Development of a First-tier Risk Assessment Tool for Occupational Hazards Among Public Officials

Background Public officials face diverse job-related hazards, yet systematic approaches to identify risk factors are limited in the Republic of Korea. This study developed a risk assessment tool to evaluate occupational risk factors among public officials and describes its development process and practical use. Methods We conducted text analysis of injury/illness narratives from 25,317 approved compensation claims (2019–2023) to extract and classify key risk factors. The tool was designed as a first-tier self-assessment in which respondents rate the frequency and intensity of exposure to each risk factor on a 4-point Likert scale. The product of the two scores yields a four-level risk rating. The tool was developed in Microsoft Excel and consists of six worksheets. Results Text analysis of the claim narratives identified 24 risk factors (psychological 5, organizational 2, ergonomic 5, physical 7, chemical 3, and biological 2); collision/fall risk was the most common (54.7%). In the Excel-based tool, users rate frequency and intensity for each item, which automatically generates a four-level risk rating. Items rated as high/very high prompt entry of detailed work situations. The tool also allows the addition of extra risk factors and provides guidance on second-tier in-depth assessments for high-risk results. Conclusion This tool may help public officials across diverse job types easily screen job-related risk factors. Further studies should evaluate its usability and applicability across public service occupations.