FIELD LEVEL

RISK
ASSESSMENT
MANAGER’S
HANDBOOK

Written by Esther Hudson (Capability Connections) and Deborah Smith (DSA) for
Construction Owners Association of Alberta, 1998

This is a “free use” document and can be used or customized without the approval or
consent of the authors or the Construction Owners Association of Alberta.
Field Level Risk Assessment Manager’s Handbook

SOME QUESTIONS FOR YOU

1. Do you know that the construction industry has the highest rate of
injury accidents of all the industries in Alberta?

2. Have you ever computed the real cost of accidents/incidents e.g.

equipment /environmental damage, lost work time, WCB premiums,
poor reliability resulting in bad public relations, low morale? In one
Alberta company the direct costs alone for a 15 month period were
estimated to be :

Critical incidents: 2 = $1,000,000

Major incidents 57 = $7,647,735
Serious incidents 79 = $1,642,200
Incidents 223= $386,800

TOTAL $11,581,535

3. Does the cost that you experience from incidents significantly affect
your profits and your rating with your customers?

4. Do you think that these incidents could be avoided if your workers

would stop and think before they did work?

After using a process that included field level risk assessment, this
Alberta company experienced a 300% increase in reported incidents
and a 40% decrease in serious injuries.

5. Do you wish you had a new way to work with crews in your company
to improve your accident figures?

READ ON AND FIND OUT MORE ABOUT

FIELD LEVEL RISK ASSESSMENT

Construction Owners Association of Alberta 2

Field Level Risk Assessment Manager’s Handbook

INTRODUCTION

This handbook has the following sections:

1. Making the Decision to Use Field Level Risk Assessment.

Read this to decide if you are interested in using Field Level Risk Assessment in
your company.

• What is Field Level Risk Assessment 4

• Benefits of Field Level Risk Assessment 5
• Your Decision 6

2. Managing Field Level Risk Assessment

Read this to learn more about the process of Field Level Risk Assessment.

• The Model and Tools 7

• How To Start Using Field Level Risk Assessment 11
• How To Manage the Ongoing Use of Field Level Risk Assessment 16

3. Overview of Field Level Risk Assessment Tools and Training

Read this section to find out what tools and training are available to use in your
company. A sample plan to use in your company is included.

• Overview of Tools and Training 19

• Making Your Plan: A Tool 22
• Templates 27

Construction Owners Association of Alberta 3

Field Level Risk Assessment Manager’s Handbook

Section 1:

MAKING THE DECISION TO USE

FIELD LEVEL RISK ASSESSMENT

WHAT IS FIELD LEVEL RISK ASSESSMENT?

It is a method that individuals and crews use to eliminate or minimize potential losses (to
people, property, materials or environment) during the course of doing work.

Field Level Risk Assessment is a way for workers and crews to:

• Identify hazards associated with work tasks and assess their risks on the day
of the job.

• Put controls in place so that risks are kept to an acceptable level.

Field Level Risk Assessment is a way for companies to:

• Learn how to decrease risk and increase the reliability of work .

• Reduce the number and associated costs of incidents, accidents and injury.

Field Level Risk Assessment has:

• Tools that help workers stop, think and put controls in place.

• Training for supervisors and workers.

• Sample forms that can be used to document field level risk assessments and
make improvements.

• A manager’s handbook.

Construction Owners Association of Alberta 4

Field Level Risk Assessment Manager’s Handbook

BENEFITS OF FIELD LEVEL RISK ASSESSMENT

FOR COMPANIES

• Improved work methods and productivity

• Direct cost savings
• WCB premium reduction
• Decreased costs to pass on to customers. A competitive edge.
• Better data to improve company safety
• Reduction in the “emotional” costs of accidents and injuries
• Increased trust and confidence of workers
• Due diligence

FOR WORKERS

• Reduced probability of injuries

• More security for their families
• Improved morale
• Opportunity to make work place improvements
• Opportunity for recognition of increased contribution to the company
• Improved ability to think critically

Construction Owners Association of Alberta 5

Field Level Risk Assessment Manager’s Handbook

YOUR DECISION

USING FIELD LEVEL RISK ASSESSMENT

Making this system work in your company will take effort. You will need to:

1. Learn to do field level risk assessment.

2. Develop a plan for using it in your company.
3. Change existing company systems to support this new way of doing work e.g. record
keeping, safety policies, reward systems, etc.
4. Get people on board. This is not just the “fad of the month”.
5. Make sure people are trained to use the system.
6. Monitor whether people are using the field level risk assessment process.
7. Deal with the “slow down to speed up” problems that may occur at first.
8. Use the information that is generated in the written reports to improve the way work
is done.

QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF BEFORE Yes No Not

YOU DECIDE Sure
1. Are you concerned about losses that your company has
because of incidents?

2. Do you think that workers can make a difference to your

company’s profit and loss?

3. Are you prepared to do the work to get started? e.g. Plan,

train, motivate, etc?

4. Are you prepared to make changes to support using this

process in your company? e.g. developing record keeping
methods, giving recognition ?

5. Are you prepared to keep the focus on this process until

people establish the habit?

Read on and find how to implement and manage

Field Level Risk Assessment in your company.

Construction Owners Association of Alberta 6

Field Level Risk Assessment Manager’s Handbook

Section 2:
MANAGING FIELD LEVEL RISK
RISK
ASSESSMENT

THE MODEL AND TOOLS

THE MODEL

What is Field Level Risk Assessment?

• It is a mental process used by both individual supervisors and workers.

• It is a problem solving process that uses discussion on the job site.
• It includes writing down the outcomes of the discussion. This part is optional but
strongly recommended.

How is Field Level Risk Assessment done?

Supervisor and crew discuss the work to be done on the day of the job. Together they:
• Identify the job steps.
• Identify the hazards associated with each step.
• Assess the level of risk for each hazard.
• Identify and put in place the controls to effectively control the risk

The Supervisor:
• Prepares and leads Field Level Risk Assessment discussions
• Documents this information on a form prepared for this purpose.
• Submits the documentation for analysis and review.
• Makes completed form available to crew.

Each worker:
• Stops and thinks about hazards, risks and controls while working.

Specifically assigned personnel:

• Review the field level risk assessment data to identify ways to reduce
hazards and risk on an ongoing basis.

Construction Owners Association of Alberta 7

Field Level Risk Assessment Manager’s Handbook

Where is Field Level Risk Assessment done?

At the job site

When is Field Level Risk Assessment done?

• At the beginning of a new job or new shift

• When new workers come on site
• When the information about the work changes (e.g. changed plans, unexpected
characteristics of the task such as new configuration of equipment)
• Whenever job site conditions change (e.g. weather, availability of tools etc.)

Who does Field Level Risk Assessment?

• The supervisor thinks through the process to prepare for meeting with the crew.
• The supervisor leads a discussion with the crew encouraging their analysis and
feedback.
• The worker does it as a mental process as he/she works.

Why Do Field Level Risk Assessment?

To fulfill the employer requirements of the Occupational Health and Safety Act:

• Employers are required “to ensure as far as it is is reasonably practicable” the health
and safety of workers present at the work site.
• Workers are required to protect the health and safety of themselves and others.
• Employers are required to make sure workers are aware of their health and safey
responsibilities.

To reduce losses due to uncontrolled hazards. Field Level Risk Assessment:

- Facilitates a safer working environment for people.

- Helps to minimizes or eliminates losses to property, materials and the environment.

Construction Owners Association of Alberta 8

Field Level Risk Assessment Manager’s Handbook

FIELD LEVEL RISK ASSESSMENT PROCESS

This flowchart shows the process used to conduct the Field Level Risk Assessment and
put controls in place. It also shows how Field Level Risk Assessment is integrated into
other company safety initiatives.

When do we initiate a Risk Assessment?

(i.e. Change of work or workers
Change to working area
Start of a new job or task
CONSTRUCTION OWNERS ASSOCIATION
Tailgate/Toolbox Meetings OF ALBERTA
Field Level Risk Assessment
Process Flow Diagram

No further
Documentation
Required

No
Inputs:
- Plan or Project
Job Package Does the Hazard
ID Job/ ID Assess/
- Company Safety need to be further
Hazards Evaluate
Program Activity controlled?
- Job Procedures
- Standards and Practices
- Job Safety Analysis (JSA) Yes
No

Process Definition: a method that an individual or crew

Hazard adequately
would use to minimize or eliminate potential losses (to controlled
people, property, materials or equipment) during the course to an acceptable level Control
of conducting work. of Risk?

