Hazard Identification is a crucial step in safety management, and is the initial phase of any risk management system an organisation may have. Before an organisation can begin to actively control the risks it faces (in order to reduce the occurrence of accidents) it must first recognise and study the hazards present within its working elements. Proper hazard identification also helps an organisation proactively identify the potential causes of loss, so that the probability of recurrence of unfortunate incidents.
A hazard is any aspect, factor or condition that has the innate potential to cause harm. (to property, processes, people, and the environment). Harm to these entities may include production losses, increased liabilities, payouts, and harmful releases to the environment, chronic and acute ill health, and adverse effects on mental health or property damage.
For ease of identification, hazards are classified based on the severity or magnitude of the potential loss or consequence of an event occurrence. The classification system is simple - They are Class A, Class B, and Class C Hazards .
A hazard is any aspect, factor or condition that has the innate potential to cause harm. (to property, processes, people, and the environment). Harm to these entities may include production losses, increased liabilities, payouts, and harmful releases to the environment, chronic and acute ill health, and adverse effects on mental health or property damage.
For ease of identification, hazards are classified based on the severity or magnitude of the potential loss or consequence of an event occurrence. The classification system is simple - They are Class A, Class B, and Class C Hazards .
A Class A (Major) hazard is a condition or practice, which could result in death, permanent disability, loss of a body part, or permanent debilitating occupational illness. In countries with advanced codes of practice on workplace safety, the classified hazard is allocated a financial sum for better identification. E.g. A Class A hazard may be referred to as a practice which may lead to a loss of over £20,000 (In foreign currency as no up-to-date naira equivalents exist).
A Class B hazard is a condition or practice likely to cause serious injury or illness, resulting in temporary disability or property damage that is disruptive not extensive. An example of a Class B hazard is spilled oil on the aisle of a building.
A Class C hazard is a condition or practice likely to cause minor, non-disabling injury or illness, or non-disruptive property damage. An example is the handling of solvents without the use of proper protective gloves or public nuisance caused by offensive odours from substance released.
Hazards are of different types and may fall into any of the following categories found in the workplace:
Chemical Hazards: include acidity, alkalinity, corrosivity, explosivity, flammability, toxicity.
Thermodynamic Hazards: include high pressure, heat, high or low temperature.
Electrical or Electromagnetic Hazards: include high voltage, electric current, and radiation
Mechanical Hazards: include mechanical energy, stresses
Health Hazards: include noise, pollutants, chemicals, temperature extremes, radioactivity,
Hazard Analysis is used by safety-conscious organisations to identify applicable hazards and possible consequences. A hazard analysis involves the identification of adverse occurrences which could lead to the materialisation of a hazard; the analysis of the process which leads to these unwanted events and; the estimation of the extent, magnitude and likelihood of the harmful effects involved.
There are various methods and related tasks employed in the identification of hazards. These methods are very useful to organisations that operate plants or factories that have complex, convoluted processes. They include:
Concept Hazard Analysis (CHA) : This method is used to identify hazards and hazardous conditions. The primary aim is to identify conditions that have been identified as being dangerous from previous incidents. CHA involves a team effort, with team members focusing on the details of a process within the organisation, to stimulate a specific discussion about that process using specially selected keywords that refer to the main hazards presented by the process. CHA is a good method for use in determining the suitability of a plant site, as well as the acceptability of a particular process approach. It has however been found deficient in identify immediate or root causes if incidents.
Preliminary Process Hazard Analysis (PPHA): A hazard identification method for use in technical and specialist industries, it is often used as a follow-up to CHA, to provide additional information on hazards and hazard characteristics of factories and plants. PPHA also helps in the evaluating of emissions, effluents and wastes from plants. The main objective of a PPHA is to duplicate a potential incident scenario, tracing the process down to its immediate cause. The analysis studies the path of a potential incident, evaluating the root cause of each event in the chain leading to the event. The PPHA makes conclusions as to the possible frequency of hazardous incident scenarios and determines the significance to the organisation of each potential incident.
Hazard and Operability Studies (HAZOP): This is a formal examination of a plant or factory, used for identifying hazards, process failures and operability problems. The HAZOP technique assesses the consequence of such failures. HAZOP is also a team activity, where a process parameter is combined with selected guide words (such as NO, LESS OF, MORE OF, PART OF) and is used to suggest deviations of processes and their causes. The team goes on to examine these causes of potential deviation in the given processes. HAZOP is the method of hazard analysis most widely used in the process industry. It is recommended for use by legislators, regulators and engineering organisations.
