Seeing what can cause harm.
WHAT A HAZARD IS
Anything with the potential to cause harm.
WHAT A RISK IS
The likelihood of that harm occurring, and how serious it would be.
WHY THE DISTINCTION MATTERS
Hazards are identified; risks are assessed and controlled.
WHAT CATEGORIES TO CONSIDER
Physical: machinery, vehicles, height, falling objects, noise, heat
Electrical Chemical Biological Fire and explosion
- Ergonomic: manual handling, posture, repetition
- Environmental: lighting, ventilation, temperature
- Psychological: workload, violence, harassment
WHY PSYCHOLOGICAL BELONGS
Stress and violence at work cause real harm and they are routinely omitted.
HOW TO IDENTIFY HAZARDS
Walk the workplace, and look Ask the people doing the work Review incidents and near misses Check equipment manuals and chemical data sheets Consider non-routine activities
WHY NON-ROUTINE ACTIVITIES MATTER
Maintenance, cleaning, breakdowns and emergencies are where many serious injuries occur.
WHY ASKING WORKERS MATTERS MOST
They know the shortcuts, the awkward tasks and the near misses nobody reported.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
Where people improvise Where guards or protections have been defeated Where the task is awkward Where people move quickly
WHAT TO RECORD
Every hazard identified, with where and what work it relates to.
WHAT TO REVIEW
The list, when anything changes.
