UnderstandPro-actively identifying and reporting hazards in the workplace is the first line of defence in health and safety and one of the most effective ways of improving workplace safety. Many workplace injuries and incidents occur as a result of unidentified hazards and/or ineffective or non-existent control of the risk associated with the hazard.

A workplace hazard is anything which has the potential cause harm to a person or cause damage to property. Hazards can take the form of work practices as well as physical, biological and psychological issues.

Hazard identification may seem daunting to those inexperienced in HSE, but, should be a simple part of normal working operations and blended into the way employees work.

It is important to establish several different methods of identifying health and safety hazards to ensure a robust and effective system. Also required is establishing the right processes, procedures and tools ensuring that employees can identify hazards in the workplace in a relatively easy manner. A durable system may include:

• Regular worksite inspections: Involving walking through the worksite to visually assess the equipment and work practices and any potential hazards that could be harmful to employees
• Interviewing employees and managers: Allowing them to express concerns on issues that may be hidden from worksite inspections
• Creating a hazard map: Draw a large outline of the worksite(s) and identify existing and potential hazards. Involve workers in this activity to obtain further information and increase awareness of the hazards in the workplace

When should hazard identification be done ?

• During design and implementation. eg. when designing a new process or procedure or purchasing and implementing new plant or equipment
• Before tasks are begun including using equipment
• While tasks are being conducted whilst being vigilant of changes in conditions
• During inspections, formal or informal, internal or external
• After incidents or near misses

 

What hazards may I be identifying ?

• Biological hazards: Bacteria, viruses, animals
• Chemical hazards: From hazardous materials
• Ergonomic hazards: Repetitive movements, incorrect posture, incorrect set up of work environment
• Physical hazards: Temperature extremes, pressure extremes, noise, vibrations
• Psychosocial hazards: Violence, stress
• Safety hazards: Equipment breakdowns, slip and trip hazards, electrical hazards etc.

Are there Processes to Identify the Hazard ?

 

A hazard identification step-by-step process could be as follows:

• Gather information about existing hazards that are likely to be present
• Perform regular site walkthroughs to identify new or changed hazards
• Review accidents and near miss occurrences to further investigate root causes and existing health and safety system
• Determine the level of risk, significance, and frequency of each hazard to know where prioritization should lie

One of the best tools in hazard identification is experience. But, beware that experience can also lead to complacency with hazards so it’s also great to involve fresh eyes in the form of internal or external audit inspections.

How will I Identify the Hazard ?

• Look at every aspect of the work activities and operations
• Look at the physical work environment, equipment, materials etc.
• Discuss hazards with employees in both an individual setting and through safety committee meetings
• Look at how specific work and processes are conducted
• Understand how the systems behind the processes and procedures work
• Consider possible circumstances such as extreme weather conditions or a power outage, and what might then become a hazard
• Determine how easy it would be for someone or something to impact the safety of a machine or other equipment eg. can a safety guard be easily removed
• Consider risks to subcontractors, visitors to the site and the public
• Look at the skill levels and competency of different employees. Think about young and new workers and how they would view the hazard

• Consider vulnerable workers such as persons with disabilities, or new or expectant mothers

What will I do next ?

 

Assess risks via understanding the nature of the harm that could be caused by the hazard. This would include how severe the harm could be and the likelihood of its occurrence. Implement control measures which reduce the likelihood and severity of the risk in a practical and realistic way.

Assess and review the control measures over time. Which will enable a company to understand how these measures are performing, and whether or not they need to be changed.

No workplace can be completely safe from hazards. A company can however dramatically reduce the likelihood and severity of workplace injuries through good hazard identification practices. Which is a job for everyone.

 

Corporate OHS is a UAE based Health and Safety Consultancy whose HSE Consultants offer expert resources and superior performance to give you greater results.

We specialize in creating workable, user friendly solutions aligned to your business activities, operations and budget.

Our range of health and safety consultancy services includes;

• Health and Safety Risk assessments
• Hazard identification and control measure implementation
• Gap Analysis and audits
• HSE management system development, implementation and review
• In addition to locally compliant systems such as OSHAD
• And also Accredited standards such as ISO 45001, ISO 14001 and ISO 9001
• HSE legal compliance reviews and assistance
• Accident investigations
• Business continuity and crisis management
• Long term or project based HSE outsourcing
• Monthly support retainers

To find out more about our services, please visit our website www.corporateohs.com or send an email to enquiries@corporateohs.com