Hazard Identification, Risk Assessment and Control
Core method
- A hazard is a source of harm; risk is the chance and severity of that harm. Risk assessment is a structured process, not a form-filling exercise.
- Identify hazards across tasks, areas, equipment, chemicals, work organisation and non-routine activities such as cleaning and maintenance.
- Assess likelihood and severity, then apply the hierarchy of control: elimination, substitution, engineering controls, administrative controls, then PPE.
- Record significant findings, assign owners and dates, and review after change, incident or new information.
- Consult workers because they know how work is really done.
Worked example
A packing line has a wet floor beside a shrink-wrapper. Slips are likely and could cause fractures, so risk is high. A warning sign alone is weak. Better controls are fixing the leak, improving drainage, using absorbent matting and scheduling cleaning outside peak movement. The residual risk is checked and the assessment is reviewed after the repair.
Traps that cost marks
Starting with PPE; treating a generic assessment as sufficient; ignoring maintenance, cleaning and night shifts; failing to record residual risk; not reviewing after a process change.
Exam focus
Use hazard, risk, hierarchy of control and residual risk correctly. In scenarios, name the hazard, explain the risk, choose controls in the right order and state the review trigger.