Identify hazards — before an accident happens

You don’t need a safety degree to realize that workplaces are full of hazards — slips and falls, chemical exposures, temperature extremes, repetitive motion ailments, and many others.

How to identify hazards

What’s necessary is a way to identify those hazards. One of the most common methods of identifying and monitoring workplace hazards is observation. Often it is up to members of the safety committee to inspect equipment and observe job procedures to identify potentially unsafe conditions or procedures. If an unsafe situation arises, corrective action can then be taken to control the hazard and prevent it from recurring.

Workplace safety and health inspections, also known as audits, are the most widely accepted way to identify hazards. And, workplace inspections are one the best ways to improve the safety program in the workplace.

Who should do inspections?

Some self–inspections/audits are required under OSHA regulations (personal protective equipment and process safety management, for example). However, whether required or not, inspections give a baseline of information to work with and a method for tracking problems over time.

Choose an inspector

The first step is to choose your auditor.  You can do this in several ways:

  • Hire an outside consultant to do an audit of your workplace.
  • Use an audit plan developed by your insurance carrier, following specific guidelines.
  • Do a self–inspection.

Any method is fine, as long as it accomplishes the goal of identifying hazards.

 Use a checklist

Use a workplace safety inspection checklist to assist in fact-finding. The checklist will give some indication of where you can begin to make your business safer and more healthful for all of your employees.

Workplace safety inspections accomplish several things, including:

  • Compliance with OSHA regulations.
  • Meeting local code requirements.
  • Meeting insurance requirements.
  • Improved safety for workers.

To improve the company’s safety program and reduce losses, injuries and illnesses, it’s important to identify the safety and health problems that affect the company.