Yes Outputs:
Monitor Risk trends (from
documentation)
- adjustments to project
design
Document for Further - Safety policy changes
Reference and - Changes to practices or
Analysis work procedures

Note that Field Level Risk Assessment does not replace other planning and risk
assessment processes. Methods such as Hazop and Job Safety Analysis are used before
construction begins. Field Level Risk Assessment incorporates the information from
these processes and adds day of the job information.

The Construction Owners Association of Alberta has developed a form that can be used
or adapted for record keeping. Although writing down the results of the team discussion
may not appear to improve the risk assessment, it is highly recommended. Writing things
down encourages better thinking. The information obtained from the team discussions
can be used to improve work procedures and will improve safety in the long run.

Construction Owners Association of Alberta 9

Field Level Risk Assessment Manager’s Handbook

THE “MEMORY JOGGER” – A CARD FOR WORKERS

The “Memory Jogger” is a pocket-sized card to give to workers as a reminder of how to
conduct Field Level Risk Assessment. Your company can customize this card. Templates
are found in Section 3.

& Think

Resume Look Around

Work & Find Hazards

Control Risks Assess Risks

FIELD LEVEL RISK ASSESSMENT

Questions to ask before & while doing a task:

IDENTIFY:
Do I clearly understand my task?

Am I physically & mentally prepared to do the task?

What could go wrong?

Is there a risk to others or myself?

What can change that could create a new risk?

Could other crews, workers, or conditions pose risks to me?

ASSESS:
How bad could this be?

How likely is it to happen?

CONTROL:
Who should I contact for help?

Are permits, written practices, procedures, etc. required?

What can I do to control the risk?

Will the control affect another part of the task being done?

Do I need to tell anyone else?

Are emergency response plans required?

“IF IN DOUBT SHOUT”

CONTACT YOUR SUPERVISOR!

Construction Owners Association of Alberta 10

Field Level Risk Assessment Manager’s Handbook

HOW TO START USING FIELD LEVEL RISK

ASSESSMENT

CHALLENGES WORKERS MAY HAVE

1. Field Level Risk Assessment requires workers to stop and think before
doing even routine tasks. It is easier just to work as usual. Changing any habit
is hard. Thinking before doing will get easier with practice and reinforcement.

2. Field Level Risk Assessment requires critical thinking skills that may be
underdeveloped in some workers. As workers develop these thinking skills, they
will improve their performance in many other situations.

3. Field Level Risk Assessment requires individuals to accept responsibility for

thinking and taking action. Many people expect to be told what to do but they like
to give ideas. With input comes a greater commitment to good work.

4. Doing Field Level Risk Assessment may mean challenging authority for
some people. Supervisors may expect to do the thinking and the telling. They
may be uncomfortable having workers tell them that something at the work site
needs to be done differently. Workers may be uncomfortable playing that role.
Using this process builds teams.

5. Using the forms requires more paperwork that most foremen do not enjoy.
The process of writing assessments requires crews to think through conditions
more carefully. It also means that their ideas and suggestions are recorded and
used by the company to improve safety.

NOTE: Using the ideas “ How to Get People on Board” will help to overcome many of
these problems.

Construction Owners Association of Alberta 11

Field Level Risk Assessment Manager’s Handbook

HOW TO GET PEOPLE ON BOARD

Implementing Field Level Risk Assessment represents a change for your company.
Understanding what people need to motivate them to change is helpful. You can then
address their needs in your plan.

What People NEED To Start Using What YOU CAN DO To Get People
FIELD LEVEL RISK ASSESSMENT on Board

People need to understand that there is a Give information that describes the
serious problem and that doing Field problem. Gather information that
Level Risk Assessment is the best answers these questions:
solution for: • How much do accidents cost?
• How do these costs affect our
• the company competitive position in the market
• themselves place?
• How will reduced costs affect company
contracts and keep workers employed?
• How will Field Level Risk Assessment
reduce their personal risk?

