Methods Of Hazard Identification

What Is Hazard Identification?

Hazard Identification is a method used to determine attainable things where people may be exposed to injury, sickness, or disease. Moreover,

It is a part of risk assessment;
Once the hazards are identified, proper measures must be taken to eliminate them.

The Best 6 Methods of Hazard Identification

Formal Safety Audits
Workplace Inspections Observation
Incident Investigations

Historical Safety Records
Safety Committee Recommendations
Employee Complaints Suggestions

Core Concept of Hazard

A hazard could be a state of affairs that poses a threat to life, health, property, or the environment.

Hazard = Possibility (P) + No Consequence (C) or, Possibility x No Consequence.

Most hazards are inactive or potential; it is only theoretical risk of harm. But, once a hazard becomes “active”, it will produce an associate degree of emergency.

Hazards and possibilities interact together to create risk.

More information on Hazards and risks definition can be found in this article I wrote: hazards and Risks definition.

6 Common Types of Hazards You Need To Know

Chemical and dust hazards: cleaning products, pesticides, asbestos, etc.
Biological hazards: mold, insects/pests, communicable diseases, etc.

Work organization hazards: things that cause STRESS!
Ergonomic hazards: repetition, lifting, awkward postures, etc.
Physical hazards: noise, temperature extremes, radiation, etc.

Safety hazards: slips, trips and falls, faulty equipment, etc.

Health Hazards

Major Types

Corrosives – cause tissue injury and burns on contact with skin or eyes
Primary Irritants – cause intense redness/swelling of skin or eyes on contact. No permanent tissue injury

Sensitizers – cause allergic skin or lung reaction
Acutely Toxic Materials – cause an adverse impact even at low doses
Carcinogens – might cause cancer

Teratogens – might cause birth defects
Organ-Specific Hazards – injury to specific organ systems like the liver or lungs.

† Red	Flammability
† Blue	Health
† Yellow	Reactivity
† White	Special

Flammability Hazard

0 = Will not burn

1 = Ignites above 200 degrees F

2 = Ignites below 200 degrees F

3 = Ignites below 100 degrees F

4 = Ignites below 73 degrees F

Health Hazard

0 = No hazard

1 = Slight hazard

2 = Dangerous

3 = Extreme danger

4 = Deadly

Labels – Reactivity

Labels – Special Hazard

▪ The flammability of liquids defined by their flash-point

-the lowest temperature at which a fuel-air mixture present above the surface of a liquid will ignite if an ignition source is introduced.

▪ 21-55 Flammable

▪ Highly flammable

▪ Extremely flammable

What the letters show

▪ OX = Oxidizer

▪ ACID = Acid

▪ ALK = Alkali

▪ COR = Corrosive

▪ W = Use No Water

For more About Hazard Identification Read This.

Every workplace has some level of risk, but how do you determine which ones pose the greatest threat to employees’ safety? You’ll be better equipped to regulate or remove dangers at your place of business, preventing accidents, injuries, property damage, and downtime.

Conducting an exhaustive danger evaluation of all work surroundings and equipment is a crucial stage in any safety strategy. Because you cannot safeguard your employees from risks that you are not aware of, it is critical to do a complete hazard assessment. By taking into account these six major kinds of workplace dangers, you may avoid blind spots in your workplace safety practices.

In the below YouTube Video you will learn more about the Top 6 Workplace Hazards:

Conclusion

Remember that a workplace is any location where a worker performs work-related activities for your company, so you must take precautions to ensure their safety and health even while they are off-site or traveling, for example. It’s extremely important to have a hazard and risk management plan as well as an incident action plan in place.

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