MedOccs has performed HIRA assessments with emphasis on health for a number of medium and large companies and mines. This involves:

• Identification of various health risk factors in the workplace (chemical, biological, ergonomical, physical and psycho-social risk factors) in the workplace
• Assessing the routes of exposure for each substance and identification of the relevant target organs that may be affected
• Providing a risk score for each target organ and for each risk factor identified, culminating in a comprehensive risk assessment report
• Evaluation of risk factors against various national and international standards and legislation
• Suggesting a cost-effective medical surveillance programme that could be implemented by the employer (or contracted to MedOccs)
• Provision of protocols for the management of results – in particular the management of employees who present with abnormal medical surveillance results
• Advice on risk mitigation strategies, including engineering and administrative control measures, and selection of personal protective equipment