Hazard Identification & Risk Assessment

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Chapter : Hazard Management

Hazard Identification & Risk Assessment

As we’ve discussed, workplace safety programs are very important. To make sure it’s accomplished, it’s necessary for your company to have a written Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment plan that identifies and corrects potential hazards. Here’s a quick checklist and guideline on how to go about it.

Make sure there’s a supervisor assigned and responsible in making sure that procedure, practices and rules are implemented and enforced. Aside from regular inspections and review, the assigned supervisor will also conduct spot checks and random inspections. Consult and comply with OSHA standards. Check updates on changes or reminders.

When conducting hazard identification and risk assessment, prioritize jobs that have the highest injury or illness rates and those that have the potential to cause the most severe injury or illness. Closely monitor jobs that are new to your operation or have undergone significant changes.
Inspect your work area and facilities thoroughly by doing a visual inspection, auditing, testing, technical or scientific evaluation, analysis of injury or things that can go wrong, their consequences, how they happen and how likely it is that the hazard will occur.

Identify the hazards in all work activities. Hazards can include:

·       Chemical and hazardous substances	·       Manual material handling
·       Tools, machinery and equipment	·       Biological work environment
·       Physical work environment	·       Ergonomic work environment
·       Psychological work environment

Physical Hazards:

• Noise: Prolonged exposure to loud machinery and equipment.
• Vibrations: Exposure to vibrations from power tools and machinery.
• Ergonomic hazards: Repetitive strain injuries from manual handling and awkward postures.
• Slips, trips, and falls: Hazards from oily or greasy floors, uneven surfaces, and poor lighting.

Chemical Hazards:

• Paint and coatings: Exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other hazardous chemicals.
• Solvents and cleaners: Exposure to toxic chemicals used for cleaning and degreasing.
• Fuel and lubricants: Exposure to gasoline, diesel, and other petroleum products.
• Welding fumes: Exposure to hazardous fumes from welding and cutting operations.

Mechanical Hazards:

• Moving machinery: Hazards from moving parts, such as conveyor belts, gears, and chains.
• Robotic systems: Hazards from robotic systems, such as crushing and entanglement.
• Material handling: Hazards from manual handling and mechanical lifting.
• Vehicle movement: Hazards from moving vehicles, such as forklifts and trucks.

Electrical Hazards:

• Electrical shock: Hazards from electrical equipment, such as welding machines and power tools.
• Arc flash: Hazards from electrical arcs and sparks.
• Electromagnetic fields: Exposure to electromagnetic fields from electrical equipment.

Fire and Explosion Hazards:

• Flammable liquids: Hazards from flammable liquids, such as gasoline and paint.
• Dust explosions: Hazards from combustible dusts, such as metal dusts and wood dusts.
• Hot works: Hazards from hot works, such as welding and cutting.

Other Hazards:

• Confined spaces: Hazards from working in confined spaces, such as tanks and vessels.
• Weather-related hazards: Hazards from extreme weather conditions, such as heat stress and cold stress.
• Musculoskeletal disorders: Hazards from repetitive strain injuries and manual handling.

Immediately correct a hazard if possible. If not, inform all affected workers of the hazards and clearly identify the hazards with signs and other applicable warnings. Document the corrective actions or preventive actions that must be done.

Control the hazard starting with the engineering and the administrative controls and then with PPE.

Control Measures:

1. Personal protective equipment (PPE): Provide PPE, it must be worn when engineering and administrative controls do not fully eliminate or isolate the hazard. Such as gloves, safety glasses, and respirators.
2. Administrative controls include written permits and operating procedures, such as safe work practices training and signage
3. Engineering controls: Implement engineering controls,  include eliminating or minimizing of the hazard; enclosure of the hazard; isolation of the hazard; and removal or redirection of the hazard, such as ventilation systems and machine guarding.
4. Training and education: Provide training and education on hazard recognition and control.
5. Regular inspections: Conduct regular inspections to identify and control hazards.
6. Incident reporting: Establish an incident reporting system to investigate and learn from incidents.

Everyone is responsible for keeping the workplace safe. Do self-inspections, which should include the following:

·       Processing	·       Receiving	·       Shipping
·       Building & Ground Conditions	·       Housekeeping	·       Electricity
·       Lighting	·       Heating and Ventilation	·       Machinery;
·       Hand and Power Tools	·       Chemicals	·       Fire Prevention
·       Maintenance	·       PPE	·       Transportation

Use checklists when inspecting, in your checklist, remove items that don’t apply to the area you’re inspecting.

Check if the workers are using safe work practices, and that they’re properly using and taking care of their PPE.

Make sure your company’s safety committee documents all your inspections and assessments. Regularly review the hazards and the control measures set in place. This is to ensure that no new hazard is introduced and that the controls made are working effectively. Stay safe from hazards and risks.