Risk Management
At St Joseph's School, the board has a duty to identify 
hazards that could give rise to reasonably foreseeable risks to health and safety (Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 (s 30), Health and Safety at Work (General Risk and Workplace Management) Regulations 2016). The board takes reasonably practicable actions to eliminate or minimise risks to the health and safety of everyone involved with the school. Everyone with duties under the Act must also work to eliminate or minimise health and safety risks. This includes staff, students, and visitors.
Reasonably practicable, in relation to the duty of a PCBU, means that which is, or was, at a particular time, reasonably able to be done in relation to ensuring health and safety, taking into account and weighing up all relevant matters, including:
- the likelihood of the hazard or the risk concerned occurring
- the degree of harm that might result from the hazard or risk
- what the person concerned knows, or ought reasonably to know, about:
- the hazard or risk
- ways of eliminating or minimising the risk
- the availability and suitability of ways to eliminate or minimise the risk
- after assessing the extent of the risk and the available ways of eliminating or minimising the risk, the cost associated with available ways of eliminating or minimising the risk, including whether the cost is grossly disproportionate to the risk.
Health and Safety at Work Act, s 22
A hazard is something that could cause harm. This broad definition is often divided into types of hazard:
- biological (e.g. viral and bacterial infections)
- chemical (e.g. asbestos, cleaning products, and pesticides)
- ergonomic (e.g. repetitive movements and posture)
- physical (e.g. harmful physical force and eye injuries)
- psychosocial (e.g. work relationships and roles, and other stresses such as deadlines and achievement expectations).
A risk is the likelihood that the hazard will cause harm and the severity of the potential harm.
See How to manage work risks 
(WorkSafe)
The principal is responsible for implementing our risk management processes, including monitoring and auditing identified hazards, but may delegate areas as appropriate.
Identifying and reporting hazards
Everyone at St Joseph's School is encouraged to identify and report hazards.
- We actively consider any potential new hazards that may arise in the course of school operations (e.g. assessing potential hazards with new equipment or work processes).
- Staff report hazards using the Hazard Register Form
. If the hazard can't be eliminated, it is entered in the hazard register to be monitored. - Staff members report hazards to the office manager who ensures that all staff are kept aware of new and existing hazards.
- Students and visitors are encouraged to report hazards to appropriate staff, and are kept aware of hazards and risks. See Health and Safety Induction and Training.
- Before an earthquake drill, staff can identify and address potential hazards using the Earthquake Hazards Checklist
.
The principal reports any significant risks to the board as soon as possible.
We may implement baseline monitoring of health and safety where a potential hazard has been identified (e.g. noise level) to help monitor risk.
See How to Manage Work Risks (Worksafe) for guidance in assessing risk.
Elimination and hierarchy of controls
Once a hazard has been identified, we assess and make decisions about how to manage risk, in consultation with staff, and other stakeholders, as required. We take all reasonably practicable actions to eliminate risks. If the risk cannot be eliminated, we follow the hierarchy of controls to minimise risks. The control measures we implement are proportional to the risk and are the most appropriate and effective.
Reasonably practicable, in relation to the duty of a PCBU, means that which is, or was, at a particular time, reasonably able to be done in relation to ensuring health and safety, taking into account and weighing up all relevant matters, including:
- the likelihood of the hazard or the risk concerned occurring
- the degree of harm that might result from the hazard or risk
- what the person concerned knows, or ought reasonably to know, about:
- the hazard or risk
- ways of eliminating or minimising the risk
- the availability and suitability of ways to eliminate or minimise the risk
- after assessing the extent of the risk and the available ways of eliminating or minimising the risk, the cost associated with available ways of eliminating or minimising the risk, including whether the cost is grossly disproportionate to the risk.
Health and Safety at Work Act, s 22
We minimise risks, so far as is reasonably practicable, by taking one or more of the following steps:
- Replacing the hazard with something with less risk
- Preventing anyone from coming into contact with the hazard
- Implementing engineering controls (e.g. fencing, lighting)
If risk remains, we implement administrative controls (e.g. training) to minimise the remaining risk. We provide personal protective equipment (PPE) if risk remains after all other appropriate actions have been taken.
See Hierarchy of Control Measures (WorkSafe).
Monitoring and review
We record all hazards and control measures to manage them. Current active hazard registers are maintained by the office manager and kept in the office.
We monitor safety equipment (including PPE) to ensure it is well-maintained and updated as needed.
Once a term, the principal or their delegate reviews all control measures to ensure these remain appropriate and effective (i.e. fit for purpose and used correctly). If circumstances require it, we review and revise specific control measures as needed outside of the review period. We take reasonably practicable actions to review and revise control measures if:
Reasonably practicable, in relation to the duty of a PCBU, means that which is, or was, at a particular time, reasonably able to be done in relation to ensuring health and safety, taking into account and weighing up all relevant matters, including:
- the likelihood of the hazard or the risk concerned occurring
- the degree of harm that might result from the hazard or risk
- what the person concerned knows, or ought reasonably to know, about:
- the hazard or risk
- ways of eliminating or minimising the risk
- the availability and suitability of ways to eliminate or minimise the risk
- after assessing the extent of the risk and the available ways of eliminating or minimising the risk, the cost associated with available ways of eliminating or minimising the risk, including whether the cost is grossly disproportionate to the risk.
Health and Safety at Work Act, s 22
- the measure does not control the risk
- a change at school may cause a new or different risk that current measures do not effectively control
- a new hazard or risk is identified
- change is needed to support the health of workers and other people affected by school operations.
We engage with workers to monitor and review hazards. See Worker Engagement, Participation, and Representation.
The principal assures the board that hazards are being actively identified, identified hazards are being monitored and controlled (including risks to student safety and wellbeing), and that control measures are being reviewed to ensure these remain appropriate and effective. This includes sun protection and EOTC activities. See Review Schedule and Board Assurances.
Legislation
- Education and Training Act 2020
- Health and Safety at Work Act 2015
- Health and Safety at Work (General Risk and Workplace Management) Regulations 2016
Resources
: Term 3 2025, Term 1 2024, Term 1 2023, Term 4 2022, Term 2 2022
The release history is a record of changes made to a SchoolDocs Core topic as the result of an internal or scheduled review. The date indicates when a change was made. If you have a customised topic, it may not have received the updates described. Release history links are kept for five years, then archived.
