Risk assessment in the laboratory of epidemiology

Background and Objectives: Risk management is an endeavor in managing risks in the field of Occupational Safety and Health to halt the occurrence of unwanted occupational accidents comprehensively, planned, and structured in a well-managed system. The incidence of occupational accidents are likely to be found in many workplaces, and one of those is in a laboratory. The Laboratory of Epidemiology in the Faculty of Public Health, Universitas Airlangga is a site for students to conduct numerous activities, such as experiments, research, and tests and/or calibration. Those activities are supposed to be containing potential hazards, namely fingers injuries caused by laboratory equipment, eye fatigue, and Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs). Method: This research aims to identify the hazards and attempts to perform risk assessments by implementing HIRADC method in a laboratory in the Faculty of Public Health Universitas Airlangga to prevent the occurrence of occupational accidents and occupational illnesses suffered by the laboratory users. This research is descriptive research. The data are collected by conducting a direct observation and interviews with the laboratory workers. The variables in this research are hazard identification, risk assessment, and risk control. Results: By implementing the HIRADC method, the results show that there are 12 risks discovered, namely 10 low-risk level of hazards and 2 moderate-risk levels of hazards. Amongst the proposed risk controls are the use of standardized Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), the music playback to reduce stress levels, and the addition of seat cushions to minimize the complaints of MSDs. Therefore, the mentioned controls and recommendations are expected to facilitate the attempt to reduce the risk level occurrences in the Laboratory of Epidemiology in the Faculty of Public Health, Universitas Airlangga.