Conducting a Hazard Assessment

8/13/2019 Conducting a Hazard Assessment

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Overview

What is a hazard assessment?

When is one required?

How do I conduct one?


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Definition

A hazard assessment is an evaluation

of a work place, or work situation, as to

the potential for hazards that anemployee may encounter while

performing the job.


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Requirements

Employers are required (by OSHA) to

certify in writing that they have

assessed the work place to determine ifhazards that require personal protective

equipment (PPE) are present or likely.


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Requirements

Employers are also required to:

Select and provide properly fitted

protection from injury or impairment, and Train employees in work area hazards and

the proper use of PPE.


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PPE Coordinator

At VT, each department is required to

appoint a coordinator to accomplish the

task of performing a hazard assessmentand overseeing that personal protective

equipment is appropriate for the hazard

and is being used accordingly.


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PPE Coordinator Responsibilities

Perform the hazard assessment(s).

Select appropriate PPE.

Inform, fit, and train employees on PPE. Provide EHSS with required

documentation.

Reassess the when new hazards areintroduced.

Retrain employee if PPE is misused.


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Employee Responsibilities

Attend required PPE training sessions.

Wear PPE as required.

Clean, maintain, and properly care for

PPE.

Inform PPE Coordinator if repair or

replacement of equipment is needed.


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Where do you begin?

It is difficult to begin assessing every

location, job title, or job task. The most

logical place to begin is to review youraccident and illness reports.

Is there a work area that seems to have

more accidents and injuries than others? Is there a type of injury that seems to occur

more frequently than others?


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Where do you begin?

If injury and illness reports do not pointyou towards a place to begin, consider

beginning with: Close calls or near misses

New tasks or positions

Tasks that have changed

Non-routine jobs

Routine jobs


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Work Area Assessment

After you have chosen a place to start,

perform a walk-through of the work

area, looking for hazards as indicated inthis training.

Tip: Involveemployees in this

process to gain

valuable input!


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Identify the Hazards

As you walk through the area and

discuss work tasks with employees,

look for the following hazards. If you are unsure whether something

should be included in your hazard

assessment, contact EHSS for assistanceor try using the reference material

suggested on some of the slides.


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Falling Objects

Are there objects

which may fall from

above ontoemployees?

Employees working

overhead? Tools or materials

handled above your

head?


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Harmful Dusts/Mists/Fumes

Are employees exposed to chemicals or

harmful dusts/mists/fumes? Examples:

Any chemical which poses a health hazard Asbestos

Welding fumes

Solder fumes

Silica

Reference: Obtain a Material

Safety Data Sheet on the

product in question from the

supplier and review the

information provided for

health hazards and

suggested controls.


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Energy Sources

Are there energy sources which could be

harmful if accidental release or startup

occurs? Electrical

Pneumatic

Hydraulic

Thermal

Mechanical

Gravity


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Sharp Objects

Are there sharp objects which could cut or

pierce the body?

Glass Knife blades

Sheet metal

Nail guns

Needles

Splinters (wood)

Burrs (metal)


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Temperature Extremes

Are there hot or cold surfaces which could

burn or freeze employees?

Welded parts Cryogenic materials

Autoclaves

Ovens/stoves

Molten metals


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Flying Debris

Will employee be operating, or be exposed

to, tools/equipment which may generate

flying debris? Hammering

Sawing

Chipping

Grinding

Drilling

Buffing


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Excessive Noise

Will employee be operating, or be exposed

to, tools/equipment which may generate

excessive noise? Jack-hammering

Woodworking machinery

Metalworking machinery

Operating heavy equipment


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Workplace Layout

Does the layout of the workplace create a

potential hazard?

Fall hazards exceeding 4 feet. Low clearances

Confined spaces


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Fire/Explosion Hazards

Is there the potential

for a fire or explosion?


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Step 2

Once the hazard has

been identified, you

must implement aneffective control to

eliminate the hazard,

reduce the hazard to anacceptable manner, or

protect the employee.


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Step 3

Evaluate the level of risk for each

hazard to help determine what type of

control should be implemented toreduce exposure.


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Step 4

Select an appropriate solution to eachhazard.

Always consider eliminating the hazard (ifpossible) first.

If elimination is not possible, considerreducing the hazard to an acceptable level.

If an acceptable level cannot be reached,select and provide appropriate personalprotective equipment for the employee.


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Engineering Controls

Engineering controls eliminate exposure

to the hazard. They are:

relatively permanent,

can be costly, and

can be time-consuming.

Engineeringcontrols are

things that

you do to fix

the hazard.


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Isolation

Isolate the employee from the hazard.

Control rooms

Machine guarding

Protective barriers and shields

Guardrails

Clearance distances


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Design

Is there new (or existing) technology on

the market for the product which, by its

design, protects the person using it?


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Process Change

Can a non-hazardous process be

substituted for a hazardous process?

Spray PaintingDipping or

Brushing


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Work Area Layout

Can a hazardous work area layout be

improved?

Hot

Work

Chemical

Storage

Electrical

Pipe

Storage

Stacked

Boxes

Tool Room

MainWork

Area


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Work Area Layout

Chemical storage area was moved away

from hot work and electrical hazards.

Hot

Work

Chemical

Storage

Electrical

Pipe

Storage

Stacked

Boxes

Tool Room

MainWork

Area


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Substitution

Can a non-hazardous product be

substituted for a hazardous product?

Pesticides Solder

Cleaning agents

Solvents


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Ventilation

Will ventilation improve the air quality to

an acceptable (i.e. safe) level?


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Administrative Controls

Administrative controls reduce employee

exposure to a hazard.

They do not eliminate the hazard, but theyprovide an acceptable way to work around

the hazard.


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Reduction

Can you reduce the frequency of

performing the hazardous task?


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Rotation

Can employees be rotated to reduce

exposure time?


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Training

Can employees be trained to recognize

hazards and employ safe work practices?


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Protect the Employee

If the hazard cannot beeliminated or reduced to an

acceptable level, theemployee must be protectedfrom exposure. Thisprotection requires that the

employee wear and/or useappropriate personalprotective equipment.


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Protect the Employee

Hard hats

Eye protection

Face protection Respiratory

protection

Hearing protection

Body wear

Sleeves

Gloves Protective footwear


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Summary

Identify hazards in the workplace that

could result in injury or illness.

Evaluate the level of risk to helpdetermine what controls to implement.

Select an appropriate solution to control

the hazard and/or protect the employee.


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Information

For more information regarding hazards

in the workplace, contact EHSS at 231-

2341, or visit our website atwww.ehss.vt.edu.

Documents

Conducting a Hazard Assessment