Give information about the results

you are shooting for:
• What are your objectives regarding
incidents, accidents and injury?
• What will you do to make Field Level
Risk Assessment an ongoing way of
doing work?

People need to be involved in getting Ask the “leaders” in your company to

Field Level Risk Assessment going. help plan and install Field Level Risk
Assessment.
• Choose both supervisors and workers
• Choose some “hard nuts” who have
influence

Construction Owners Association of Alberta 12

Field Level Risk Assessment Manager’s Handbook

What People NEED To Start Using What YOU CAN DO To Get People
FIELD LEVEL RISK ASSESSMENT on Board

People need to know that progress Choose the measures and tell
toward the objectives of reduced incidents, people.
accidents and injury will be measured. • Use numbers. e.g. How many forms?
What is the reduction in accidents?
• Track quality e.g. How well are forms
filled out? What is the reduction in
accidents of the same type?
• Use ad hoc measures e.g.
conversations on the work site asking,
“How it is going?”
• Set up regular ways to report results
e.g. newsletters, bulletin boards,
meetings.

People will use Field Level Risk Put rewards/ recognition in place.
Assessment, if consequences are clear • Focus on the positive.
and used. • Choose rewards that fit with your
company’s best way of doing things.
• Use persistent feedback as
consequence for not using Field
Level Risk Assessment i.e. I will check
to make sure that you are doing it etc.
• Deal with fears positively (e.g.
fears of speaking out).

People need to be well trained and have Train both workers and supervisors
the skills to use Field Level Risk • Use the training packages provided by
Assessment. COAA. (customize as you like)
• Use every opportunity to coach and
reinforce the skills and behaviors.
• Make sure that supervisors constantly
train their crews.

Construction Owners Association of Alberta 13

Field Level Risk Assessment Manager’s Handbook

What People NEED To Start Using What YOU CAN DO To Get People
FIELD LEVEL RISK ASSESSMENT on Board

People need to get feedback on their use Use many opportunities to give feedback to
of Field Level Risk Assessment. individuals and crews
• Use safety meetings.
• Attend tailgate sessions.
• Use performance discussions if
you have regular ones.
• Use management meetings.
• Use written and verbal methods.

People need to have personal success or Produce “ quick wins” and positive
see others have success using Field Level changes.
Risk Assessment. • Find early successes and announce
them.
• Ask for examples of successes at
safety and other meetings and
gatherings.

People need to see that management is • Use the employees’ suggestions to

serious about Field Level Risk improve tools and procedures.
Assessment • Invest in “controls” that make an
ongoing difference.
• Use the process yourself.

Construction Owners Association of Alberta 14

Field Level Risk Assessment Manager’s Handbook

What People NEED To Start to Use What YOU CAN DO To Get People
FIELD LEVEL RISK ASSESSMENT on Board

People need to see that company systems, Coordinate other systems and
goals and measures reinforce not measures
compete with doing Field Level Risk • Make risk assessment a primary
Assessments. goal, higher than getting the work
done fast.
• Reward and recognize
individuals and crews who do risk
assessment (promotions, added
responsibility, visibility, prizes, cash,
etc.).
• Write policies and procedures
about Field Level Risk Assessment.
• Stream-line related paper-work to
make sure it doesn’t interfere with Field
Level Risk Assessment.
• Set up a way to use the
information from the Field Level
Risk Assessment forms.
• Change the job descriptions of
everyone who is involved in doing field
level risk assessment. This includes
administrative people and those analyze
the information from the forms.

Construction Owners Association of Alberta 15

Field Level Risk Assessment Manager’s Handbook

HOW TO MANAGE THE ONGOING USE OF FIELD OF

LEVEL RISK ASSESSMENT

MONITORING THE USE OF FIELD LEVEL RISK ASSESSMENT

1. Use standards and indicators

The questions “What do you want people to do?” and “How do you want them to do it?”
are important management questions. Documented standards make these expectations
clear for workers. There should be standards about Field Level Risk Assessment for both
crews and individuals. Indicators describe how and when you will measure the
performance in relation to the standards. Here are some examples:

• At the beginning of every job, every shift, and every time there is a change in
job plans or conditions, the crew will meet together and do a Field Level Risk
Assessment.

