HM - Hazards Management

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Chapter : Hazard Management 

Hazards Management

There is risk in all areas of life. We want to identify, eliminate or control work-related risks to prevent injuries on the job. You are key in helping prevent and avoid injuries.
 
An effective way to do this is to review your own work areas. Doing so will help identify work-related risks so we can either eliminate or control them.

Diference between Hazards & Incidents 

If someone asked you to define a hazard / an Incident could you do it? Many times hazards cause incident /accidents, but what is the definition of each? To help educate employees, the following definitions have been provided for your reference and understanding: 

A Hazard : Source with a potential to cause injury and ill health;

• Note 1: Hazards can include sources with the potential to cause harm or hazardous situations, or circumstances with the potential for exposure leading to injury and ill health.

An Incident : Occurrence arising out of, or in the course of, work that could or does result in injury and ill health

Hazards to watch for

• Slip, trip and fall hazards.
• Lifting, handling, pushing and pulling hazards.
• Hand tool and hand power tool hazards.

  

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• Unguarded or unprotected moving parts on machines or equipment.
• Eye hazards from particulates, liquids splash,radiation, etc.
• Breathing hazards like dusts, mists, fumes and vapors.
• Pinch points where fingers, hands or other body parts could be pinched.
• Electrical hazards.
• Ergonomic risks.

Safe procedures

1. Know your work area well. Where are the areas or spaces you are working?
2. Identify hazards that can cause injury. What things in the work area involve risks of falls, lifting, hand tools and hand power tools,unguarded machines, eye hazards, breathing hazards, pinch points, moving parts, electrical hazards, or others. Are they controlled?
3. Use a checklist to help identify hazards. A checklist can help you identify hazards more consistently without overlooking the obvious. It also gives ideas for improvements to be made, if possible.
4. Discuss control options with supervisors. Share what you’ve observed with your supervisor.This will allow you to find ways to eliminate or manage the risk.

Making Hazard Recognition by default

• Understand how unsafe acts can lead to accidents
• Participate in safety training every opportunity you get
• Use your safety knowledge in all aspects of your job, every hour of the day
• Help instruct new workers in identifying potentially hazardous situations

Identify Unsafe Acts

• Be aware of your surroundings
• Many hazards are obvious to those who open their eyes and minds to see them

Correct Potential Hazards

• Hazard recognition is valuable only when corrective action is taken
• Report all potential hazards to your supervisor
• Work with your supervisor to make sure the hazard is corrected and communicate with co-workers so they don’t cause any potential hazards
• Be the safety coordinator for your work area and stress the importance of safety to your co-workers
• If you are not sure what to do, ask Correct Potential Hazards
• Review safety procedures for your job and work area on a daily basis

To prevent work injuries all must identify, eliminate or control work risks. You are in the work

environment and have the best opportunity to identify hazards. Solutions can be found through working with your supervisor or others. Using a checklist can be helpful.