Once identified, there are a number of ways to control hazards. Some of the fundamental ways include:
Safety training: Safety orientation and function-specific training should be provided for new and existing employees, are well as employees moving from one function to another. This gives them a fundamental foundation in working safely and important information on the hazards present in their workplace.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): The adorning of PPE during workplace operations is often the cheapest method of controlling occupational hazards, though this method has proved to be far from the best. This is because protective equipment only reduces the effect of hazards if they do occur, and this equipment do not in any way affect the root causes of hazards in the first place. PPE include respirators, Gloves, Head Protection, Hearing Protection, and Protective Footwear.
Change of Process: If certain processes for performing work tasks are considered dangerous, and safer alternatives exist, it is often advised to adopt these new safer processes. An example is replacing potentially harmful solvents with detergents, which have a less hazardous effect on the hands.
A Class B hazard is a condition or practice likely to cause serious injury or illness, resulting in temporary disability or property damage that is disruptive not extensive. An example of a Class B hazard is spilled oil on the aisle of a building.
A Class C hazard is a condition or practice likely to cause minor, non-disabling injury or illness, or non-disruptive property damage. An example is the handling of solvents without the use of proper protective gloves or public nuisance caused by offensive odours from substance released.
Hazards are of different types and may fall into any of the following categories found in the workplace:
Chemical Hazards: include acidity, alkalinity, corrosivity, explosivity, flammability, toxicity.
Thermodynamic Hazards: include high pressure, heat, high or low temperature.
Electrical or Electromagnetic Hazards: include high voltage, electric current, and radiation
Mechanical Hazards: include mechanical energy, stresses
Health Hazards: include noise, pollutants, chemicals, temperature extremes, radioactivity,
Hazard Analysis is used by safety-conscious organisations to identify applicable hazards and possible consequences. A hazard analysis involves the identification of adverse occurrences which could lead to the materialisation of a hazard; the analysis of the process which leads to these unwanted events and; the estimation of the extent, magnitude and likelihood of the harmful effects involved.
There are various methods and related tasks employed in the identification of hazards. These methods are very useful to organisations that operate plants or factories that have complex, convoluted processes. They include:
Concept Hazard Analysis (CHA) : This method is used to identify hazards and hazardous conditions. The primary aim is to identify conditions that have been identified as being dangerous from previous incidents. CHA involves a team effort, with team members focusing on the details of a process within the organisation, to stimulate a specific discussion about that process using specially selected keywords that refer to the main hazards presented by the process. CHA is a good method for use in determining the suitability of a plant site, as well as the acceptability of a particular process approach. It has however been found deficient in identify immediate or root causes if incidents.
Preliminary Process Hazard Analysis (PPHA): A hazard identification method for use in technical and specialist industries, it is often used as a follow-up to CHA, to provide additional information on hazards and hazard characteristics of factories and plants. PPHA also helps in the evaluating of emissions, effluents and wastes from plants. The main objective of a PPHA is to duplicate a potential incident scenario, tracing the process down to its immediate cause. The analysis studies the path of a potential incident, evaluating the root cause of each event in the chain leading to the event. The PPHA makes conclusions as to the possible frequency of hazardous incident scenarios and determines the significance to the organisation of each potential incident.
Hazard and Operability Studies (HAZOP): This is a formal examination of a plant or factory, used for identifying hazards, process failures and operability problems. The HAZOP technique assesses the consequence of such failures. HAZOP is also a team activity, where a process parameter is combined with selected guide words (such as NO, LESS OF, MORE OF, PART OF) and is used to suggest deviations of processes and their causes. The team goes on to examine these causes of potential deviation in the given processes. HAZOP is the method of hazard analysis most widely used in the process industry. It is recommended for use by legislators, regulators and engineering organisations.
Once identified, there are a number of ways to control hazards. Some of the fundamental ways include:
Safety training: Safety orientation and function-specific training should be provided for new and existing employees, are well as employees moving from one function to another. This gives them a fundamental foundation in working safely and important information on the hazards present in their workplace.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): The adorning of PPE during workplace operations is often the cheapest method of controlling occupational hazards, though this method has proved to be far from the best. This is because protective equipment only reduces the effect of hazards if they do occur, and this equipment do not in any way affect the root causes of hazards in the first place. PPE include respirators, Gloves, Head Protection, Hearing Protection, and Protective Footwear.
Change of Process: If certain processes for performing work tasks are considered dangerous, and safer alternatives exist, it is often advised to adopt these new safer processes. An example is replacing potentially harmful solvents with detergents, which have a less hazardous effect on the hands.
HAVE A SAFE AND PROSPEROUS DAY
T.M.KHALEEL BATCHA
DIRECTORINSTITUTE SAFETY MANAGEMENT-CHENNAI( DIVISION OF OSHA INDIA)
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