Hazard and Hazard Recognition Methods

By definition, a hazard is anything that has theor activity?d. How could I get hurt doing this job,
potential to cause harm to people, damage totask or activity?e. What will I do to prevent
property or environment, or loss to process.accident (injury, illness health)?
OSHA defines hazard as the potential for harmWork Permitting is issued before the job, task or
that is associated with a condition or activity thatactivity done. Some questions asked and a
if left uncontrolled can result in injury or illness.checklist shall be completed to assured that
Meanwhile, according to OHSAS 18001:1999,hazards are not overlooked. Commonly, including
hazard is source or situation with a potential forin the checklist are analysis of toxic gas (such as
harm in terms of human injury or illness health,carbon monoxide), oxygen sufficiency, flammable
damage to property, damage to the workplacegas concentration, etc.
environment, or a combination of these.Equipment Inspection is implemented to any
Hazard recognition or hazard identification is vitallyequipment before it is used or put into operation.
important in accident prevention. By recognizingEquipment inspection is planned and organized to
hazards' characteristics and properties, we cancheck overall equipment conditions, safety
clearly determine proper controls. Unfortunately,protective equipment, guarding, emergency stop,
the majority of us sometimes overlook toetc.
recognize hazards.In Suggestion Method, every worker is
Hazard Recognition Methodsencouraged to propose or suggest potential
There are many hazard recognition methods. Thehazard (and control) that are contained in a job,
more hazard recognition methods we know, thetask or activity. Workers consider their past time
bigger our chances to recognize all hazard thatexperiences on the shop floor and field to give
exist in workplaces. A hazard might not besuggestion and this is very good safety habit. This
identified by a certain method, but it can bemethod can be used for improving current safety
detected by another method. Principally, we needconditions.
to assure that hazard recognition is completelySafety Patrol can be carried out by every worker
done.in the plant site, not only by persons who are in
The following are the most useful hazardcharge of health and safety. Safety patrol may
recognition methods:be done during an equipment running, plant
1. Pre-Use Analysisoperation, plant shut down or whenever it is
2. Multi-Step Planning Processintended to identify potential hazards.
3. Work PermittingThe best way to use these hazard recognition
4. Equipment Inspectionsmethods is by combining these methods one with
5. Suggestion Methodthe others.
6. Walkthrough Safety and Health AuditsThe next question is when is the right time to
7. Safety Patrolapply these hazard recognition methods? Of
Now, lets talks about these methods one by one.course before exposure to the hazards is the
Pre-Use Analysis can be applied before any newbest time, because at that time no one was
equipment, device, instrumentation, personalinjured, ill or death, and no property damage.
protective equipment, machine, tool, plant facility,However, during a job, task or activity is being
etc are used. This method is applied beforedone hazard recognition is still important in
exposure to hazards.accident prevention, and we can stop or cancel
Multi-Step Planning Process is applied beforethe job, task or activity at any time whenever
hazard exposure and applied to every task, jobwe see a potential hazard to cause injury, illness
and activity. To apply this method simply asks ahealth or plant facility damage.
series of questions before doing the task, job orHazards may also be recognized after a job, task
activity. The question should be similar to:a. Whator activity has been completely performed and
am I going to do?b. What is purpose to do thiswe can plan hazard control improvement to the
job, task or activity?c. How will I do that job, taskjob.