Department of Labor and Employment

OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH CENTER

Hazards Identification, Risk

Assessment and Control
(HIRAC)
Session Objective:

At the end of the session, the participants

will be able to perform risks assessment,
evaluation and recommend appropriate
control measures.

Department of Labor and Employment

OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH CENTER
What is a risk assessment?
Risk assessment is a term used
to describe the overall process or
method where you:
• Identify hazards and risk factors
that have the potential to cause
harm (hazard identification).
• Analyze and evaluate the risk
associated with that hazard (risk
analysis, and risk evaluation).
• Determine appropriate ways to
eliminate the hazard, or control
the risk when the hazard cannot
be eliminated (risk control).
Department of Labor and Employment
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH CENTER
 Why is risk assessment important?
▪ Create awareness of hazards and risk.
▪ Identify who may be at risk (e.g., employees, cleaners, visitors, contractors, the
public, etc.).
▪ Determine whether a control program is required for a particular hazard.
▪ Determine if existing control measures are adequate or if more should be done.
▪ Prevent injuries or illnesses, especially when done at the design or planning
stage.
▪ Prioritize hazards and control measures.
▪ Meet legal requirements where applicable.

Canadian Center for Occupational Safety and Health

http:/www.ccohs.ca/

Department of Labor and Employment

OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH CENTER
What is the goal of risk assessment?

The goal is to try to answer the following questions:

a. What can happen and under what circumstances?
b. What are the possible consequences?
c. How likely [and severe] are the possible consequences to occur?
d. Is the risk controlled effectively, or is further action required?

Canadian Center for Occupational Safety and Health

http:/www.ccohs.ca/

Department of Labor and Employment

OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH CENTER
 Department of Labor and Employment
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH CENTER
When should a risk assessment be done?

There may be many reasons a risk assessment is needed,

including:
▪ Before new processes or activities are introduced.
▪ Before changes are introduced to existing processes or
activities, including when products, machinery, tools,
equipment change or new information concerning harm
becomes available.
▪ When hazards are identified.

Department of Labor and Employment

OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH CENTER
Steps in Risk Assessment
Assessing risks

How are risk assessments carried out?

1.List of work
2.Identify the hazards
3.Estimate the risk
4.Evaluate
5.Record your findings
6.Review your findings

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OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH CENTER
List of Work
Assessing risks

DBP SERVICES

Department of Labor and Employment

OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH CENTER
List of Work
Assessing risks

1. List work task

• Location(s)
• People

DBP SERVICES

Department of Labor and Employment

OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH CENTER
List of Work
Assessing risks

1. List work task

• Location(s)
• People
• Equipment

Department of Labor and Employment

OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH CENTER
List of Work
Assessing risks

1. List work task

• Location(s)
• People
• Equipment
• Activities

Department of Labor and Employment

OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH CENTER
 Hazard Identification

Process of finding and identifying:

- hazardous agents (situations, products etc.) that could contribute
to provoking an occupational accident or/and disease
- the groups of workers potentially exposed to these hazards.

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OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH CENTER
 Hazards, from where?
• A risk assessment must be carried out before people start work, covering
hazards and risk factors related to:
· Equipment: workplace lay-out, machines, hand tools,
software and hardware, tables or chairs

· Raw Materials/Product/By Products: dangerous Equipment

substances, heavy loads and sharp or warm objects

· Environment: light, noise, climate, vibrations, air

quality or dust

· Organisation: tasks, working hours, breaks, shift Product Human Organization

systems, training, communication, team work, contact
with visitors, social support or autonomy.

