Product 1

Hazard Assessments

At the core of preventing injury and loss in a system is a good understanding of the hazards and risks in the workplace. These hazards cannot always be eliminated. However, assessing and understanding their natures and potentials are critical to developing acceptable controls to avoid incidents, injury and losses. Good solutions are the result of adequate hazard assessments.

The hazard assessment is a systematic process to review job methods and workplaces to uncover hazards:

	That may have been overlooked in layout, design of equipment, tools, work areas, and processes
	That exist due to the nature of the work being done
	That may have developed after work has started
	That may have resulted from changes in workplace procedures or personnel during the course of a task

Hazard assessments are often done to improve the health and safety aspects of a job, but there are often also opportunities to reduce waste, increase productivity, quality and efficiency of an operation as well as create a safe and healthy work environment. This translates into the bottom line success of the company and those who work for it either as employees or contractors.