Workplace hazards cause millions of accidents globally each year, from faulty equipment to slippery floors–and many of these could have been prevented with proper identification and mitigation. Hazard identification is the first step in creating a safer workplace. It’s a systematic process for understanding potential risks in the work environment–before you can start making a plan to address them.
This guide explains how hazard identification works, why it’s vital, and best practices so you can be thorough. Whether you’re in construction, manufacturing, or a corporate office, understanding this process will prevent injuries, reduce downtime, and build a culture of safety.
What is hazard identification?
Identifying hazards in the workplace is critical to implementing controls that help ensure the safety of workers and others involved. Hazard identification is the process of identifying potential sources of danger or harm when performing a work task in a specific work area.
Hazard identification is a part of the risk assessment, which is why it is sometimes called a hazard assessment. It is used to identify the risks associated with a hazard and to determine measures to eliminate or reduce that hazard. As a rule, hazard identifications are carried out by safety officers.
Especially in manufacturing companies or construction companies, protecting the health and safety of workers is one of the highest priority tasks. This is where hazard identification checklists come in. In order to be able to carry out the number of necessary hazard identifications and still be able to do a good job, hazard identification checklists are often used.
A hazard identification checklist is the best guide to make inspections easy, to organize them, and to promote a sense of responsibility and safety among staff. Normally hazard assessments are carried out at regular intervals and for completely new tasks. That is critical for implementing adequate corrective measures that can help prevent injuries and illnesses.
Carry out the process of hazard identification with a checklist
The use of a hazard identification checklist reduces the probability of occupational accidents occurring and ensures the safety of all employees. Lumiform offers ready-to-use hazard identification checklists that are easy to customize, making your inspections more efficient and effective.
Carry out simple health and safety checks by following the hazard identification process in these 4 steps:
1. Inform yourself in advance about the risk assessment at the workplace.
Before diving into hazard identification, it’s essential to understand the existing risk assessment framework. Review documentation like
- Previous safety audits
- Inspection report
- Incident logs
This will give you a clear picture of current workplace hazards, how they’ve been managed, and any consistent issues.
Familiarize yourself too with industry-specific safety regulations and guidelines. These often outline required checks and recommendations for identifying risks.
2. Inspect the workplace and identify possible hazards.
At this step, you’ll walk through the workplace with a critical eye. Pay attention to how tasks are performed, especially where employees interact with machinery, chemicals, or other high-risk elements. Don’t forget less obvious hazards, like ergonomic risks, poor lighting, or blocked emergency exits, and communicate with employees to get their firsthand observations.
During the whole process, document your findings meticulously. Take photos, jot down details, and cross-reference your observations with a hazard identification checklist.
3. Find out if there have been any accidents in the past.
Look into records of injuries, near-misses, and any safety-related incidents that have occurred. These logs can reveal patterns, such as recurring equipment malfunctions or high-risk areas, that need immediate attention. Understanding the root causes of past incidents can help prevent their recurrence.
Talk to employees who were directly or indirectly involved in these incidents, since they might have details that aren’t in formal reports. Use this information to improve your hazard identification process by addressing existing vulnerabilities.
4. Develop a plan for a safe working environment and take corrective action if necessary.
Once you’ve identified hazards, the next step is to act. Develop a plan that prioritizes corrective actions based on the severity and likelihood of risks. Focus first on high-priority items, which might be fixing faulty equipment or implementing emergency protocols. Use a combination of control measures, including:
- Eliminating risks where possible
- Substituting safer processes
- Enforcing protective practices
It is also important to remember to make all employees aware of the issue. The implementation and monitoring of a safety management system ensures that all workers are alert to the workplace, watch for hazards and report them to the appropriate supervisor. Recognising the hazard in the form of unsafe conditions or unsafe acts during construction or operation/maintenance activities relies on a process of identifying and accessing hazards by recognising the risks in the system.
Common types of hazards
Not all hazards are obvious right away, and they can vary a lot depending on the industry, environment, and tasks performed. Here are common workplace hazards that you should definitely consider during the identification process:
- Physical hazards: Slippery floors, exposed wiring, poor lighting, excessive noise, or extreme temperatures
- Chemical hazards: Exposure to cleaning agents, solvents, fumes, gases, or hazardous liquids
- Biological hazards: Viruses, bacteria, mold, or other harmful organisms, especially in healthcare or food-related industries
- Ergonomic hazards: Improper workstation setup, repetitive tasks, heavy lifting, or awkward postures
- Psychosocial hazards: Workplace stress, bullying, harassment, or unrealistic workloads affecting mental health
- Electrical hazards: Faulty wiring, overloaded circuits, or exposed electrical components
- Fire hazards: Combustible materials, improper storage of flammable substances, or lack of fire safety measures
- Environmental hazards: Natural disasters, extreme weather conditions, or outdoor risks like uneven terrain
Three typical errors during hazard identification
A holistic inspection for hazards should be comprehensively documented. In the following, you will find three typical errors on the use of a hazard identification checklist:
- No one-time action: A good hazard assessment should be an ongoing process, one-off checks and corrective action will not ensure sustainable safety.
- Involve external companies: When placing orders with external companies, the employer is also jointly responsible for their safety. The hazard identification should therefore be carried out there as well.
- Several people in charge: The hazard identification should not be carried out by a single specialist, but by several safety officers to ensure a thorough hazard identification check.
Best practices for hazard identification
During the hazard identification process, it’s important to involve employees at all levels. Use regular discussions, such as during team meetings or toolbox talks, to give opportunities for staff to share their observations about unsafe conditions or near-miss incidents. You can also get anonymous input through surveys and suggestion boxes.
Don’t forget to consider seasonal and situational factors too. For example, winter weather can lead to icy walkways, while busy periods or special events may cause overcrowding or increased stress among employees. By planning additional assessments during these times, you can tackle these hazards before they escalate.
Contractors and visitors are another important group to factor in. Temporary workers might not know about workplace protocols, and visitors could unknowingly enter hazardous areas. Include them in your safety assessments and brief them on relevant risks to prevent accidents and ensure everyone’s safety, not just your core team.
As part of building a safe workplace, incorporate training for employees to recognize hazards. Regular workshops or short training sessions can raise awareness about common hazards, empowering employees to report issues they encounter. This way, everyone can contribute to maintaining a safe environment.
App and software for competent hazard identification checks
With Lumiform’s mobile app, you can easily perform any type of quality and safety inspection using a tablet or smartphone – online or offline. With the desktop software, you create checklists for your hazard identification and evaluate the data collected in the field. This significantly reduces the risk of quality loss, documentation errors, and damage to your reputation. Digitize your hazard identification checklists and internal processes with Lumiform:
- The flexible checklist builder from Lumiform helps you to convert any individual paper list into a digital hazard inspection checklist without much effort.
- Facilitate the work of safety teams by letting them fill in risk assessments via smartphone and tablet. That Lumiform guides the inspectors through the inspections, no training needs to take place.
- Attach photos and annotations directly to your hazard assessment.
- All results, images and comments are automatically bundled in a digital report.
- Comprehensive analyses help you to identify hazardous areas in your company more quickly and thus to continuously improve your health and safety measures.
- Store all hazard identification reports securely online in the cloud.
Start improving your workplace safety today with Lumiform’s powerful tools for hazard identification. Try it now with a 14-day free trial!