Hazard

A condition or action that has the potential for an unplanned release of, or unwanted contact
with, an energy source that may result in harm or injury to people, property, or the environment.

A potential for harm. The term is often associated with an agent, condition, or activity (a
natural phenomenon, a chemical, a mixture of substances, a process involving substances, a
source
of energy, or a situation or event) that if left uncontrolled, can result in an injury, illness, loss of
property, or damage to the environment. Hazards are intrinsic properties of agents, conditions, or
activities.
Hazard analysis: A term used to express the complete process of hazard identification,
evaluation, and control.
Hazard control: A barrier, such as a device, measure, or limit, used to minimize the potential
consequences associated with a hazard.
Hazard evaluation: The qualitative and, wherever possible, quantitative description of the
inherent properties of an agent or situation having the potential to cause adverse effects.
(Adapted from the World Health Organization definition for “hazard characterization”)
Hazard identification: The identification of the type and nature of adverse effects that an agent,
operation or equipment has as inherent capacity to cause in an organism, system or (sub)
population.
Hazard operability (HazOp) analysis: A technique whereby a multidisciplinary team uses a
described protocol to methodically evaluate the significance of deviations from the normal
design
intention.
Gravity
The force caused by the attraction of all other masses to the mass of the earth.
Examples: falling object, collapsing roof, and a body tripping or falling

Motion
The change in position of objects or substances.
Examples: vehicle, vessel, or equipment movement; flowing water; wind; and body positioning
when lifting, straining, or bending

Mechanical
The energy of the components of a mechanical system, i.e., rotation, vibration, or motion within
an otherwise stationary piece of equipment or machinery.
Examples: rotating equipment, compressed springs, drive belts, conveyors, and motors

Electrical
The presence and flow of an electric charge.
Examples: power lines, transformers, static charges, lightning, energized equipment, wiring, and
batteries

Pressure
Energy applied by a liquid or gas that has been compressed or is under a vacuum.
Examples: pressure piping, compressed cylinders, control lines, vessels, tanks, hoses, and
pneumatic and hydraulic equipment

Temperature
The measurement of differences in the thermal energy of objects or the environment, which the
human body senses as either heat or cold.
Examples: open flame; ignition sources; hot or cold surfaces, liquids, or gases; steam; friction;
and general environmental and weather conditions

Chemical
The energy present in chemicals that inherently, or through reaction, has the potential to create a
physical or health hazard to people, equipment, or the environment.
Examples: flammable vapors, reactive hazards, carcinogens or other toxic compounds,
corrosives, pyrophorics, combustibles, oxygen-deficient atmospheres, welding fumes, and dusts

Biological
Living organisms that can present a hazard.
Examples: animals, bacteria, viruses, insects, blood-borne pathogens, improperly handled food,
and contaminated water

Radiation
The energy emitted from radioactive elements or sources and naturally occurring radioactive
materials (NORM).
Examples: lighting issues, welding arcs, solar rays, microwaves, lasers, X-rays, and NORM scale

Sound
Sound is produced when a force causes an object or substance to vibrate and the energy is
transferred through the substance in waves.
Examples: equipment noise, impact noise, vibration, high-pressure release, and the impact of
noise to communication.

Hierarchy of Controls

1. Remove the energy source

2. Prevent the release of energy
3. Protect from the release
4. Use Stop Work Authority
Industrial Accidents and industrial safety

The industrialization process has brought a large number of problems; one of them is related to
industrial accidents. With advances in industrial processes, new type of dangers to life, limb and
health are being increasingly introduced. Everyday employees are injured in factories due to
accidents. The accidents may be caused as a result on any kind of unsafe activity, or act in their
part or chance occurrences, or as a result of some unsafe working conditions or unsafe act of
employees themselves, or defective plant or shop layout. The pain and suffering of the injured as
well as the emotional loss to the victims of the accidents causing permanent disabilities are
impossible to be summed up and evaluated.

What’s the definition of accident?

The most agreed definition of accident is “It is an unplanned and uncontrolled event which
causes or is likely to cause an injury”.

Types of accidents in industry

Accidents in industry can be classified using different criteria. Specific classifications are shown
in the next lines.

According to causes of events

Machine accidents

Machines are responsible for a large number of accidents in an industry. Depending on the way
harm is caused, accidents from machines can be classified into the following groups:

 Contact: physical contact of the body with any moving part of a machine;
 Impact: parts of the body are violently hit by moving parts of machines;
 Traps: parts of the body coming between the moving parts which mostly lead to crushing
of parts of body trapped;
 Ejection of particles: parts projected at high velocity from the machine, which causes
serious injury when they hit the parts of the moving body.

Non machine accidents

In this type we include:

Fall of persons which can be due to

  Tripping over obstacles on ground
 Slipping due to oily or greasy substances
 Running inside the shop, sudden fear or excitement

Fall from a height which can be due to

 Lack of firm foot hold or unsafe postures

 Working on a machine at a height
 Leaning from ladder to reach a distant object
 Strike against the objects
 Pushes by other persons on the slop

According to length of recovery

 Lost time accidents: lost time accidents are those in which worker loses a day or shift in
which accident occurred. These require payment of compensation to employee to
employer.
 Home-case accidents: in this type of accidents, worker loses the remainder of shift or
turn on which the accident has occurred.
 First aid cases: in these, workers receive first aid attention at plant hospital and then
returns to their job.

According to nature of injury

 Fatal accidents: in which the worker or more are killed.

 Permanent disablement: which incapacitate an employee and makes it impossible for
him to engage in any work, which was capable of performing at the time of the accident.
 Temporary disablement: this reduces the earning capacity of an individual in the
employment.

Safety rules: