UNIT 2: HAZARD

ENGAGE
Learning Objective:
At the end of this unit the learners must be able to:
1. Correlate risk to hazard
2. Describe what hazard is in relation to risk
3. Analyze the meaning of risk and hazard

EXPLORE
What is a hazard?
The meaning of the word hazard can be confusing. Often dictionaries do not give
specific definitions or combine it with the term "risk". For example, one dictionary defines
hazard as "a danger or risk" which helps explain why many people use the terms
interchangeably.
There are many definitions for hazard but the most common definition when talking about
workplace health and safety is:
Hazard is any source of potential damage, harm or adverse health effects on
something or someone. (for example, to people as health effects, to organizations as
property or equipment losses, or to the environment).
Sometimes the resulting harm is referred to as the hazard instead of the actual source of
the hazard. For example, the disease tuberculosis (TB) might be called a "hazard" by
some but, in general, the TB-causing bacteria (Mycobacterium tuberculosis) would be
considered the "hazard" or "hazardous biological agent".
Types of Hazards

A common way to classify hazards is by category:

Biological Hazards – biological substance that poses a threat to the health of living
organisms, primarily humans. This can be the Bacteria, Viruses, Insects, Plants, Birds,
Animals, and Humans, etc.,

Bacteria - a are microscopic, single-celled organisms that thrive in diverse

environments. These organisms can live in soil, the ocean and inside the human gut. This
includes micro-organisms which may attack food and drinks that can cause food
poisoning in humans as well as animals.
Virus - is the smallest type of parasite to exist, usually ranging from 0.02 to 0.3μm
in size, although some viruses can be as large as 1μm.

A viral particle or virion contains a single nucleic acid (RNA or DNA) core surrounded by
a protein coat and sometimes enzymes that are required to initiate viral replication.
Viruses can only replicate within the cells of animals, plants, and bacteria and, as such,
are referred to as obligate intracellular parasites.

Viruses are not classified according to the illnesses they cause; instead, they are grouped
into different families based on whether the nucleic acid is single- or double-stranded,
whether a viral envelope is present and their mode of replication.

Insects - any member of the largest class of the phylum Arthropoda, which is itself
the largest of the animal phyla. Insects have segmented bodies, jointed legs, and
external skeletons (exoskeletons). Insects are distinguished from other arthropods by
their body, which is divided into three major regions: (1) the head, which bears
the mouthparts, eyes, and a pair of antennae, (2) the three-segmented thorax, which
usually has three pairs of legs (hence “Hexapoda”) in adults and usually one or two pairs
of wings, and (3) the many-segmented abdomen, which contains the digestive, excretory,
and reproductive organs (Encyclopedia Britannica).

Plants – vegetations which poses hazardous effects to human as well as to

animals. e.g. poisonous plants

Birds – may be a threat or pose a hazard to humans in terms of its droppings and
other body secretions when they have contracted infectious diseases. e.g. bird flu

Animals – animals that that infected with infectious diseases such as anthrax,
swine flu, foot and mouth disease etc.

Humans – they can be a threat or a hazard in times of bullying

Chemical Hazards – depends on the physical, chemical and toxic properties of the
chemical

Ergonomic Hazard – repetitive movements, improper set up of workstation, etc.

Physical Hazards – radiation, magnetic fields, temperature extremes, pressure
extremes (high pressure or vacuum), noise, etc.

Psychosocial Hazards – it may be school or work-related pressure such as stress,

violence, harassment, abuse etc.

Safety Hazards – this includes safety of food, workplace and property such as
slipping/tripping hazards, inappropriate machine guarding, equipment malfunctions or
breakdowns.
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:
Steps:
1. Identify hazards and risk factors that have the potential to cause harm (hazard
identification).
2. Analyze and evaluate the risk associated with that hazard (risk analysis, and risk
evaluation).
3. 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 can be done:

• During design and implementation

o Designing a new process or procedure – building construction
o Purchasing and installing new machinery – kitchen and bakery facilities and
equipment
• Before tasks are done
o Checking equipment or following processes – test-run of machineries or
equipment
o Reviewing surroundings before each shift – done during inventory
• While tasks are being done
o Be aware of changes, abnormal conditions, or sudden emissions – e.g.
cooking or baking – gas (LPG) leak
• During inspections
o Formal, informal, supervisor, health and safety committee
• After incidents
o Near misses or minor events
o Injuries

