Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term v4 - SHS 2

Lesson Video

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Performance objectives

• Identify and describe different types of risk assessments.
• Explain why risk assessments are important.
• Apply risk assessment methods to sample scenarios.
• Create a mind map of risk assessment types.

Lesson summary

In Ghana, from the bustling construction sites in Accra to the local carpentry workshops in Kumasi and the oil rigs offshore in Takoradi, engineering activities are all around us. However, these activities come with dangers. A simple mistake can lead to serious injury, damage to expensive equipment, or even loss of life. Understanding how to identify and manage these dangers is the most important skill for any engineer or technician. This lesson introduces a professional process for doing just that, called Risk Assessment.

Lesson notes

This section breaks down the core ideas you need to understand. We will build our knowledge step-by-step. Starter Activity (Initiating Talk for Learning - 10 mins) Instruction: In pairs, think about a local "fitter" (auto mechanic) shop you know. List three things that could potentially cause harm (e.g., spilled oil, a car raised on a jack, welding sparks). Discussion: Ask a few pairs to share their lists. Introduce the term Hazard for these "things that can cause harm." Then ask, "What is the *chance* that someone could get hurt by these things?" Introduce the term Risk for the "chance or likelihood of harm." This leads us to our main topic: Risk Assessment, the formal process of thinking about hazards and risks. A. Foundational Definitions Hazard: A hazard is anything with the potential to cause harm. This includes objects, substances, processes, or situations. Ghanaian Example 1: A faulty electrical socket with exposed wires in the school's computer lab is a hazard. Ghanaian Example 2: Spilled palm oil on the floor of a food processing factory is a hazard. Ghanaian Example 3: Working on scaffolding without a safety harness on a building site in Cantonments is a hazard. Risk: Risk is the likelihood (or probability) that a person will be harmed by a hazard, combined with the severity of that harm. Risk considers both *chance* and *consequence*. Ghanaian Example 1: The risk associated with the faulty socket is a *high likelihood* of receiving a *severe* electric shock. Ghanaian Example 2: The risk of the spilled oil is a *medium likelihood* of someone slipping and suffering a *minor to moderate* injury like a sprain. Risk Assessment: This is the systematic process of: Identifying hazards in a workplace. Analysing and evaluating the associated risks. Determining appropriate ways to eliminate or control the hazards.

Think of it as a "safety plan" to prevent accidents before they happen. B. The Main Types of Risk Assessment

Engineers use different approaches to assess risk depending on the situation. Here are the main types: Qualitative Risk Assessment

This is the most common type. It uses descriptive words and judgement to determine the level of risk. It doesn't rely on complex numbers or statistics. It often uses a risk matrix. Description: We classify the *likelihood* of the harm occurring (e.g., Very Likely, Likely, Unlikely, Rare) and the *severity* of the potential harm (e.g., Catastrophic, Major, Moderate, Minor). The combination of these two gives a risk level (e.g., High, Medium, Low). When to Use It: For most general workplace situations (offices, workshops, schools). As a first step to identify which risks need more detailed analysis. When it is difficult or unnecessary to get precise numerical data. Ghanaian Example: A Carpentry Workshop in Anloga Hazard: Using a circular saw without a safety guard. Likelihood of injury? Likely. Severity of injury? Major (loss of fingers). Using a simple matrix: | | Minor | Moderate | Major | Catastrophic | | :--- | :---: | :---: | :---: |:---:| | Likely | Medium| High | High | Extreme | | Unlikely| Low | Medium | Medium | High | Conclusion: The risk is High. The control measure would be to immediately stop its use and fix the safety guard. Quantitative Risk Assessment

Evaluation guide

• Explain the types of risk assessment.
• I
• nitiating Talk for Learning: Learners research the various types of risk assessments and share them
• with the class.