Workplace hazards exist in all occupations. The ability to adequately recognize, evaluate and control these hazards strengthens the financial possibilities of workplaces by preventing or reducing illness, injury and property damage and lowering their associated costs.
A hazard is a condition, substance, behaviour or practice with the potential to cause loss due to injury, illness or property damage. There are two major categories of hazards – health hazards and safety hazards.
Recognizing hazards is the first step in preventing illness, injury and property damage in the workplace.
There are several ways to recognize hazards, including: inspecting workplaces, investigating accidents/incidents, keeping material safety data sheets, analyzing job safety and observing work processes, to name a few.
Hazards are evaluated based on risk, meaning the potential probability and severity of loss to people, equipment, materials and environment. There are several ways to control hazards; however, the order of preference is:
1. Engineering controls:
- elimination – completely removing the hazard
- substitution – replacing the hazard with a less hazardous one
- isolation – separating workers from the hazard
2. Administrative controls: limiting workers’ time at tasks that involve hazards, establishing operating procedures, and providing training
3. Personal protective equipment (PPE): placing a barrier between the worker and the hazard
One means of determining the hazards of a job is to perform a job safety analysis in which all tasks are evaluated to determine the hazards in each task and ways to control those hazards. The information can then be used to write safe work practices and procedures.
A sample hazard assessment form is available online here.
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