The Risk Assessment management module facilitates both the documentation
requirements, the risk estimation, and the risk evaluation portions
of a risk assessment. The CIRSMA™ system has been developed
based on the guidance found in the international standard for Safety
of machinery - Risk Assessment Principles ISO 14121,
ISO 12100, as well as the regulatory requirements
of many countries.
The risk assessment module provides full version control to manage
all changes that occur to the risk assessment. This gives the user
the ability to view changes that have occurred to the risk assessment
over time. The risk assessment module assesses risk based on a three
step process for each hazard (Hazard Zone) managed by the version
control system. The software provides simple to use pull down selection
lists for each step listed below:
-
Step 1. Known as “risk estimation”. In this
step risk is estimated as if there are no risk reduction measures
in place. Four factors contribute to the risk:
- Severity of harm
- Frequency of exposure to the hazard(s)
- Possibility of avoiding harm
- Probability of the occurrence of the hazardous event(s)
-
Step 2. Known as “risk evaluation”. In this
step engineering controls are used to reduce the risk of harm.
Three types of engineering controls are available:
- Measures that require human interaction (mechanical)
- Presence sensing devices
- “Hold to Run” controls
Once these risk reduction measures have been determined, the risk
reduction is automatically compared to the risk estimation in
order to determine how much risk reduction has occurred.
Step 3. Known as “risk evaluation”. In this
step the employer administrative controls are used to further
reduce the risk of harm. Four types of risk reduction measures
are available:
- Nature of the exposed person
- Person's education or experience
- Evaluation of appropriate personal protective equipment
- Policies procedures and instructions that are in use
Once the administrative controls have been determined the impact
of these risk reduction measures are automatically compared to
the residual risk, determined in the second risk reduction step.
Each hazard for a piece of equipment or process is assessed using
the three step process providing the user constant feedback regarding
the residual risk for each hazard zone. Appropriate controls can
then be determined to reduce the overall residual risk.