Possible Indicators: You see crew meetings taking place.

• Every time a worker changes a task they do a mental Field Level Risk
Assessment.

Possible Indicators: You see workers putting controls in place, reporting concerns to
foremen, stopping to think before starting a new job step.

• Every time there is a crew discussion a Field Level Risk Assessment form is filled in.

Possible Indicators: A minimum of one form is submitted for each day of crew
activity.

• At the end of each month, the Field Level Risk Assessment forms will be
reviewed at a joint work site committee.

Possible Indicator: Person assigned to this task submits a summary of hazards

identified and suggestions for changes to improve how work is done.

Construction Owners Association of Alberta 16

Field Level Risk Assessment Manager’s Handbook

2. Make monitoring a standard process

Decide how you will monitor, who will monitor, and when you will monitor. Here are
some examples:

• What you will do: Verbal reports at management and safety meetings, reports during
performance discussions, spot checks at the work site, spot checks of documentation,
audits, etc.

• Who: Senior management, foremen, supervisors, health and safety staff.

• When: Consistent and persistent time frames set for each activity.

3. Keep records

Decide what you will record to check your progress toward your objectives, who will do
the recording and how it will be recorded. Here are some examples:

• What: Field Level Risk Assessment Forms, monthly reports of suggestions, spot
check results of crews and individuals

• Who: Management, foremen

• How: In personnel files, in data bases, hard files

4. Develop a way to give feedback

Communicate individual and company progress and performance in relation to targets

and expectations.

• Methods: newsletters, memos, announcements, one on one conversations, meetings

Construction Owners Association of Alberta 17

Field Level Risk Assessment Manager’s Handbook

USING FIELD LEVEL RISK ASSESSMENT TO IMPROVE

BUSINESS RESULTS

There are three ways that using Field Level Risk Assessment can improve your business
results. They are:

1. COST REDUCTION: Reduction in the number and severity of incidents,

accidents and injury
Consistent and effective use of Field Level Risk Assessment will reduce the number of
incidents, accidents and injuries in your company. This change will reduce your costs.
Consistent expectations, training, monitoring, feedback and rewards will establish Field
Level Risk Assessment as a habitual practice for individuals and crews.

2. IMPROVEMENT IN PROFITS: Improvement in the way work is done

Incidents happen when effective measures are not put in place to control hazards. They
are a symptom of a way of working that is not reliable. Using written procedures, better
tools or equipment, or standards to govern working conditions can eliminate or reduce the
severity of the risks. These changes also improve reliability. Improving reliability
increases the quality and often the quantity of work that is done. Individual and crew
productivity improve.

By reviewing Field Level Risk Assessment forms, you can identify trends and patterns of
hazards. An analysis of these trends and patterns may uncover ways to improve work
methods. To achieve this result, it is crucial that you assign specific people to gather and
analyze Field Level Risk Assessment data, solve the identified problems, and take action
on making changes. Improvements will not happen without effort and good management.

3. IMPROVEMENT IN COMPANY MORALE: Improved worker

commitment
Opportunity for growth and achievement, clear expectations and personal responsibility,
the ability to influence, and working as a team are factors which influence employee
motivation and commitment. Field Level Risk Assessment provides workers with these
opportunities. Workers develop critical thinking skills, make meaningful contribution to
the company’s success, and participate in important team problem solving. Increasing
health and safety for themselves and others is perhaps the most important and motivating
outcome of doing Field Level Risk Assessment.

Although the impact of morale is not as easily measured as cost and profit, most
managers agree there is correlation between high morale, productivity and quality of
work. Field Level Risk Assessment has the potential to improve the attitudes people
develop about work and the company.

Construction Owners Association of Alberta 18

Field Level Risk Assessment Manager’s Handbook

Section #3:

OVERVIEW OF TOOLS AND TRAINING

TOOLS

Copies of these tools are found at the end of this document.

MEMORY JOGGER CARD

This is a pocket-sized card for each worker. Your company can customize it.

