A Note from our SVP of Risk and Compliance Services: Hazard Recognition

One of the reasons I wanted to be a part of the PROtect team was a belief in the name itself and what it stands for, to PROtect. PROtecting ourselves, PROtecting each other, PROtecting job sites, PROtecting the environment, PROtecting the future. It’s a simple word, a seemingly simple concept, yet it is so often overlooked and under-appreciated. This week, I heard a story about one of our NDT crews that exemplified these values and what I think it fundamentally means to be a PROtector. This team was out on a job site, where several contractor companies were working. An employee on our team noticed that a ladder, being used by a competitor, was touching a power line. Without hesitation, our crew interceded with the other contractor crew to point out the hazard, stop the work at the site, and involve the facility leadership team. The investigation found that the power line was out of service, but neither crew was aware of that, and I could not be more proud of our crew for looking out for the safety and well-being of our competitors and fellow human beings! This is what it means to be part of the PROtect family, this is what it means to do safety the right way!

Hazard Recognition is one of the most important pieces of any safety program and something OSHA emphasizes but is often overlooked in safety training programs.  It is often viewed as a one-time, static activity, sometimes just the JHA or JSA. In reality, it is something very different and dynamic by definition. A Job Hazard Analysis is about assessing the known hazard and anticipated safety impacts of an upcoming job. Anyone who has ever worked in construction, a military operation, or even a personal home renovation or other big project knows that the very best plans get thrown out the window as soon as the activity starts. Why? Because we live in a dynamic world, things are constantly changing. People around us, the weather, and other things we can’t control. We must remain diligent, and keep situational, spatial, and proximity awareness in our minds at all times. Perform ongoing hazard recognition, and job safety awareness, on a continuous loop throughout the day. If something changes, pause what you are doing and re-assess. Stop the work if necessary and have another discussion, change the plan, reposition your workplace, etc. Unsure what to look for, when to be extra diligent, or what to do? Here is some additional information and guidance to help.

What is a hazard?

There are many definitions for hazard but the most common definition when talking about workplace health and safety is “A hazard is any source of potential damage, harm or adverse health effects on something or someone.”

The CSA Z1002 Standard “Occupational health and safety – Hazard identification and elimination and risk assessment and control” uses the following terms:

• Harm – physical injury or damage to health.
• Hazard – a potential source of harm to a worker.

Basically, a hazard is a potential for harm or an adverse effect (for example, to people as health effects, to organizations as property or equipment losses, or to the environment).

What is hazard identification?

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).
• Analyze and evaluate the risk associated with that hazard (risk analysis, and risk evaluation).
• Determine appropriate ways to eliminate the hazard or control the risk when the hazard cannot be eliminated (risk control).

Overall, the goal of hazard identification is to find and record possible hazards that may be present in your workplace. It may help to work as a team and include both people familiar with the work area, as well as people who are not – this way you have both the experienced and fresh eye to conduct the inspection.

When should hazard identification be done?

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).
• Analyze and evaluate the risk associated with that hazard (risk analysis, and risk evaluation).
• Determine appropriate ways to eliminate the hazard, or control the risk when the hazard cannot be eliminated (risk control).

Overall, the goal of hazard identification is to find and record possible hazards that may be present in your workplace. It may help to work as a team and include both people familiar with the work area, as well as people who are not – this way you have both the experienced and fresh eye to conduct the inspection.

How do you know what is a hazard?

Another way to look at health and safety in your workplace is to ask yourself the following questions. These are examples only. You may find other items or situations that can be a hazard. List any item that should be examined. During the risk assessment process, the level of harm will be assessed.

What materials or situations do I come into contact with? Possibilities could include electricity, chemicals, temperature extremes, oxygen deficiencies, water, etc.

What materials or equipment could I be struck by? Moving objects (e.g., forklifts, overhead cranes, vehicles), flying objects (e.g., sparks or shards from grinding), and falling material (e.g., equipment from above).

What objects or equipment could I strike or hit my body upon, or that part of my body might be caught in, on, or between? Stationary or moving objects, protruding objects, sharp or jagged edges, pinch points on machines (places where parts are very close together), objects that stick out (protrude), moving objects (conveyors, chains, belts, ropes, etc.)

What could I fall from? (e.g., falls to lower levels), objects, structures, tanks, silos, lofts, ladders, overhead walkways, roofs, trees, cliffs

What could I slip or trip on? (e.g., falls on the same level), obstructions on the floor, stairs, surface issues (wet, oily, icy), footwear that is in poor condition

How could I overexert myself? Lifting, pulling, pushing, carrying, repetitive motions

What other situations could I come across? Unknown/unauthorized people in the area, a potentially violent situation, working alone, confined space, missing/damaged materials, new equipment/procedure at the work site, fire/explosion, chemical spill or release

Erica Montefusco
Senior Vice President – Risk and Compliance Services
(605) 431-2406 Mobile
erica.montefusco@protect.llc