· Human: lack of physical or mental capacity, lack of

knowledge or skills, lack of right attitude or behavior
Environment

Department of Labor and Employment

OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH CENTER
Categories of Hazards
▪ Safety Hazards – something that has potential to cause injury
• Poor housekeeping hazards
• Fire hazards
• Machine hazards
• Material handling hazards
• Electrical hazards

▪ Health Hazards – Any agent or activity posing potential hazard to health

• Chemical hazards (vapors, mists, fumes, gases, dusts)
• Physical hazards (noise, vibration, illumination, extreme temperature,
extreme pressure, radiation)
• Biological hazards (bacteria, viruses, molds, fungi, protozoa; and
insects, parasites, plants, animals
• Ergonomics (improperly designed tools or work areas, improper
lifting or reaching, poor visual conditions, repeated motion in
awkward position
Department of Labor and Employment
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH CENTER
How are the hazards identified?

▪ Walk through/ocular inspection

▪ Review of Processes involved
▪ Knowing the raw materials used, products and by-
products
▪ Gathering workers’ complaints
▪ Safety data sheet

Department of Labor and Employment

OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH CENTER
How are the hazards identified?

To be sure that all hazards are found:

▪ Include non-routine activities such as maintenance, repair, or
cleaning.
▪ Look at accident / incident / near-miss records.
▪ Include people who work off site either at home, on other job sites,
drivers, teleworkers, with clients, etc.
▪ Look at the way the work is organized or done (include experience of
people doing the work, systems being used, etc).
▪ Look at foreseeable unusual conditions (for example: possible impact
on hazard control procedures that may be unavailable in an
emergency situation, power outage, etc.).

Canadian Center for Occupational Safety and Health

http:/www.ccohs.ca/
Department of Labor and Employment
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH CENTER
How are the hazards identified?

To be sure that all hazards are found:

▪ Determine whether a product, machine or equipment can be
intentionally or unintentionally changed (e.g., a safety guard
that could be removed).
▪ Examine risks to visitors or the public.
▪ Consider the groups of people that may have a different level
of risk such as young or inexperienced workers, persons with
disabilities, or new or expectant mothers.

Canadian Center for Occupational Safety and Health

http:/www.ccohs.ca/
Department of Labor and Employment
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH CENTER
Assessing the Risks
Assessing risks

What do we really mean by risk?

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How do you know if the hazard will cause harm
(poses a risk)?

Each hazard should be studied to determine its' level of risk. To

research the hazard, you can look at:

▪ Product information / manufacturer documentation.

▪ Past experience (knowledge from workers, etc.).
▪ Legislated requirements and/or applicable standards.
▪ Industry codes of practice / best practices.
▪ Health and safety material about the hazard such as safety data
sheets (SDSs), research studies, or other manufacturer
information.
▪ Information from reputable organizations.
Canadian Center for Occupational Safety and Health
http:/www.ccohs.ca/
Department of Labor and Employment
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH CENTER
How do you know if the hazard will cause harm
(poses a risk)? Cont.

Each hazard should be studied to determine its' level of risk. To research

the hazard, you can look at: (cont.)

▪ The expertise of an occupational health and safety professional.

▪ Information about previous injuries, illnesses, near misses, incident
reports, etc.
▪ Observation of the process or task.
▪ Results of testing (atmospheric or air sampling of workplace, biological
swabs, etc.).

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Assessing the Risks
Assessing risks

Risk is the combination of the

likehood of a hazrdous event occuring,
And the consequence of the event

Risk = Likehood x Consequence

(Probability x Severity)

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Assessing the Risks
Assessing risks

Risk is the combination of the

likehood of a hazardous event occuring,
And the consequence of the event

Low High Low High

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Assessing the Risks
Assessing risks

2.Identify the risk

Department of Labor and Employment

OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH CENTER
Assessing the Risks
Assessing risks

2.Identify the risk

• What are the hazards?

Department of Labor and Employment

OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH CENTER
Assessing the Risks
Assessing risks

2.Identify the risk

• What are the hazards?
• Who might be harmed?

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Evaluation of Risks
Assessing risks

2.Identify the risk

• What are the hazards?
• Who might be harmed?
• How might they be hramed?

Department of Labor and Employment

OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH CENTER
Assessing the Risks
Assessing risks

3. Estimate the risk

You need to consider two things

• how likely is it that somethings:
could go wrong?
• how serious would the
outcome be?