RISK ASSESSMENT MATRIX

This is a simple matrix that helps to assess the risk associated with a hazard. The
variables used to assess risk are the possible consequences associated with the hazard and
the probability that it will occur.

FIELD LEVEL RISK ASSESSMENT PROCESS FLOWCHART

This is a flowchart that explains how the Field Level Risk Assessment process fits with
other company loss management processes.. It is useful as a pictorial overview of inputs,
process steps and outputs of the process.

FIELD LEVEL RISK ASSESSMENT FORM

This is a form to record Field Level Risk Assessment discussions conducted by crews.
The forms can be produced in pads that fit clipboards. The forms can be designed to
include a process chart, memory jogger card information and the risk assessment matrix.
They can also be produced in duplicate to provide copies for record keeping and analysis
purposes.

Construction Owners Association of Alberta 19

Field Level Risk Assessment Manager’s Handbook

TRAINING/ INFORMATION

Training and/or information in Field Level Risk Assessment is available for managers,
supervisors and workers.

MANAGERS

“The Manager’s Handbook”

This document is provided to meet the information needs of managers who are interested
in understanding Field Level Risk Assessment. It does not develop skill in using the
process, however. Manager may wish to use the “Supervisor’s Guide to Field Level Risk
Assessment: Part One – Self Study Training” to develop skill in doing Field Level Risk
Assessment.

SUPERVISORS

“Supervisor’s Guide to Field Level Risk Assessment: Part One – Self-Study

Training”

The “Supervisor’s Self-Study Guide To Field Level Risk Assessment” is a self-study

program designed to teach supervisors how to do Field Level Risk Assessment. It uses
content and exercises from the training for workers but is to be done by self-study rather
than in a group setting. It includes instruction in how to use the “Field Level Risk
Assessment Form” and how to conduct a Field Level Risk Assessment discussion with a
crew.

After completing this self study training in Field Level Risk Assessment supervisors
will be able to:
1. Describe why Field Level Risk Assessment is needed to improve worker health
and safety, work effectiveness and company profitability.
2. Describe how Field Level Risk Assessment helps employers and workers fulfill
the requirements of Occupational Health and Safety Legislation.
3. Describe what Field Level Risk Assessment is, when it is done, and who does it.
4. Describe the process steps for Field Level Risk Assessment.
5. Identify the steps of a job and identify the hazards linked to each job step.
6. Assess the risks linked to the hazards identifed in a job using the Risk Assessment
Matrix.
7. Identify appropriate controls to put in place, to reduce risk to an acceptable level.
8. Use a form to record Field Level Risk Assessment discussions.
9. Make personal plans about using Field Level Risk Assessment to supervise
workers more effectively.
10. List the benefits that the company and workers experience through using Field
Level Risk Assessment.

Construction Owners Association of Alberta 20

Field Level Risk Assessment Manager’s Handbook

“Supervisor Guide to Field Level Risk Assessment: Part Two Training Others”

This contains information a supervisor or trainer would need to deliver training sessions
to workers. It includes detailed instructions for teaching the sessions, overhead masters,
and ideas about how to make the training fit your company’s needs.

The table of contents is:

1. Description of the Training

2. How to Prepare Yourself For Delivering the Training
3. Lesson Plans
4. Overhead Masters
5. How to Customize the Training
6. Tips on How to Deliver Training

WORKERS

“Field Level Risk Assessment” Workshop

This training workshop can be delivered in variety of two-hour formats. It uses

discussion, practical examples and case studies. It is designed to teach skills and
motivate workers.

The purpose of the training is:

To prepare work site personnel to use the Field Level Risk Assessment process, in a
habitual way, to identify potential hazards, assess their magnitude, and decide if controls
are needed.

