What a formal hazard assessment is, how it differs from a site-specific assessment, and a clear step-by-step guide to conducting one in Canada.
Health and safety in the workplace are crucial for preventing accidents and injuries, and conducting hazard assessments is a critical step in keeping a working environment safe. This post explains what formal hazard assessments are, how they differ from site-specific assessments, and the practical steps for conducting one in Canada.
Why hazard assessment matters
According to the Association of Workers' Compensation Boards of Canada, there were over 235,000 reported workplace injuries in Canada in 2020 - an average of 651 every day. The direct cost of those injuries is estimated at more than 2 billion dollars per year. Those numbers are why hazard assessment is not optional: it is how a workplace prevents the incidents, and the costs, before they happen.
Formal vs site-specific hazard assessment
A formal hazard assessment is a comprehensive assessment of the health and safety risks in a workplace. It considers all of the tasks and activities performed and evaluates the risk associated with each. It is usually conducted at the start of a new project or when a new workplace is established. Formal hazard assessments are also called Job Safety Analyses, Task Hazard Analyses, Process Hazard Analyses, or Job Hazard Analyses.
A site-specific hazard assessment is a focused assessment of the risks tied to one site or project. It considers the specific tasks performed at that site and is usually done when the work at a site changes or new risks appear. These are also called Field Level Hazard Assessments, or FLHAs.
Why formal hazard assessments are important
- Compliance: regular formal hazard assessments keep your workplace in line with Canadian OHS regulations, which helps you avoid penalties and protects the business from legal liability.
- Safety: identifying hazards and controlling or eliminating them reduces the risk of accidents, injuries, and illnesses.
- Efficiency: removing hazards streamlines processes and improves productivity, which saves time and money.
A step-by-step guide
- Figure out what people do at the organization. A job task inventory helps identify every position - for a construction company that might be equipment operators, supervisors, administration, foremen, and labourers.
- List all of the tasks or activities for each job. For an equipment operator that could include forklift operation, skid steer operation, backhoe operation, fire extinguisher use, and driving.
- Identify the health and safety hazards for each task. Hazards generally fall into physical, chemical, biological, and psychosocial categories.
- Find ways to eliminate or control the hazards. Eliminate wherever you can; where you cannot, control. Prioritize the highest-risk hazards and put interim controls in place for anything that needs a longer-term fix.
- Implement the selected controls. Follow through with a plan, and use temporary controls while permanent solutions are built.
- Communicate the hazards and the controls. Workers have to know the hazards of their job and what to do to stay safe.
- Monitor the effectiveness of the controls. New controls can introduce new hazards, so check that procedures are followed and equipment stays in good condition.
- Review and revise the assessment. The workplace is always changing, and the assessment must change with it.
Remember the hierarchy of controls: elimination is the most effective, then engineering controls, then administrative controls, and PPE is the last line of defence.
Real-life examples
A construction company conducts a formal hazard assessment of a new workplace and identifies the hazard of falls from height. It evaluates the risk of serious injury and develops controls: fall protection equipment, regular safety meetings, and fall protection training for employees.
A manufacturing company conducts a formal hazard assessment and identifies the hazard of machinery accidents. It develops controls: lockout procedures, warning signage, and machine safety training for employees.
A formal hazard assessment is an essential tool for keeping a workplace safe. Conducted thoroughly and systematically, it lets you identify and control hazards before they cause harm to employees, contractors, or visitors. Whether you are a manager, a supervisor, or an owner, it is a critical part of building a safe workplace.
On-Track Safety can help you conduct a formal hazard assessment or develop and implement the control measures that follow from it. Reach out if you would like a hand.