RISK ANALYSIS Health & Safety Human Resource Services SECTION 2 – What is a Hazard?

RISK ANALYSIS – What is a Hazard? Hazard means anything that has the potential to harm the health or safety of a person or plant. Hazard Factors to Consider Factor 1: The same hazard can often cause more injury/illness to one person than another. Factor 2: The potential to cause injury/illness can be different for different hazards. Factor 3: Not all hazards take the same time to cause injury/illness; the time duration and event frequency of hazards is often a determining factor when assessing hazard potential. Factor 4: People often have different perceptions of potential hazards and the damage the hazards can cause.

RISK ANALYSIS – What is a Hazard? Hazard Classification Generally hazards can be classified into five groups: Physical Chemical Biological Mechanical Psychosocial Hazard Sources Hazards can arise from: workplace premises work practices and systems plant workplace environment. Because there are many factors to consider, the risks posed by potential hazards must be assessed and then eliminated or controlled to a level that reduces the risk – this is called risk management.

RISK ANALYSIS – What is a Hazard? Hazard Classification PHYSICAL Physical Hazard CausePotential Disease or Injury Heat Lighting Noise Vibration Ionising Radiation Dust Pressure Electricity Heatstroke, cramp, fatigue Headaches, eyestrain Hearing loss white finger disease Lung cancer Silicosis Decompression sickness (bends) Heart failure, burns

RISK ANALYSIS – What is a Hazard? Hazard Classification CHEMICAL Chemical Hazard CausePotential Disease or Injury Acids, alkalis Metals Non-metals Gases Organic compounds Dusts Vapours Dermatitis, eye injury Cadmium/lead/mercury poisoning Arsenic/cyanide poisoning Carbon monoxide poisoning Cancer, nerve damage Lead poisoning Mercury poisoning BIOLOGICAL Biological Hazard CausePotential Disease or Injury Animal-borne Human-borne Vegetable-borne Anthrax, Q fever AIDS Aspergillosis (farmers lung)

RISK ANALYSIS – What is a Hazard? Hazard Classification MECHANICAL Mechanical Hazard CausePotential Disease or Injury Manual handling – over exertion, lifting or pulling Unguarded machines Hydraulic pressure Gravitational energy – falls of people or objects Musculoskeletal injury – spinal injury, muscle strains, sprains Acute physical injuries – severed/crushed limbs Acute injury – crushed limbs Acute injury – broken bones, brain damage PSYCHOSOCIAL Psychological Hazard CausePotential Disease or Injury Violence, harassment or abuse Stress Physical harm, stress Psychosomatic disorders (eg stomach ulcers brought about by stress)

RISK ANALYSIS – What is a Hazard? Hazard Sources Work premises Hazards can arise from the work premises including:  Work premises layout  Condition of the work premises  Buildings containing asbestos products  Workstation design  Lighting within the work premises  Emergencies situations such as earthquakes Work practices and systems Hazards can arise from the work practices and systems including:  Shiftwork arrangements  Hazardous processes  Psychological hazards  Fatigue related hazards

RISK ANALYSIS – What is a Hazard? Plant Hazards can arise from plant including:  Transport  Installation, erection, commissioning and use  Repair  Maintenance  Dismantling, storage and disposal Physical working environment Hazards can arise from the physical working environment including:  Electrocution  Hazardous substances  Fire  Explosion  Slips, trips and falls  Exposure to heat  Biological organisms  Harassment

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