Martina Lascialanda

S40076174

Assessment 2 – Case Study/Practical

1. Choose an upcoming project in which you will play a role, and carry out a thorough risk analysis for it.

 Identify all risks and rank them in terms of their severity, making sure you have understood
the context in which they are likely to occur.

 Determine priorities to avoid those risks (or minimise the chance of them having a major
impact) and document them according to organisational protocols.

2. Discuss the specific risk management techniques and strategies you will use in the project to minimise
the chance of physical risk, as well as any risk that are likely to be detrimental to work outcomes.

Renovating a bathroom in Bondi Beach

A project by my client David Brooks
THE PROJECT
INDUSTRY SECTOR: BUILDING
My client is the owner of the company DO ALL GROUP. He is a builder by trade, and has been working on the field for
more than 25 years. He is a skilled professional Builder that also developed his skills in plumbing, tiling and electrician.
He was contacted by a family in Bondi Beach to renovate the bathroom of their home.

The construction industry is aware of the high-risk nature of its labour, which becomes obvious in the several amount of
accidents its workers are exposed to in comparation with other industries. They range from losing time to injuries and
fatalities. As well as a high frequency of illness amongst tradesmen, including terminal diseases like cancer, product of being
exposed to asbestos. These catastrophic events could cause wider consequences such as a big delay or project failure, money
loss and damage of the reputation of the company, considerable business impact. There are also other risks that are not
caused in the work place, like the payment of a project and the competitive industry challenges.

RISKS IDENTIFICATION & ANALYSIS

-ELECTROCUTION

-ASBESTOS INHALATION

- OCCUPATIONAL RISK

-SLIPS, TRIPS, AND FALLS

-CLIENT NOT PAYING ON TIME

-COMPETITION

ELECTROCUTION
Being water one of the most effective elements to carry electricity, makes a bathroom the most dangerous room when it
comes to electrical safety. As well as using power tools, or drilling through a wall and accidentally cut through wires. And
even hand tools like a screwdriver can end up in severe injuries when is used around wiring. An electric shock could cause
an injury or in the worst of cases, death.

ASBESTOS
When materials that contain asbestos are damaged, the fibres are released into the air. When these are inhaled they can cause
fatal and very serious diseases like lung cancer, asbestosis & pleural thickening. Asbestos is the cause of death of more than
700 workers per year in Australia.

OCCUPATIONAL RISK
Injury, possibly fatal, to a worker product of behaviour, methodologies or tools used. It could result in death or permanent
disability of employees.
The wrong use of Puncture wounds and electrocution (caused by drilling into live wiring), as well as injuries caused by loose
clothing caught in the bits are the most common injuries related to power drills. 
They are not as numerous as those caused by table saws, but power drill injuries can still be serious and they are mostly the
result of inattention, inexperience, unexpected interruption, and overconfidence. 
Work place injuries could have an irreversible damage and even cost the business to close. It could delay the job completion
and damage the client-company relationship. It could affect the budget to have to get an emergency worker to cover the
day/s’s job.

SLIPS, TRIPS, AND FALLS

In the construction environment, it is very often that the terrain is either uneven, slippery or with unused material laying on
the floor and other obstacles. Making slip, trip and falls a common hazard.
In some cases, it just ends up on bruises. Some others on a broken bone. But on the worst of scenarios it could lead to head
injuries and dangerous cuts, or even dead by concussion.

CLIENT NOT PAYING ON TIME

My client’s projects require that the client pays an amount in advance to cover for materials and the remaining amount at the
end of the job. This way the investment in materials is covered and when the job is done, the money is transferred,
generating a bond of trust with the client.
One of the risks of this method, is that the client could take a long time to pay after the job is done. And costing more in
money and hassle to go into legal action, my client rather has to wait for the client to go forward on the payment.

COMPETITION
The risk of matching the price or delivery terms that a competitor offers, potentially risking the profitability to not lose the
project or opportunity.

RISK ASSESSMENT

Risk Likelihood (1=low, Consequence Risk Rating (LXC)

5=high) (1=low, 5=high)
ELECTROCUTION
1 5 5
ASBESTOS INHALATION
2 5 10
OCCUPATIONAL RISK
3 5 15
SLIPS, TRIPS, AND FALLS
3 4 12
CLIENT NOT PAYING ON
TIME
1 2 2
COMPETITION
5 5 25
RISK MATRIX

Negligible Marginal Critical Catastrophi

 c
Certain INTOLERABLE
Likely R6 UNDESIRABLE
Possible R2 & R4 R3 TOLERABLE
Unlikely R1 ACCEPTABLE
Rare R5