Department of Labor and Employment

OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH CENTER
Assessing the Risks
Assessing risks

Likelihood

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Assessing the Risks
Assessing risks

Likelihood

Low
Medium High

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Assessing the Risks
Assessing risks

Consequence

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Assessing the Risks
Assessing risks

INCREASING CONSEQUENCE

4
3
2
1

Department of Labor and Employment

OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH CENTER
Assessing the Risks
Assessing risks

Risk

INCREASING CONSEQUENCE

4
3
2
1

Department of Labor and Employment

OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH CENTER
 How are risks ranked or prioritized?
Probability ratings in this example represent:
• High: likely to be experienced once or twice a year by
an individual
• Medium: may be experienced once every five years
by an individual
• Low: may occur once during a working lifetime

Severity ratings in this example represent:

• High: major fracture, poisoning, significant loss of blood, serious head injury, or fatal
disease
• Medium: sprain, strain, localized burn, dermatitis, asthma, injury requiring days off
work
• Low: an injury that requires first aid only; short-term pain, irritation, or dizziness
Canadian Center for Occupational Safety and Health
http:/www.ccohs.ca/

Department of Labor and Employment

OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH CENTER
How are risks ranked or prioritized? (cont.)

Canadian Center for Occupational Safety and Health

http:/www.ccohs.ca/
Department of Labor and Employment
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH CENTER
How are risks ranked or prioritized? (cont.)

▪ These risk ratings correspond to recommended actions such as:

▪ Immediately dangerous: stop the process and implement controls
▪ High risk: investigate the process and implement controls immediately
▪ Medium risk: keep the process going; however, a control plan must be developed
and should be implemented as soon as possible
▪ Low risk: keep the process going, but monitor regularly. A control plan should
also be investigated
▪ Very low risk: keep monitoring the process

Canadian Center for Occupational Safety and Health

http:/www.ccohs.ca/
Department of Labor and Employment
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH CENTER
Control Measures
Controlling risk

If you want to reduce the risk, you’ll need to:

• reducelikelihood 5

CONSEQUENCE
• reduce consequence 4
• reduce both 3
2
1
1 2 3 4 5
LIKELIHOOD

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Control Measures
Controlling risk

• Risk=likelihood*consequence
Therefore, if you want to reduce risk, you
need to look at:
A. Reducing the likelihood of hazardous
B. Reducing the consequence of the
hazardous event.
C. Reducing both factors.

Department of Labor and Employment

OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH CENTER
Hierarchy of Controls
Engineering Controls Physically remove the
Elimination hazard

Substitution Replace the hazard

Others • Provide adequate ventilation

• Ventilation • Modification of the process or
• Modification procedure
• Isolate people from the hazard
• Isolation
• Provide enclosure to the hazard
• Containment

Administrative Controls • Necessary OSH Issuances

• Work Scheduling
• Training and Education
• Emergency preparedness

PPE
• Protect the worker with PPE
• Last line of Defense

Department of Labor and Employment

OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH CENTER
Review questions

1. What are the three major steps in HIRAC?

2. Give the formula in calculating risk?

Department of Labor and Employment

OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH CENTER
CLEAR POINTS
▪ When conducting hazard identification, it may help to work as a team
and include both people familiar with the work area, as well as people
who are not - this way you have both the experienced and fresh eye to
conduct the inspection.

▪ There is no one simple or single way to determine the level of risk. Nor
will a single technique apply in all situations. The organization has to
determine which technique will work best for each situation.

▪ Ranking or prioritizing hazards is one way to help determine which risk

is the most serious and thus which to control first.

▪ Any violation of the OSH Standards and other laws must be considered
as immediately dangerous or totally unacceptable.
Canadian Center for Occupational Safety and Health
http:/www.ccohs.ca/

Department of Labor and Employment

OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH CENTER
Workshop

Department of Labor and Employment

OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH CENTER