9 Steps to Conducting a Successful Formal Hazard Assessment

All businesses, regardless of size, have a responsibility to protect their employees from harm, including identifying potential risks through a formal hazard assessment. The following nine steps outline how to conduct an effective hazard assessment, ensuring a safer and compliant workplace.

Step One: Understand Employee Tasks
Start by understanding the daily tasks and activities your employees perform. This provides a foundation for identifying potential hazards. By fully grasping these duties, you can proceed to the next step.

Step Two: List All Tasks and Activities
Create a comprehensive list of all work tasks. This step ensures you don’t overlook any potential risks associated with each task. With the list in hand, you can move on to the next phase.

Step Three: Identify Potential Hazards
For each listed task, assess the potential hazards. Hazards can fall into two categories:

• Health hazards: Risks that could affect an employee’s long-term health (e.g., exposure to harmful chemicals).
• Safety hazards: Risks that could cause immediate injury (e.g., slipping or falling).
  By identifying these hazards, you lay the groundwork for effective risk management.

This is an important step in ensuring that your workplace is safe. Once you have identified all potential hazards, you can move on to step four.

Step Four: Rank Hazards by Risk
Next, prioritize hazards based on their level of risk. This will help you address the most critical hazards first. Classify hazards as follows:

• High Risk: Immediate threats that require urgent action.
• Medium Risk: Hazards that should be addressed promptly but are less urgent.
• Low Risk: Hazards with minimal potential for harm, which can be addressed later.

Step Five: Eliminate or Control Hazards
After identifying and ranking hazards, take steps to eliminate or control them. Use the Hierarchy of Controls to guide you:

• Eliminate: Remove the hazard entirely if possible.
• Substitute: Replace with something less risky.
• Engineering controls: Install safety equipment or make environmental changes.
• Administrative controls: Implement safe work practices or policies.
• Personal protective equipment (PPE): Provide protective gear as a last resort.

Step Six: Implement Controls
Put the chosen controls into practice. This could involve installing safety equipment, revising work procedures, or introducing new safety measures. Once controls are in place, ensure they’re effective by following up with implementation.

Step Seven: Communicate Hazards and Controls
Ensure employees understand the hazards and the controls in place to mitigate them. This can be achieved through training sessions, worker mentorship, and safety meetings. Clear communication ensures that employees follow the protocols correctly.

Step Eight: Monitor the Effectiveness of Controls
Regularly monitor the controls to ensure they are working as intended. Conduct audits and inspections to assess the ongoing effectiveness of safety measures and identify any new risks.

Step Nine: Review and Revise as Needed
Finally, periodically review and update the hazard assessment. This could be annually or after significant workplace changes. Regular reviews ensure your workplace remains safe and compliant with regulations.

By following these nine steps, you can conduct a thorough and successful hazard assessment. Taking the time to identify and control workplace hazards is an investment in the safety and well-being of your employees. If you have questions about safety in your workplace, give the Goal Zero team a call.