Risk management in sex work

Identifying hazards involves finding all of the hazards in the workplace. It also involves understanding the possible harm the hazards may cause.

How to identify hazards

You must consult with employees when identifying hazards. Other ways to identify hazards include:

• inspecting the workplace
• speaking to clients
• information from industry bodies, regulators and specialists and others
• reading instruction manuals
• reviewing records of incident reports, complaints, health monitoring and the like

Where to look

Look at all parts of work, including:

• the physical work environment
• equipment, materials and substances used
• work tasks and how they are performed
• work design and management, for example, escort work and shift work

Hazard identification provides information about hazards in the workplace area you have assessed. Different areas may require different assessments. Keep a list of what the hazards were and their location. This will help ensure nothing is forgotten when deciding how to keep employees safe and healthy.

Risk assessment is a process for developing knowledge and understanding about hazards and risks. It helps ensure sound decisions about risk controls.

Risk assessments help work out:

• what levels of harm can occur
• how harm can occur
• the likelihood that harm will occur

Level of risk

Work out the level of risk. To do this, consider the possible severity of injury and the likelihood of it occurring.

The level of risk will increase as the likelihood and severity of harm increase.

Likelihood of harm

Work out the likelihood of harm occurring. You can estimate the likelihood of harm by considering, for example:

• How often the task is done. Does this make the harm more or less likely?
• The circumstances in which the hazard occurs.
• Has harm happened before, either in your workplace or somewhere else? How often?

Consider whether the harm is:

• certain to occur
• very likely
• possible
• unlikely or rare

Risks must be eliminated, so far as is reasonably practicable. If risks cannot be eliminated, they must be reduced so far as is reasonably practicable.

Controlling risks requires the use of risk control measures. Risk control measures are also known as risk controls or controls. Deciding on appropriate risk controls involves the following:

• Identifying the options for risk controls. A risk control option may be a single control or it may be made up of different controls. Together, the different controls provide protection against a risk.
• Considering risk control options and selecting suitable options. A suitable option is one that most effectively eliminates or reduces risk in the circumstances. Reducing the risk might require multiple risk controls, not just one.
• Implementing the selected option or options.

Finding the best control

The ways of controlling risks can be ranked from the highest level of protection and reliability to the lowest. This ranking is known as the hierarchy of risk control. The following guidance explains the hierarchy of risk control. Always start at the most effective control – Level 1, eliminate the hazard – and work down the hierarchy.

The hierarchy of risk control

Level 1 – most effective  
Eliminate the hazard

Level 2  
Reduce the risk with one or more of the following controls.

• Substitution  
  Substitute the hazard with something safer.
• Isolation  
  Isolate people from the hazard.
• Engineering controls  
  Reduce the risks through engineering changes or changes to systems of work.

Level 3

• Use administrative actions to reduce exposure to risks and reduce level of harm.

Level 4

• Use personal protective equipment.

Find more information about the hierarchy of control on the WorkSafe website.

Hierarchy of control

Consider various risk control options. Elimination should be your goal. Choose the risk controls that eliminate the hazard. If is not reasonably practicable to eliminate the hazard, use risk controls that minimise the risk of harm. You must reduce the risk so far as is reasonably practicable.

Remember, risk control may involve a combination of different controls. The aim is to provide the highest level of reasonably practicable protection.

Reviewing risk control measures will help you ensure they are working. Reviews will also help you identify if your controls become less effective, or if there are other controls you should introduce.

Regular reviews

Review your risk controls regularly to make sure they work as planned. Don’t wait until something goes wrong.

If you find problems, go back through the risk management steps. Review your information and make further decisions about risk control.

Find more information about risk controls and risk control plans on the WorkSafe website.

Controlling OHS hazards and risks