REMOTE HEALTH ATLAS – Section 26: OH&S HAZARD IDENTIFICATION

HAZARD IDENTIFICATION

1 General Information
All RHB staff are expected to participate actively in OH&S activities, including hazard
identification and related processes.
Hazard identification is a process used to identify all possible situations where people may be
exposed to injury, illness or disease, the type of injury or illness that may result from these and
the way in which work is organised and managed. It is the first part of a risk management
strategy described in Occupational Health & Safety Management System (OHSMS) 1 . Element
5 of the OHSMS Managers Hands-On Guide describes the overall DHF standards for hazard
identification, risk assessment and risk control, gives practical information on how to meet
these standards and can be used as a generic self-audit tool.
Regulations 38 to 42 of the Workplace Health and Safety Regulations require employers to
ensure that appropriate measures are undertaken to identify all hazards and to manage risk in
the workplace. Regulation 5 requires employees to report any situation or occurrence in the
workplace that may present a risk or have the potential to affect the health and safety of
employees or others in the workplace.
Refer to OH&S – Overview for further legislative and regulatory information.

2 Definitions
Hazard: a situation at the workplace capable of causing harm (ie capable of causing personal
injury, occupationally related disease or death).
Risk: the chance of a hazard actually causing injury or disease. It is measured in terms of
consequences and likelihood.
Risk Management: the overall process of risk identification, risk analysis, control of risks and
risk evaluation.
Risk Control: that part of risk management which involves the implementation of policies,
standards, procedures and physical changes to eliminate or minimise adverse risks.

3. Responsibilities
3.1 All Staff
▪ Abide by legislative and regulatory requirements
▪ Abide by Element 5 of the OHSMS Hazard Identification, Risk Assessment and Control of
Risks
▪ Conduct risk assessments in the workplace whenever required
▪ Complete a Hazard Identification & Action Form as required
▪ Follow procedures as described in Urgent Minor Repairs if required
3.2 Health Centre Manager
▪ Implement hazard identification and risk management processes as per the OHSMS
Managers Hands-On Guide
▪ Ensure that all staff are trained in the skills required to fulfil their roles
▪ Ensure that action is taken to minimise or remove identified risks

1
The OHSMS is sometimes called the ’10 Point Safety Plan’

Developed by: Professional Practice Group Page 1 Reviewed:

Endorsed by: Professional Practice Coordinator &
POL OH&S Unit
Release Date: March 2009 Next Review: March 2012
REMOTE HEALTH ATLAS – Section 26: OH&S HAZARD IDENTIFICATION

3.3 Area Service Manager / Town-based Line Manager

▪ Support appropriate training for health centre staff
▪ Provide guidance on appropriate control measures for identified risks
▪ Process Hazard Identification & Action Forms
3.4 Regional Infrastructure Coordinator
▪ Liaise with health centre staff and facilitate requests for Urgent Minor Repairs related to
identified structural hazards

4. Procedure
4.1 Hazard Identification
Identification and notification of hazards that may affect staff and clients in the workplace or
wherever official duties are conducted is the responsibility of all staff. This applies not only to
hazards that may affect physical health, such as musculo-skeletal injuries, but also to
situations that can lead to mental health issues such as excessive workload, workplace
conflict, harassment and bullying.
While staff should be alert to hazards at any time, routine inspections of the workplace and
work practices should be conducted annually. See Health Centre OH&S Audits for further
information. However, informal hazard identification must be incorporated into daily routines.
When new procedures or equipment are introduced or if there are changes to the physical
work environment, a thorough hazard assessment must be conducted.
Hazard Identification, Risk Assessment and Control of Risks describes the tools used in the
process of hazard identification as:
- consultation with staff who undertake the tasks
- walk though inspections of the work or community environment where staff conduct
official business
- analysis of records such as incident reports that highlight potential sources of harm.
Element 5, parts 1(a) & 1 (b) of the OHSMS Managers Hands-On Guide provides helpful
information on hazard identification and a generic checklist for use by managers. Other hazard
assessment checklists relevant to the workplace are listed under Forms.
Contact POL OH&S for advice on conducting assessments or for any other specialist advice
as OH&S functions have been transferred from DBE (formerly DCIS) to the DHF People and
Organisational Learning (POL) OH&S Unit.
4.2 Risk Management
Once a hazard has been identified, a series of steps have to be followed. This applies equally
whether the risk is something easily rectified such as removing a simple tripping hazard or
whether it is something major that needs policy changes or significant modification to the work
environment.
4.2.1 Risk Assessment
Risk assessment means identifying whether the hazard could harm others. Element 5, part 2
of the OHSMS Managers Hands-On Guide and WorkSafe Bulletin WH 14.01.06 Safety
Management – Guide to Assessing Risk provide useful information on conducting formal
assessments. However, staff should always be alert to unexpected risks in the health centre
and conduct an on-the-spot assessment if required.
4.2.2 Risk Control
Risk control means implementing measures to prevent harm from happening. See Element 5,
part 3 of the OHSMS Managers Hands-On Guide for guidance.

Developed by: Professional Practice Group Page 2 Reviewed:

Endorsed by: Professional Practice Coordinator &
POL OH&S Unit
Release Date: March 2009 Next Review: March 2012
REMOTE HEALTH ATLAS – Section 26: OH&S HAZARD IDENTIFICATION

As soon as a risk is identified, measures must be taken to minimise or remove the risk. This
may be as simple as removing a tripping hazard or as complex as acquiring new equipment or
considering building modification.
4.2.3 Ongoing Management
Ongoing management involves evaluating control measures to identify whether they are
eliminating or reducing the risk. It also involves ongoing adherence to the risk management
cycle.
4.3 Hazard Reporting
All identified hazards that have not caused personal injury must be reported to the ASM /
Town-based Line Manager using the Hazard Identification & Action Form. If a hazard results in
an injury or incident, the RHB Incident Reporting Form must be completed, as appropriate.
See Incident Reporting for further information.
4.4 People and Organisational Learning OH&S Contacts
Region Phone Fax E-Mail
08 8951 5120
Alice Springs 08 8951 5150 OHS.DHF@nt.gov.au
See POL OH&S
08 892 27131
Darwin 08 8922 7277 OHS.DHF@nt.gov.au
See POL OH&S

5. Forms
Hazard Identification & Action Form
Incident Reporting Form pages 1&2 and pages 3&4
Hazard Identification Information
Hazard Inspection Checklist – External Work Area
Workplace Inspection Checklist (Clinic)
Workstation Assessment Form
Urgent Minor Repairs Form

6. References and Supporting Documents

Related Atlas Items:
Health Centre OH&S Audits Incident Reporting
Performing Manual Tasks OH&S Overview
OH&S Committees Urgent Minor Repairs
Occupational Health & Safety Management System
OHSMS Managers’ Hands-On Guide
OHSMS Element 5 - Hazard Identification, Risk Assessment and Control of Risks
People & Organisational Learning – Occupational Health & Safety
People & Organisational Learning OH&S Policies, Guidelines & Forms
People & Organisational Learning – Injury Prevention Resources
WorkSafe Bulletin WH 14.01.06 Safety Management – Guide to Assessing Risk
Workplace Health and Safety Act
Workplace Health and Safety Regulations
To access the following standard & guideline go to Australian Standards Online Premium and
search by the standard number or name:
AS/NZS 4360:2004 Risk Management
HB 436:2004 Risk Management Guideline Companion to AS/NZ 4360:2004
Developed by: Professional Practice Group Page 3 Reviewed:
Endorsed by: Professional Practice Coordinator &
POL OH&S Unit
Release Date: March 2009 Next Review: March 2012