Hazard Identification

Hazard Identification. Being aware of on-site risks is vital. Before doing any work, take a few minutes to check your surroundings. Think about what you will be doing, what equipment and plant you will need, how you could get hurt and what you’ll do if something unexpected happens. Asking yourself these seven simple questions is a good place to start – it could be a life saver. 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)  hazard analysis is used as the first step in a process used to assess risk. The result of a hazard analysis is the identification of different type of hazards. A hazard is a potential condition and exists or not (probability is 1 or 0). It may in single existence or in combination with other hazards (sometimes called events) and conditions become an actual Functional Failure or Accident (Mishap). The way this exactly happens in one particular sequence is called a scenario. This scenario has a probability (between 1 and 0) of occurrence. Often a system has many potential failure scenarios. It also is assigned a classification, based on the worst case severity of the end condition. Risk is the combination of probability and severity. Preliminary risk levels can be provided in the hazard analysis. The validation, more precise prediction (verification) and acceptance of risk is determined in the Risk assessment (analysis). The main goal of both is to provide the best selection of means of controlling or eliminating the risk. The term is used in several engineering specialties, including avionics, chemical process safety, safety engineering, reliability engineering and food safety. Hazard Identification

1. Can I come into contact with an energy source?

Death and serious injury can occur from exposure to electrical hazards on construction sites. The harsh conditions on many construction sites can damage electrical equipment and cables, and reduce their lifespan.

Check electrical equipment has been tested and tagged and make sure there is no risk of hitting anything that could electrocute you, such as overhead powerlines, hidden or underground live cables.

2. Can I come into contact with a hazardous substance?

Used incorrectly, hazardous substances can cause catastrophic accidents, such as fires and explosions, and serious harm to people who are exposed to them. Examples of some common hazardous substances include: fuels, paints, solvents and cleaning products.

You can be exposed by breathing them in, through your skin or by swallowing/ingesting them. Exposure can cause: death, cancer, damage to your internal organs like the liver and kidneys, and fertility problems.

3. Can I be struck by or strike against anything?

Think about your surroundings, the other contractors on site and how you might be hurt by things like:

• Being trapped between a vehicle/plant and a structure
• Vehicles/plant colliding with each other or a structure
• Items that fall off vehicles/plant (unsecured or unstable loads)
• Falling from a vehicle/plant

4. Can I be caught in, on or between anything?

Tools, plant and vehicles can create serious hazards. Even if you use them every day, it’s important to think about how they can hurt you as they are some of the most serious hazards on site.

Some things to watch out for are:

• Mechanical failure
• Operator error
• Incorrect/lack of guarding
• Being trapped by vehicles or plant
• Environmental conditions
• Poor design

5. Can I slip, trip or fall on the same or lower level?

You can be seriously injured, even if you only fall a short distance.Watch out for things like:

• Trip hazards (e.g. loose cables, mess on the floor)
• Uncovered excavations
• Unsecured covers
• Uneven surfaces
• Slippery surfaces
• Working at height (e.g. ladders, scaffolds, cherry pickers etc.)
• Using harnesses incorrectly or without the right training or supervision

6. Can I be injured by poor job/plant design?

Take time to plan your work and make sure you have the right tools and equipment for the job. Speak up if you see someone else doing something unsafe, cutting corners or using the wrong tool for the job.Look out for:

• New tools or plant with different controls
• Operator positioning and poor visibility
• Lack of training
• Non-compliant equipment
• Poorly maintained tools, and wear and tear of older tools
• Tools not being used for their intended purpose
• Equipment that does not comply to New Zealand standards

7. Can I strain or sprain a muscle?

You are most at risk from manual handling injuries when:

• A load is too heavy, it’s difficult to grasp, or it’s too large
• The physical effort is too strenuous
• They are required to bend and twist when handling heavy loads
• The task is repetitive

If you see anything unsafe after asking yourself these seven questions, speak up and/or take action to eliminate or minimise the risk.

Severity definitions – Safety Related

Likelihood of occurrence

External links

• CFR, Title 29-Labor, Part 1910–Occupational Safety and Health Standards, § 1910.119
  U.S. OSHA regulations regarding “Process safety management of highly hazardous chemicals” (especially Appendix C).
• FAA Order 8040.4 establishes FAA safety risk management policy.
• The FAA publishes a System Safety Handbook that provides a good overview of the system safety process used by the agency.
• IEEE 1584-2002 Standard which provides guidelines for doing arc flash hazard assessment.