Safety Update

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Safety Update: Hazard Identification and Assessment Steps

Hazard Identification and Assessment is the foundation for a health and safety management system. As mentioned two weeks ago, there are several steps or a basic methodology involved in identifying hazards and assessing the risks associated with those hazards. The following steps are typically fundamental to the hazard identification process:

• Step 1 - Define your objectives - what are the pertinent needs of the safety program based on operating specifications
• Step 2 - Job Task Analysis - look at all hazards associated with job tasks such as people, procedures, tools, facilities, equipment use and environmental concerns
• Step 3 - Perform a risk analysis exhibiting both qualitative (likelihood, frequency, severity) and quantitative determinations (1, 2, 3, 4 with 1 being minor and 4 being serious)
• Step 4 - Prioritize hazards to ensure the most serious hazards are addressed first
• Step 5 - Development of action plans to address all hazards through procedures and control measures
• Step 6 - Assignment of control measures through Engineering, Administrative and Personal Protective Equipment controls
• Step 7 - Evaluate and assess hazards often to ensure control measures are working

Hazard Identification is not a process used in the initial stages of the program. It requires continuous assessment and improvement to ensure all hazards are identified and controlled when new work starts or work processes change. In addition, if current mitigation tactics are not working and the action plan does not produce the intended effect, the process may need to be modified. The drive for continuous improvement is critical in making the safety program better over time and in ensuring hazards are reduced or eliminated.

We will resume our safety updates on January 10th, 2008 after the holidays. We at eCompliance would like to wish you the very best this season and into the new year.

The Topic for January 10th: Hazard Communication - It is your right to know!

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LEGAL DISCLAIMER
eCompliance provides information about topical OH&S issues to assist existing and potential customers to cope with their own OH&S needs. It is not intended to be legal information or legal advice. Although we go to great lengths to make sure our information is accurate and useful, we recommend you consult a lawyer if you want professional assurance that our information, and your interpretation of it, is appropriate to your particular situation.