Workplace hazard identification checklist

A workplace hazard identification checklist provides structure to your safety inspections, ensuring nothing gets overlooked. It creates documentation that proves your due diligence, helps prioritize safety improvements, and establishes a baseline for measuring progress. Regular use also demonstrates commitment to safety culture and helps meet regulatory requirements for workplace inspections.

The responsibility typically falls to safety officers or supervisors, but creating a rotation among trained staff provides fresh perspectives. Consider involving employees from different departments who can spot hazards others might miss. The key is ensuring whoever completes it understands potential hazards and has received proper training in hazard identification.

After completion, review findings with your safety committee or management team, prioritize hazards based on severity and likelihood, and develop an action plan with clear responsibilities and deadlines. Document all corrective actions taken and maintain completed checklists as evidence of your proactive safety program for regulatory compliance.

Review the template against industry-specific regulations and add sections addressing unique hazards in your field. For healthcare, add sections on bloodborne pathogens; for manufacturing, expand machine guarding questions; for laboratories, include chemical compatibility concerns. Consult with experienced staff to identify industry-specific risks worth adding.