R1 Electrocution
R2 Asbestos inhalation
R3 Occupational risk
R4 Slips, Trips, and Falls
R5 Client not paying on time
R6 Competition

RISK CONTROL

-Electrocution: Mitigate the risk – Develop a protocol aligned with the code of practice of the Work Health and Safety Act.
(section 274).
https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/system/files/documents/1705/mcop-managing-electrical-risks_in_the_workplace-
v1.pdf
When using power tools, there’s a potential hazard with electrocution. But even working with screwdrivers, where there’s
wiring, could cause dangerous injuries. One of the options is developing a protocol where the first step is to turn off the
power at the circuit breaker. And make sure the workers follow the steps every time there’s a job where it requires electrical
work.
Another good solution is to provide with tools with UL approved insulated grips for more safety. And make sure new
workers are provided with training on the protocol and safe systems of work, etc. And having a Workers Compensation
Insurance.

-Asbestos inhalation: Avoid the risk – Request the client to provide information of asbestos existence in the bathroom, and
inform workers before the job starts. Provide training on asbestos to the workers, and a protocol on what to do if they come
across of a material that seem suspicious and might contain it.

If it’s confirmed that the building contains asbestos, hire a government approved company to deal with it safely.

To provide more information to the workers, there’s the The model Code of Practice: How to Manage and Control Asbestos
in the Workplace .

https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/asbestos#managing-the-risks-associated-with

- Occupational risk (Injuries): Transfer the risk – Obtain the Workers Compensation Insurance requested by the NSW
government. Develop protocols for safety use of equipment.
-Slips, Trips, and Falls: Mitigate the risk - Safe equipment management and work space protocols for workers to follow.
 Obstacles – Slips and trips over obstacles can be minimised by assuring that everyone keeps their work and
storage areas in order and there are areas designated specifically for waste collection.
 Trailing cables – Where is possible, there should be used cordless tools.
 Wet or slippery surfaces – Working in slippery floors such as tiled bathrooms, it is imperative that it’s constantly
dry and footwear with a good grip should be worn.
-Client not paying on time: Accept the risk – Develop an instalments method to facilitate the payment for the client. Take
legal actions if the problem persists.

-Competition: Mitigate the risk – Work a way to keep the client interested while the profits of the company are not
jeopardised. Provide quality service: direct them to website where the client can see reviews and previous work images and
projects.

Risk Likelihood Consequence Risk Rating Treatment L C New

(1=low, (1=low, 5=high) (LXC) Rating
5=high)
ELECTROCUTION -Develop a protocol
1 5 5 1 3 3
- Have a Workers
Compensation
Insurance
ASBESTOS -Be informed of
INHALATION
2 5 10 1 5 5
asbestos existence
-Hire company to
remove it safely
OCCUPATIONAL -Obtain the Workers
RISK
3 5 15 1 3 3
Compensation
Insurance
-Develop protocols
SLIPS, TRIPS, AND -Develop protocols
FALLS
3 4 12 1 4 4
-Provide training and
safer tools
CLIENT NOT -Develop an
PAYING ON TIME
1 2 2 1 2 2
instalments method
COMPETITION -Provide competitive
5 5 25 4 2 8
fees & quality service

MANAGEMENT OUTCOMES

ELECTROCUTION: Even having a protocol developed, the electrocution hazard will exist. Having a Workers
Compensation Insurance will reduce the impact on the company. If the worker has a fatal accident, it would be covered by
the insurance, but it will delay the job completion. And will damage the relationship with the client or even cause the job to
be cancelled and handed over another company.
If the shock is not fatal, it might still cause harm and delay the job completion if the worker suffers an important injury.
ASBESTOS INHALATION: Being informed of the existence of asbestos will reduce the risk of having to handle it and
inhale it. Also, the hiring of a company specialised on the matter will avoid the risk of accidents with the substance. This
highly reduces this risk.

OCCUPATIONAL RISK: Obtain the Workers Compensation Insurance and developing protocols will reduce the
consequences of this risk as much as the likelihood. If the accident can’t be avoid, then the insurance company will absorb
the economic impact of the issue.

SLIPS, TRIPS, AND FALLS: Developing protocols and providing safer tools to use in the work place will avoid the risk likelihood
highly.

CLIENT NOT PAYING ON TIME: Develop an instalments method will help the client with an accessible way to reach the
completion of the payment. This doesn’t reduce the risk. It might be a better way to mitigate the risk consequences.

COMPETITION: It’s always likely that there will be competition in any business and trade. Being able to provide
competitive fees & quality service proof will reduce the consequences highly, being a good resource to encourage the
client’s final decision.