Hazard identification

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 Sheet 1 - Defining a hazard and risk

A hazard is a source of danger which

is defined as “a condition or situation
that exists within the working
environment which could result in
injury, harm to health and/or
damage”.

A risk relates to exposure to the

danger and is defined as “the
probability of any injury, harm to
health or loss occurring from a
hazard”.

Sheet 2 - Types of visible hazards

Examples of obvious or visible hazards include:

• untidy housekeeping;

• missing machine guarding;

• broken or damaged ladders;

• damaged vehicles; and

• “blown” or missing lights.

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 Sheet 3 - Types of hidden hazards

Examples of hidden hazards can include:

• toxic and asphyxiating gases

and vapours inside confined
.
spaces; and

• emissions from radioactive

sources.

Sheet 4 - Types of developing hazards

Examples of developing hazards include:

• building and structural damage

created by vibration or sagging
foundations;
• corrosion and excessive
weathering of metal components;
• abnormal wear and tear on
critical parts of machinery,
equipment or plant; and
• deterioration from ultraviolet
radiation and chemical reaction.

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 Sheet 5 - Visible hand drill
hazards

Easily recognised or visible hazards could include:

• cracked outer casing;

• split or heat damaged power cord insulation;
and
• bent plug pin.

Particles of dirt and foreign matter from drilling

can enter the cooling vents and breakdown the
double insulation.

Physical
Sheet 6 - Hazard categories

Substance
This category This category includes hazards associated with
includes hazards the exposure to chemicals and other hazardous
from exposure to: substances, such as:
• noise; • cyanide;
• vibration; and • acids;
• temperature. • caustic soda; and
• lead.

Ergonomic
Ergonomic hazards are associated with the
interrelationship between people and the
equipment/machinery they work with. This
includes:
• work station layout;
• equipment design; and
• instrument layout.

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 Sheet 6a - Hazard categories
Biological Radiation
This category includes This category includes hazardous sources of
hazards associated radiation energy, such as:
with exposure to:
• ultraviolet radiation from exposure to sunlight
• viruses; or arc welding;
• bacteria; and
• ionising radiation from x-ray equipment; and
• parasites
• infra-red radiation from drying. Baking and
heating processes.

Psychological

This category includes the

hazards that can have an
effect on the person’s mental
well-being and behaviour,
such as:
• work load;
• shift arrangement; and
• workplace violence.

Sheet 7 - Risk hazards

High risk hazards This is a hazard with a score of 150 or above. Low risk hazards
It is a condition or practice that is likely to
cause:
• loss of life;
• permanent disability;
• loss of body parts; or
• extensive loss of structure equipment or
material.
This is a hazard with a score of
40 or below. This is a condition
of practice that is likely to cause:
Medium risk hazards
• minor non-disabling injury
This is a hazard with a score o above or illness; or
40 and less than 150. It is a • non-disruptive property
condition or practice that is likely to damage.
cause:

• serious injury or illness that results

in temporary disability; or
• property damage that is disruptive
but less severe than a high risk
hazard.

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 Sheet 8 - Dealing with hazards

• Can the hazard be eliminated?

• Can the hazard be isolated from the employees?

• What will be done to minimize the likelihood of harm from the hazard?

• What equipment and clothing are needed to protect employees from the harm?

• How are employees’ exposure to the hazard and their health in relation to
the exposure being monitored?

Sheet 9 - Dealing with hazards

(Hazards control)
For each “other hazard” ask these questions in the following order:

• Can the hazard be removed by design and engineering?

• Can the hazard be removed by substitution?

• Can the risk from the hazard be reduced by changing the process?

• Can the risk from the hazard be reduced by enclosing it to isolate it from
workers?

• Can the hazards be removed at source before they can affect the workforce?

• Can the hazard be reduced by segregating the process from workers other
than those needed to the process?

• Can personal protective equipment be used to reduce the risk of injury?

• Can rules or procedures be developed to reduce the risk of injury?

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 Sheet 9 - Dealing with hazards

Elimination

Substitution

Engineering controls

Administrative controls

Personal protection

Sheet 10 – Management control of hazards

• Involvement of employees in the development of health and safety procedures.

• An information system to ensure employees are informed about and understand the
risks from hazards they work with.

• An accident reporting and investigation system.

• Regular surveys of the workplace.

• Responsibilities being assigned to ensure hazard controls are implemented and

remain effective.

• An audit system for checking that the controls for specific hazards are in place and
working.

• An adequate training programs and adequate supervision for all staff.

• Implementing emergency procedures, perhaps in conjunction with local emergency

services, to limit the consequences of an emergency.

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 Sheet 11- The things we can
do

Clean up after the job.

Store and stack items
correctly.
Post warning signs.

Follow safe work

Make sure guards are in
procedures.
place.
Don’t walk away from a
Operate equipment
hazard.
correctly.
Fix it or report it.
Barricade hazardous areas.

Sheet 12- Work Shop

Example

An illustration of the connection between the management control activities

mentioned above and the local control activities can be made by looking at the
following simple example, where the hazard could not be eliminated or isolated.

Hazard: Exposure to talc when emptying bag into hopper.

Assessment: Sustained inhalation of significant amounts of talc can produce

symptomatic pneumoconiosis. MSDS sheet supplied with product states precautions
needed.

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Local controls:
‐ Ventilation hood over hopper (interlocked with process).
‐ Protective face mask (worn when emptying bags).
‐ Disposable overalls.

Management controls:
‐ Plant survey every month to check procedures and the efficiency of ventilation
system.
‐ Training for staff in hazards of talc and reasons for protective clothing.
‐ Audit every year to ensure training is given and that hazards and responsibilities are
known about and understood.
‐ Medical examination of people using talc every three years as part of ongoing
monitoring process.
‐ Test every six months to what extent staff are exposed to talc. Use personal
monitoring method.
‐ Employees given the results of monitoring.

Sheet 13- Techniques for measuring &

evaluation of risk & hazard analysis.

Job Hazard Analysis (JHA)

Qualitative risk assessment
Bow Tie Analysis
Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA)
Fault Tree Analysis (FTA)
Hazard and Operability Study (HAZOP)
Layer of Protection Analysis (LOPA)
Process Hazard Analysis (PHA)
What If/Checklist