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Hazard Identification

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20 views

Hazard Identification

Uploaded by

ibrahim.dahadj
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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NATIONAL POLYTECHNIC SCHOOL OF ALGIERS

Department of Industrial and Environmental Risks Control (QHSE- GRI)


Academic year: 2024-2025 / First semester
4th year engineering
Course title: AST3

HAZARD IDENTIFICATION

One of the "root causes" of workplace injuries, illnesses, and incidents is the failure to identify
or recognize hazards that are present, or that could have been anticipated. A critical element of any
effective safety and health program is a proactive, ongoing process to identify and assess such hazards.

Workplace hazards are potential sources of harm or potential causes of adverse health effects
that can exist in the workplace. They can vary depending on the nature of the work environment and
the tasks performed. A hazard can be considered as a dormant potential for harm which is
present in one form or another in the workplace.

Assessing the work environment for health and safety hazards is important to prevent
injuries and illnesses from happening. The identification of workplace hazards plays a crucial role
in ensuring the safety and well-being of employees.

What is hazard identification?


Hazard identification is part of the process used to evaluate if any particular situation, item, thing, etc.
may have the potential to cause harm. The term often used to describe the full process is risk
assessment:
 Identify hazards and risk factors that have the potential to cause harm (hazard
identification).
 Decide who might be harmed and how
 Analyze and evaluate the risk associated with that hazard (risk analysis, and risk
evaluation).
 Decide on control measures and determine appropriate ways to eliminate the hazard, or
control the risk when the hazard cannot be eliminated (risk control).
 Record the findings and implement them
 Review the assessment and update if necessary

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Overall, the goal of hazard identification is to find and record possible hazards that may be present in
your workplace. It may help to work as a team and include both people familiar with the work area, as
well as people who are not – this way you have both the experienced and fresh eye to conduct the
inspection.

HAZID: stands for Hazard Identification. Hazard Identification is the process of finding and recording
possible hazards that are or may be present in the workplace.
Hazard identification is an integral part of the industrial risk assessment process and larger safety
jobs which includes consistently assessing the risks in the workplace.
A hazard identification checklist and other hazard documentation mechanisms form the basis for
risk assessments which are often followed by risk evaluations and risk registers along with hazard
controls and hazard investigations.
To identify and assess hazards, employers and workers:
 Collect and review information about the hazards present or likely to be present in the
workplace.
 Conduct initial and periodic workplace inspections to identify new or recurring hazards.
 Investigate injuries, illnesses, incidents, and close calls/near misses to determine the
underlying hazards, their causes, and safety and health program shortcomings.
 Group similar incidents and identify trends in injuries, illnesses, and hazards reported.
 Consider hazards associated with emergency or no routine situations.
 Determine the severity and likelihood of incidents that could result for each hazard identified,
and use this information to prioritize corrective actions.

When should hazard identification be done?


Hazard identification can be done:
 During design and implementation
o Designing a new process or procedure
o Purchasing and installing new machinery
 Before tasks are done
o Checking equipment or following processes
o Reviewing surroundings before each shift
 While tasks are being done
o Be aware of changes, abnormal conditions, or sudden emissions
 During inspections
o Formal, informal, supervisor, health and safety committee
 After incidents
o Near misses or minor events
o Injuries

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How to make sure all hazards have been found?
To be sure that all hazards are found:
 Look at all aspects of the work and include non-routine activities such as maintenance,
repair, or cleaning.
 Look at the physical work environment, equipment, materials, products, etc. that are used.
 Include how the tasks are done.
 Look at injury and incident records.
 Talk to the workers: they know their job and its hazards best.
 Include all shifts, and people who work off site either at home, on other job sites, drivers,
teleworkers, with clients, etc.
 Look at the way the work is organized or done (include experience of people doing the
work, systems being used, etc).
 Look at foreseeable unusual conditions (for example: possible impact on hazard control
procedures that may be unavailable in an emergency situation, power outage, etc.).
 Determine whether a product, machine or equipment can be intentionally or
unintentionally changed (e.g., a safety guard that could be removed).
 Review all of the phases.
 Examine risks to visitors or the public.
 Consider the groups of people that may have a different level of risk such as young or
inexperienced workers, persons with disabilities, or new or expectant mothers.

What are the methods that could be used to identify hazards?


While there are various methods to identify hazards in the workplace, the following three will help
you begin the process of creating an effective IIPP:
1. Conduct regular worksite inspections. Walk through the worksite and visually assess the
types of equipment, work practices, and any potential hazards that could be harmful to
workers.
2. Interview workers and managers. This allows workers to express concerns that may not be
as obvious when conducting only worksite inspections. Involving workers in the process of
identifying hazards also increases staff morale and compliance with safety practices.
3. Create a hazard map. Draw a large outline of the worksite(s) and mark existing and potential
hazards. Involve workers in this activity to solicit feedback and to increase awareness of the
importance of safety in the workplace.

It is important to have several different methods of identifying health and safety hazards to ensure a
safe work environment for employees. Taking the necessary steps will make the difference and help to
create a health and safety culture that will be beneficial for everyone.

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