What are the main types of workplace hazards?
| Type | What causes the harm | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Safety | Conditions that cause immediate injury | Unguarded machines, forklifts, slips and trips, work at height |
| Physical | Energy or environment | Noise, heat, vibration, radiation, electricity |
| Chemical | Substances and mixtures | Solvents, acids, fumes, silica dust, cleaning products |
| Biological | Living organisms | Bloodborne viruses, Legionella, mould, animal diseases |
| Ergonomic | Load and posture on the body | Repetitive lifting, awkward reach, long static sitting |
| Psychosocial | How work is designed and managed | High demands, fatigue, bullying, violence and aggression |
How do you identify workplace hazards?
Hazards are found by looking, asking and checking the record:
- Walk the area at the time the work is happening, not after it has been tidied.
- Ask the people who do the job. They know the workarounds and the near misses.
- Review the history: incident reports, near misses, hazard reports and inspection findings.
- Check the information: safety data sheets, manufacturer manuals and standards.
How are workplace hazards controlled?
Use the hierarchy of control and start at the top. Eliminate the hazard, substitute something less hazardous, isolate it or apply an engineering control such as a guard, then use administrative controls such as procedures and training, and rely on PPE last because it protects only the person wearing it.
What is the difference between a hazard and a risk?
The hazard is the source of harm: a spinning blade. The risk is how likely harm is and how severe it would be, which depends on exposure and controls. A risk assessment rates each hazard so the highest risks are fixed first.
What are workers and employers required to do?
In Australia, a person conducting a business or undertaking must identify hazards, assess the risks and control them so far as is reasonably practicable, and must consult workers while doing so. Workers must take reasonable care and report hazards they see.
Why do hazard reports stall?
Most sites find hazards. Far fewer close them. A hazard that sits in a spreadsheet or an email has no owner and no due date, so it is still there at the next audit. Every reported hazard needs a named person, a control and a date, and it should stay visible at the daily safety huddle until it is closed.