The identification, assessing and control of hazards is a difficult task at workplace. Identifying of hazards has become more difficult as the depth of technology has increased. Physical hazards are no longer easily identified with just superficial inspection.
Various types of hazards are in workplaces; those are Chemical Hazards, Noise Hazards, Radiation Hazards, Electrical Hazards, Lighting Hazards, Vibration Hazards, Temperature Hazards, Biological Hazards, Ergonomic Hazards, Physical Hazards, and Miscellaneous Hazards.
Hazards Identification Process:
- Prepare a list of all substances/ chemicals used in the workplace
- Prepare a list of the process from where the material is delivered to the site to where the finished products are dispatched.
- Identify all the stages where the substances/ chemicals used in the entire process.
- Identify all the hazards at each stage of the process.
- Use records of accidents, illnesses and near-misses, with in the industry to ensure all hazards identified.
- Prepare a report by doing research on above steps and summarize the information.
Hazards Assessment & Analysis:
- Plan, introduce, and monitor preventive measures to make sure that the risks are adequately controlled at all times. With effective assessment, management will have effective control.
- To meet responsibilities for identifying and controlling significant hazards as defined in the Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992.
- Management should consider the chances of accidents actually befalling anyone in particular circumstances, and the possible consequences which could result.
A risk assessment includes: Inspecting the workplace, Testing (i.e. noise levels), Looking at statistics and data, Talking with people.
Controlling: Identified hazards need to be processed so a decision is made on whether:
- Will injury or illness could result from it; and if so,
- What action is to be taken to reduce the risk.
A systematic manner should be followed in this decision making process. At the same time, however, there is an opportunity to “calculate the risk” due to any hazard, and so determine the relative seriousness of each hazard. The final choice of decision depends on factors such as the potential severity of harm posed by the hazard, the likelihood of accidents or illness occurring, the cost of control measures, or whether it has been identified as a significant hazard. It is important, however, to look at all options before making a decision, even though the identified hazard may already have some controls in place.