scope:

This Handbook provides guidance on the application of AS/NZS ISO 31000:2009 ('the Standard') for the effective management of health-and-safety-related risk. It is intended to assist organizations in tailoring their risk management processes to ensure the health and safety of employees and others in the context of contemporary work health and safety (WHS) legislation.

This Handbook-

(a) explains the distinctive characteristics of health-and-safety-related risk;

(b) outlines the general construct and implication of relevant legislation in Australia and New Zealand (without purporting to provide legal advice);

(c) describes some techniques that can be useful for assessment and treatment of healthand- safety-related risk; and

(d) describes some approaches that can contribute to ascertaining and demonstrating regulatory compliance.

In this Handbook 'health-and-safety-related risk' means any risk that is capable of causing death, injury or illness to people. For simplicity it is hereafter referred to as 'safety-related risk'.

APPLICATION

This Handbook is intended for people who have responsibility for managing safety or whose decisions may influence safety outcomes. These people may be at any level in organizations from board members, directors and other senior managers to people at the working level. It applies to large and small organizations, including public, private and voluntary organizations. Implementation will differ to match the resources, the scale of risk and the nature of the organization's activities.

In the interests of brevity, this Handbook has been drafted on the assumption that users have read AS/NZS ISO 31000.