To be sure that all hazards are found:

• Look at all aspects of the work and include non-routine activities such as
maintenance, repair, or cleaning.
 • Look at the physical work environment, equipment, materials, products, etc. that
are used.
• Include how the tasks are done.
• Look at injury and incident records.
• Talk to the workers: they know their job and its hazards best.
• Include all shifts, and people who work off site either at home, on other job sites,
drivers, teleworkers, with clients, etc.
• Look at the way the work is organized or done (include experience of people doing
the work, systems being used, etc).
• Look at foreseeable unusual conditions (for example: possible impact on hazard
control procedures that may be unavailable in an emergency situation, power
outage, etc.).
• Determine whether a product, machine or equipment can be intentionally or
unintentionally changed (e.g., a safety guard that could be removed).
• Review all of the phases of the lifecycle.
• Examine risks to visitors or the public.
• Consider the groups of people that may have a different level of risk such as young
or inexperienced workers, persons with disabilities, or new or expectant mothers.

It may help to create a chart or table such as the following:

Example of Risk/Hazard Assessment

Task Hazard Risk Priority Control

Delivering product Drivers work alone May be unable to call for

to customers help if needed

Drivers have to occasionally Fatigue, short rest time

work long hours between shifts

Drivers are often in very Increased chance of

congested traffic collision

Longer working hours

Drivers have to lift boxes Injury to back from lifting,

when delivering product reaching, carrying, etc.

ELABORATE
• Workplace hazards can come from a wide range of sources.
 • Workplace hazards also include practices or conditions that release uncontrolled
energy like:
- an object that could fall from a height (potential or gravitational energy)
- a run-away chemical reaction (chemical energy)
- the release of compressed gas or steam (pressure; high temperature)
- entanglement of hair or clothing in rotating equipment (kinetic energy)
- contact with electrodes of a battery or capacitor (electrical energy).

• Safety hazards are unsafe working conditions that can cause injury, illness,
and death.
• Safety hazards are the most common workplace risks. They include: Anything
that can cause spills or trips such as cords running across the floor or ice.

Hazard Prevention and Control

Effective controls protect workers from workplace hazards; help avoid injuries, illnesses,
and incidents; minimize or eliminate safety and health risks; and help employers provide
workers with safe and healthful working conditions.

To effectively control and prevent hazards, employers should:

a. Involve workers, who often have the best understanding of the conditions that
create hazards and insights into how they can be controlled.
b. Identify and evaluate options for controlling hazards, using a "hierarchy of
controls."

c. Use a hazard control plan to guide the selection and implementation of controls,
and implement controls according to the plan.
 • Whenever possible, select equipment, machinery, and materials that are
inherently safer based on the application of "Prevention through Design" (PtD)
principles.

d. Develop plans with measures to protect workers during emergencies and

nonroutine activities.
e. Evaluate the effectiveness of existing controls to determine whether they continue
to provide protection, or whether different controls may be more effective. Review
new technologies for their potential to be more protective, more reliable, or less
costly.

• There are some occupational hazards that are present no matter where you ago.
Across the world and across industries, workers every day are faced with hazards
in their workplace.

What are methods of hazard control?

Once you have established the priorities, the organization can decide on ways to control
each specific hazard. Hazard control methods are often grouped into the following
categories:

• Elimination (including substitution).

• Engineering controls.
• Administrative controls.
• Personal protective equipment.

How do you know if the hazard will cause harm (poses a risk)?
Each hazard should be studied to determine its' level of risk. To research the hazard,
you can look at:

• Product information / manufacturer documentation.

