Hazard
A hazard is any source, situation, or act with the potential to cause harm in terms of injury, illness, property damage, or environmental impact.
What Is a Hazard?
A hazard is anything that has the potential to cause harm. It differs from a risk, which is the likelihood and severity of that harm actually occurring. Identifying hazards is the first step in any risk assessment process.
Types of Workplace Hazards
- Physical: Noise, vibration, radiation, temperature extremes, slippery surfaces, falling objects.
- Chemical: Gases, vapours, dust, fumes, liquids (see WHMIS, SDS).
- Biological: Bacteria, viruses, mould, animal/insect bites.
- Ergonomic: Repetitive motions, awkward postures, forceful exertions (see Ergonomics).
- Psychosocial: Stress, workplace violence, harassment, fatigue.
- Safety: Unguarded machinery, electrical hazards, confined spaces, working at heights.
Hazard Identification Methods
- Workplace inspections
- Job Hazard Analyses and FLHAs
- Incident and near-miss investigation
- Worker consultations and JHSC reviews
- Review of SDS and equipment manuals
Report Hazards Instantly
With Make Safety Easy, any worker can report a hazard from their phone with a photo and GPS location. Supervisors get instant notifications and can assign corrective actions on the spot.