Hazards in the workplace can be identified through sight, smell, or hearing. Employers identify hazards through inspections of the physical workplace, task analyses, and investigations of past accidents. Hazards can be intrinsic to operations or transitory due to human error. When assessing risk, the consequences, exposure, and probability of a hazard are considered to determine if the risk is high, medium, or low. Standard procedures aim to eliminate or control risks through substitution, engineering controls, administrative controls, or personal protective equipment based on a hierarchy of risk controls.

1. BSBWHS201
Contribute to health and safety of self and others
IDENTIFYING HAZARDS

2. What is a hazard?
• An actual or potential source of personal injury, ill
health or disease in the workplace.
• How do you identify a hazard?
– You identify a hazard by sight, smell, hearing.
• How does your employer identify a hazard?
– Employer identifies a hazard by physical site inspections
(talk about workplace inspections), task analysis, process
analysis, analysis of past accidents or incidents
• How do you report a hazard?
– OHS meetings, using appropriate forms, communicating
with OHS committee members

3. Assess the risk of a hazard
• Intrinsic hazard: one that arises through the
organisation’s operations
• Transitory hazard: one that arises through
human error.
• You also need to consider the consequences
(the type and degree of harm), exposure (frequency and duration)
and probability (likelihood of occurrence) of the hazard.

4. How do you assess the risk?
• Identify the Consequences
• Consider and decide upon
– the probability of the incident occurring.
– whether the risk is High, Medium or Low

5. Hierarchy for eliminating risks or hazards
(ESEAP)
• Eliminate
• Substitute
• Use Engineering Controls
• Use Administrative Controls
• Use Personal Protective Clothing or
equipment.

6. What are Standard Operating Procedures?
• Documented operational control procedures
• Controls risks
• A form of administrative control
• Examples include:
– Operating machinery
– Maintenance of equipment
– Activities controlled by permits