Hazard Identification, Risk Assessment and Risk Control
Each year in Western Australia many people are injured and some die from accidents in the workplace. WorkSafe aims to protect people in workplaces from occupational injury and disease.
Hazard identification, risk assessment and risk control are three principles used in workplaces to manage safety and health. Regulation 3.1 of the Occupational Safety and Health Regulations 1996, makes it compulsory for employers in all workplaces to identify hazards and assess and control risks.
The three ThinkSafe Steps (Spot the hazard, Assess the risk and Make the changes) are a simple way of expressing these three principles. At work you can use the ThinkSafe steps to help prevent accidents and injuries.
Using the ThinkSafe steps
1. Spot the hazard
First of all, what is a hazard?
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A hazard is anything that could hurt you or someone else. |
Each day you will be around many different hazards. For example, while on work experience you may notice badly frayed electrical cords, which are a hazard as they could result in electric shock or electrocution if they are not fixed.
Use all your senses to spot hazards while on work experience. Look around, listen, notice any strange smells (like smoke or chemicals) and use your knowledge about things that might be dangerous. You could talk to your work experience supervisor or your teacher about likely hazards while on work experience.
2. Assess the risk
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Assess the risk means working out how likely is it that the hazard will hurt someone and how badly they could be hurt. |
Whenever you spot a hazard, assess the risk by asking yourself two questions:
How likely is the hazard to hurt me or someone else? and
How badly could I or someone else be hurt?
To help decide which hazards are the most likely to cause serious harm on work experience, talk to your work experience supervisor or teacher.
Always tell someone about hazards you can't fix yourself. It is more urgent to make the changes if a hazard could kill someone or hurt someone badly. For example, it is very likely a young person using a power tool might be hurt if they are not given instructions and training on how to use it correctly.
If you are not sure of the safest way to do something on work experience always ask your work experience supervisor.
3. Make the changes
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Make the changes means fixing the hazard yourself if you can, or telling someone who is able to fix it. |
On work experience it is the employer's responsibility to fix hazards. Sometimes you may be able to fix simple hazards yourself. For example, you can pick up things from the floor and put them away to eliminate a trip hazard.
The best way to fix the hazard is to get rid of it, but as this is not always possible there are some ways your employer can make the hazard less dangerous:
Elimination - Whenever possible, the hazardous item or substance or work practice should be removed. For example, you can help by reporting any damaged equipment to your supervisor while on work experience so it can be fixed.
Substitution - Sometimes a less hazardous thing, substance or work practice can be used. For example, there may be a non-toxic glue that can still do the job.
Isolation - The hazard can be separated from people not involved in the activity or work areas by marking the hazardous area, fitting screens or putting up safety barriers. For example, welding screens can be used.
Add safeguards - Safeguards can be added by modifying tools or equipment or fitting guards to machinery or equipment. You should never remove machinery guards or protective screens.
Use the safest way to do something - Always follow safety rules or work procedures to reduce the risk of injury or harm. For example, you should follow instructions when on work experience.
Use personal protective equipment and clothing if there are still risks or to increase protection. For example, you should wear safety glasses and gloves when handling hazardous chemicals or a safety helmet on a construction site.
Sometimes more than one of these measures should be used to reduce the exposure to hazards. There are situations where you can make the changes yourself, but sometimes it isn't possible for you to take direct action. If you can't make the changes yourself, tell your employer about the hazard.