• Past experience (knowledge from workers, etc.).
• Legislated requirements and/or applicable standards.
• Industry codes of practice / best practices.
• Health and safety material about the hazard such as safety data sheets (SDSs),
research studies, or other manufacturer information.
• Information from reputable organizations.
• Results of testing (atmospheric or air sampling of workplace, biological swabs,
etc.).
• The expertise of an occupational health and safety professional.
• Information about previous injuries, illnesses, near misses, incident reports, etc.
• Observation of the process or task.
Remember to include factors that contribute to the level of risk such as:
• The work environment (layout, condition, etc.).
• The systems of work being used.
• The range of foreseeable conditions.
• The way the source may cause harm (e.g., inhalation, ingestion, etc.).
• How often and how much a person will be exposed.
• The interaction, capability, skill, experience of workers who do the work.
How are risks ranked or prioritized?
Ranking or prioritizing hazards is one way to help determine which risk is the most serious
and thus which to control first. Priority is usually established by taking into account the
employee exposure and the potential for incident, injury or illness. By assigning a priority
to the risks, you are creating a ranking or an action list.
There is no one simple or single way to determine the level of risk. Nor will a single
technique apply in all situations. The organization has to determine which technique will
work best for each situation. Ranking hazards requires the knowledge of the workplace
activities, urgency of situations, and most importantly, objective judgement.
For simple or less complex situations, an assessment can literally be a discussion or
brainstorming session based on knowledge and experience. In some cases, checklists or
a probability matrix can be helpful. For more complex situations, a team of knowledgeable
personnel who are familiar with the work is usually necessary.
As an example, consider this simple risk matrix. Table 1 shows the relationship between
probability and severity.

Severity ratings in this example represent:

High: major fracture, poisoning, significant loss of blood, serious head injury, or
fatal disease
Medium: sprain, strain, localized burn, dermatitis, asthma, injury requiring days off
work
Low: an injury that requires first aid only; short-term pain, irritation, or dizziness
Probability ratings in this example represent:
High: likely to be experienced once or twice a year by an individual
Medium: may be experienced once every five years by an individual
Low: may occur once during a working lifetime

The cells in Table 1 correspond to a risk level, as shown in Table 2.

These risk ratings correspond to recommended actions such as:

Immediately dangerous: stop the process and implement controls
High risk: investigate the process and implement controls immediately
Medium risk: keep the process going; however, a control plan must be developed and
should be implemented as soon as possible
Low risk: keep the process going, but monitor regularly. A control plan should also be
investigated
Very low risk: keep monitoring the process

Let's use an example: When painting a room, a step stool must be used to reach higher
areas. The individual will not be standing higher than 1 metre (3 feet) at any time. The
assessment team reviewed the situation and agrees that working from a step stool at 1
m is likely to:
Cause a short-term injury such as a strain or sprain if the individual falls. A severe sprain
may require days off work. This outcome is similar to a medium severity rating.
Occur once in a working lifetime as painting is an uncommon activity for this organization.
This criterion is similar to a low probability rating.
When compared to the risk matrix chart (Table 1), these values correspond to a low risk.
The workplace decides to implement risk control measures, including the use of a stool
with a large top that will allow the individual to maintain stability when standing on the
stool. They also determined that while the floor surface is flat, they provided training to
the individual on the importance of making sure the stool's legs always rest on the flat
surface. The training also included steps to avoid excess reaching while painting.

Most Common Safety Risks Found in a Facility/Workplace:

Forklifts: Manufacturing and warehousing facilities usually have powered industrial
trucks, or forklifts, traveling throughout the space moving heavy pallets and carrying large
loads. Forklifts can cause injury not only to the operator, but also to any pedestrians in
the area. If a warehouse or facility has even just one forklift, it will be important to provide
training and education regarding forklift safety.

Slips, Trips, and Falls: Even if no one is working from a height, they can still fall in the
workplace. Statistics actually show that the majority of falls happen on same-level floors
resulting from a slip or trip. Whether you have materials scattered around the floor or oil
spills are a common occurrence, serious injuries can happen. Slips, trips, and falls are a
hazard found in nearly any facility and employers will need to make sure they’re
adequately protecting their workers.
Electrical hazards: Nearly every workplace has to deal with electricity in one capacity or
another, and that always leads to the dangers associated with electricity. Some common
spots to look for electrical hazards are outlets too close to conductors, torn or frayed
wires, overloading circuits, employees not using LOTO, and more. Keep workers safe by
identifying all the risks in your facility and implementing the proper safeguards.

Chemicals: Caustic and toxic chemicals pose a danger to workers. Those handling or
working around chemicals will need to know the risks associated with the chemical like
what bodily injury may result from exposure or respirator warnings.

EVALUATE
M1-Unit 2 Activity: Assignment