As a result of the course, workers will be able to:

1. Identify and describe a hazard, an assessment of risk and a control.

2. Describe the process of Field Level Risk Assessment.
3. List the two components of Field Level Risk Assessment.
4. Identify situations where the Field Level Risk Assessment process should be used.
5. Use the “Memory Jogger” questions to do a Field Level Risk Assessment.
6. Use the Risk Assessment Matrix to assess the risk in a situation.
7. Demonstrate their ability to do Field Level Risk Assessment in a group using a case
study.
8. Discuss the kinds of hazards that are possible on a work site.
9. Discuss the types of controls that can be used to keep risk to an acceptable level.
10. Discuss the barriers to using Field Level Risk Assessment habitually and the supports
that are available to overcome these barriers.
11. Discuss the responsibilities they have to use Field Level Risk Assessment.
12. Describe how Field Level Risk Assessment will be used in this company.
13. List the benefits of making Field Level Risk Assessment a habit on every job.

Construction Owners Association of Alberta 21

Field Level Risk Assessment Manager’s Handbook

MAKING YOUR PLAN: A TOOL

What follows is a sample action plan for making Field Level Risk Assessment
happen in your company. It is a planning tool as well as a checklist to track completion.
The “How” column includes suggested methods. These suggestions are in italics.

Action/Objective Who How? When? Done?

PHASE 1: Build Commitment
Key decision-makers in company Decision • Read and discuss the
become familiar with Field Level makers in COAA “Field Level
Risk Assessment company Risk Assessment:
Manager’s
Handbook”

Gather facts on the number and Safety or

cost of incidents. other
personnel,
general
manager
Set challenging targets for Company
improvement in incident, accident management
and injury figures

Assign individual /team to Company

develop company plan management

The individual/team become Individual • Members of the

familiar with problem, targets and /team doing management team
Field Level Risk Assessment the plan complete the
Process “Supervisor Guide
to Field Level Risk
Assessment: Part
One Self-Study
Training”

Construction Owners Association of Alberta 22

Field Level Risk Assessment Manager’s Handbook

Action/Objective Who How? When? Done?

PHASE 2: Get Ready

Review company policies and Individual or

procedures that will be affected team doing
by Field Level Risk Assessment. the plan

Find out how positions in the Individual or • Ask management

company would be affected by Team doing who they want to
doing Field Level Risk the plan handle the
Assessment, i.e. workers, documentation, the
supervisors/ foremen, individuals monitoring of
who will process Field Level Risk worker and crew
Assessment information. performance,
recommendations
that come from the
process

Find out the quality of Individual or • Ask management

performance in Field Level Risk Team doing • Write a standard
Assessment that company the plan and get it approved
management expects.

Find out what rewards or Individual or • Ask management

consequences management wants Team doing • Make a proposal
to put in place for people doing or the plan and have it approved
not doing Field Level Risk
Assessment.

Find out how Field Level Risk Individual or

Assessment will affect other Team doing
safety programs in the company. the plan

Find out what resources ($, Individual or • Do a rough budget

people, time) are available for Team doing of training and other
training workers and supervisors. the plan costs and give to
management
• Ask management for
preliminary
approval

Construction Owners Association of Alberta 23

Field Level Risk Assessment Manager’s Handbook

Action/Objective Who How? When? Done?

PHASE 3: The Plan (who,
when, how)
Develop the communication for Individual or
Field Level Risk Assessment. Team doing
This includes getting it started the plan
and the ongoing communication
that will be needed to keep it
going.

Decide how changes in company Individual or

policies, procedures and related Team doing
safety programs/initiatives the plan
(including audits) will be made.

Determine how changes to Individual or

roles/job descriptions will be Team doing
made. the plan

Develop the plan for the training Individual or

of workers and Team doing
supervisors/foremen. the plan

Decide how documentation will Individual or

be used to improve safety and Team doing
work results. the plan
Identify how, where and by whom Individual or
documentation will be stored. Team doing
the plan
Develop a monitoring plan. Individual or
Team doing
the plan
Decide how COAA tools will be Individual or
adapted for use in the company Team doing
e.g. form, matrix the plan

Identify what could go wrong Individual or

with the plan and make Team doing
adjustments. the plan

Construction Owners Association of Alberta 24

Field Level Risk Assessment Manager’s Handbook

Action/objective Who How? When? Done?

PHASE 4: Taking Action
Communicate about the program Management

Change job responsibilities Management

Change policies Management

Set up new process to deal with Administration

documentation / Management

Set up monitoring methods Management

Prepare and deliver training Supervisors,

trainers, or
contractors

Monitor “Take Action” activities Management

and make adjustments

Monitor use of Field Level Risk Management

Assessment

Communicate successes Management

Construction Owners Association of Alberta 25

Field Level Risk Assessment Manager’s Handbook

Action/objective Who How? When? Done?

