Submitted by our Club Protection Officer - Graham Johnstone
When planning a Rotary event, it is important to identify and control the risks involved and that it is adequately covered by insurance.All requests to the District Insurance Officer for insurance cover ask if a risk assessment has been made. We have excellent documents written in the past that will be on the club website as templates for risk assessments. They require forward thinking and are best debated at event committee level.
Each identified risk needs a hierarchy of control. Readers can identify the hierarchy of control for COVID-19 that unfortunately had to evolve as experience was gained over time.
The hierarchy of control is as follows in my OH&S textbook:
- Eliminate the hazard.
- Substitute with a lesser hazard.
- Modify the system or process. Training.
- Isolate the hazard.
- Use engineering controls.
- Use administrative controls such as PPE (Personal Protective Equipment.) This is a last resort.
Now this may all seem cut and dry, but careful planning of the hierarchy can give a blueprint for prompt control, whether it is preparation for a club event, or for a pandemic.
Let's now look at abuse of this careful planning.
 |
We see politicians of all persuasions on TV looking very concerned and important wearing PPE hard hats. WHY?
The PPE is, as mentioned above, an option of last resort. What is the original hazard? Usually the polies are outdoors and the only hazard would be the proverbial pigeon flying overhead!
Just ask the polie to identify the hazard and that will leave them speechless!