ERMo Drago here bringing you the 411 on the down low of Risk Management in your home and small business.
This Saturday we are talking about the Risk Management Triangle. For many, this is a new concept and for others it comfortable as that favorite pair of sweatpants. Whether you are assessing your home for hazards or workplace hazards, the Risk Management Triangle is your guide! It categorizes the different levels of eliminating safety hazards.
The preferred method is to eliminate the risk altogether, but realistically that may not be possible for a variety of reasons: key components, equipment used, etc. A common household risk would be cooking appliances. We all know that we have to have them and we can't live without them. So what is a good solution?
We can start with the top of the triangle with the Elimination Process. This is where you physically remove the item. A good example of this starts at home where a bush has grown out of control blocking your front window and encroaching on your front porch. This presents a hazard as a would-be attacker could be hiding in the bus. The simple solution would be to trim the bush back to a manageable size, knowing full well that this time next year you would have to once again trim the bush.
The top of the Risk Management Triangle tells us to eliminate the hazard by physically removing the offending bush. Worried about curb appeal? Replant with perennial plants that do not grow as tall or full as the bush that was removed.
What about if the hazard is something as vital as a stove? Contrary to what one would think, "households that use electric ranges have a higher risk of cooking fires and associated losses than those using gas ranges." (https://www.nfpa.org/News-and-Research/Data-research-and-tools/US-Fire-Problem/Home-Cooking-Fires) Meaning, if possible, getting rid of that electric stove and replacing it with gas. Obviously, this may not be a solution that works in your household. What is next on the Risk Management Triangle?
It is time to implement "Engineering Controls." This could be as simple as not leaving the stove on unattended and getting rid of that crocheted dish towel that hangs on the front of the stove. We are fairly certain that if you explain to Granny Gertie why you made the decision to cherish her heartfelt gift. Use caution when cooking with hot oil, keeping a well-fitting lid nearby to suffocate any fires, ensure that the food going into hot oil doesn't contain excess water preventing the oil from boiling over, or investing in a deep fryer, or more recently, an air fryer.
Still not something that is practical in your home or business? Administrative Controls refers to changes in who has access to the stove or how the stove is used! Common sense dictates that small children shouldn't use the stove. Consider any older children should not use the stove without adult supervision. Also, keep young hands out of the kitchen and out from underfoot while still keeping them in the line of sight to not replace one safety hazard with another one.
If none of the above work for your situation, for PPE or Personal Protective Equipment. It may seem silly to use fire-retardant oven mitts to take items out of the oven. Wear a well-fitting apron and sleeves that are snug to the arm. Hot grease? Protective eye covering and a fire extinguisher in the kitchen. One of our members recounted when she was little, the aunt's crocheted towel was carelessly left on the stove near an electric burner that was on. Quick thinking in grabbing the fire extinguisher saved the kitchen from possible total loss.
The Risk Management Triangle reinforces smart decisions in the environment that you "work" in. It should be become second nature to it the more you apply it to different situations in your home or place of work.