PHASE 5: Review Program

Review progress toward targets Management • Gather

and objectives information from
audits and
monitoring
activities

Identify changes required and Management

develop plan

Implement plan Management

Construction Owners Association of Alberta 26

Field Level Risk Assessment Manager’s Handbook

TEMPLATES

THE “MEMORY JOGGER” – A CARD FOR WORKERS

The “Memory Jogger” is a pocket-sized card to give as a reminder of how to conduct

“Field Level Risk Assessment. Your company can customize this card.

(SIDE ONE)

CONSTRUCTION OWNERS ASSOCIATION OF ALBERTA

Field Level Risk Assessment Process

& Think

Resume Look Around

Work & Find Hazards

Control Risks Assess Risks

Construction Owners Association of Alberta 27

Field Level Risk Assessment Manager’s Handbook

“MEMORY JOGGER CARD” SIDE TWO

FIELD LEVEL RISK ASSESSMENT

Questions to ask before & while doing a task:

IDENTIFY:
Do I clearly understand my task?

Am I physically & mentally prepared to do the task?

What could go wrong?

Is there a risk to others or myself?

What can change that could create a new risk?

Could other crews, workers, or conditions pose risks to me?

ASSESS:
How bad could this be?

How likely is it to happen?

CONTROL:
Who should I contact for help?

Are permits, written practices, procedures, etc. required?

What can I do to control the risk?

Will the control affect another part of the task being done?

Do I need to tell anyone else?

Are emergency response plans required?

“IF IN DOUBT SHOUT”

CONTACT YOUR SUPERVISOR!

Construction Owners Association of Alberta 28

Field Level Risk Assessment Manager’s Handbook

RISK ASSESSMENT MATRIX

LEVEL OF RISK = Consequences X Probability

PROBABILITY
Consequences: High (H)– Serious; Medium (M) – Moderate; Low (L) – Minor
Probability: High C
(H)– Often; Medium (M)– Sometimes; Low (L) – Rarely
O High Med. Low
N
S H M
E High H
Q
U Med. H M L
E
N
C Low M L L
E

Construction Owners Association of Alberta 29

Field Level Risk Assessment Manager’s Handbook

FIELD LEVEL RISK ASSESSMENT PROCESS FLOWCHART

When do we initiate a Risk Assessment?

(i.e. Change of work or workers
Change to working area CONSTRUCTION OWNERS ASSOCIATION
Start of a new job or task
Tailgate/Toolbox Meetings OF ALBERTA
Field Level Risk Assessment
Process Flow Diagram

No further
Documentation
Required

No
Inputs:
- Plan or Project
Job Package Does the Hazard
ID Job/ ID Assess/
- Company Safety need to be further
Hazards Evaluate
Program Activity controlled?
- Job Procedures
- Standards and Practices
- Job Safety Analysis (JSA) Yes
No

Process Definition: a method that an individual or crew

Hazard adequately
would use to minimize or eliminate potential losses (to controlled
people, property, materials or equipment) during the course to an acceptable level Control
of conducting work. of Risk?

Yes Outputs:
Monitor Risk trends (from
documentation)
- adjustments to project
design
Document for Further - Safety policy changes
Reference and - Changes to practices or
Analysis work procedures

Construction Owners Association of Alberta 30

FIELD LEVEL RISK ASSESSMENT FORM
FIELD LEVEL RISK ASSESSMENT
PROJECT NAME:
DATE: _____ ______________
COMPANY:
LOCATION:

STEP 1 – IDENTIFY MAIN JOB TASKS STEP 2 – IDENTIFY HAZARDS STEP 3 – ASSESS RISK
(RISK = PROBABILITY X CONSEQUENCE)

STEP 4 – CONTROL HAZARDS

HAZARD WHAT CONTROL BY WHOM WHO CHECKED

FOLLOW-UP REQUIRED

COMPLETED BY: SUP/LEADER REVIEW: