INFORMATIONS SHEET # 4.
1-1
Hazards and Risks Identification and Control
Learning Objectives:
After reading the information sheet, you should be able to:
1. Identify safety regulations in the workplace.
2. Define hazard.
3. Differentiate the different types and methods of hazards.
Hazard Identification
The first step in reducing the likelihood of an accident is hazard
identification. Hazard identification is identifying all situations or events that
could cause injury or illness. Eliminating or minimizing workplace hazards
needs a systematic approach. It is essential to try and anticipate all possible
hazards at the workplace - known as the `what if?' approach.
Hazards Defined
A hazard is a source or potential source of human injury, ill health or
disease. Anything which might cause injury or ill health to anyone at or near a
workplace is a hazard. While some hazards are fairly obvious and easy to identify,
others are not - for example exposure to noise, chemicals or radiation.
PREPARED BY:
GRACE L. NAVARRO
DIVINE WORD COLLEGE OF CALAPAN
Types of Hazards
Hazards are classified into five different types:
• physical - includes floors, stairs, work platforms, steps, ladders, fire, falling
objects, slippery surfaces, manual handling (lifting, pushing, pulling),
excessively loud and prolonged noise, vibration, heat and cold, radiation, poor
lighting, ventilation, air quality
• mechanical and/or electrical - includes electricity, machinery, equipment,
pressure vessels, dangerous goods, fork lifts, cranes, hoists
• chemical - includes chemical substances such as acids or poisons and those
that could lead to fire or explosion, cleaning agents, dusts and fumes from
various processes such as welding
• biological - includes bacteria, viruses, mold, mildew, insects, vermin, animals
•psychosocial environment - includes workplace stressors arising from a
variety of sources.
Note that some physical and chemical hazards can lead to fire, explosion and other
safety hazards.
Methods for Identifying Hazards
• injury and illness records - review your workers' compensation data and
check the incidence, mechanism and agency of injury, and the cost to the
organization. These statistics can be analyzed to alert the organization to
the presence of hazards
• staying informed on trends and developments in workplace health and
safety, for example via the internet or OHS publications
• reviewing the potential impact of new work practices or equipment
introduced into the workplace in line with legislative requirements
• doing walk-through surveys, inspections or safety audits in the workplace
to evaluate the organization’s health and safety system
• considering OHS implications when analyzing work processes
• investigating workplace incidents and `near hits' reports - in some cases
there may be more than one hazard contributing to an incident
• getting feedback from employees can often provide valuable information
about hazards, because they have hands-on experience in their work area
• consulting with employees, health and safety representatives and OHS
Committee members
• benchmarking against or liaising with similar workplaces.
PREPARED BY:
GRACE L. NAVARRO
DIVINE WORD COLLEGE OF CALAPAN
SELF – CHECK # 4.1-1
Direction: Choose the correct answer from the choices given.
_______ 1. Anything which may cause injury or ill.
a. hazard
b. risk
c. chemical
d. illness
_______ 2. This hazard includes floors, stairs, work platforms, steps, ladders,
fire, falling objects, slippery surfaces, manual handling (lifting, pushing, pulling),
excessively loud and prolonged noise, vibration, heat and cold, radiation, poor
lighting, ventilation, air quality.
a. Physical
b. Mechanical/Electrical
c. Chemical
d. Biological
_______ 3. This hazard includes electricity, machinery, equipment, pressure
vessels, dangerous goods, fork lifts, cranes, hoists.
a. Physical
b. Mechanical/Electrical
c. Chemical
d. Biological
_______ 4. This hazard includes chemical substances such as acids or poisons
and those that could lead to fire or explosion, cleaning agents, dusts, fibers,
mists, gases, vapors and fumes from various processes such as welding.
a. Physical
b. Mechanical/Electrical
c. Chemical
d. Biological
_______ 5. This hazard includes bacteria, viruses, mold, mildew, insects, vermin,
animals, plants, parasites, mites and fungi.
a. Physical
b. Mechanical/Electrical
c. Chemical
d. Biological
PREPARED BY:
GRACE L. NAVARRO
DIVINE WORD COLLEGE OF CALAPAN
