Hazard Identification and Assessment Procedure

Description

The purpose of the Hazard Identification and Assessment Procedure is to establish a systematic approach for identifying, analyzing, and controlling job-related risks across infrastructure, processes, operations, and tasks.

In this process, workers actively participate in identifying occupational hazards, which may encompass unsafe equipment, inappropriate work methods, human error, the use of hazardous materials, changes, and more.

Hazard Identification and Assessment Procedure

ISO 45001:2018 requirements

6.1.2 Hazard Identification and Assessment of Risks and Opportunities

6.1.2.1 Hazard identification

The organization shall establish, implement, and maintain a process(es) for hazard identification that is ongoing and proactive. The process(es) shall take into account, but not be limited to:
a) how work is organized, social factors (including workload, work hours, victimization, harassment, and bullying), leadership, and the culture in the organization;
b) routine and non-routine activities and situations, including hazards arising from:
1) infrastructure, equipment, materials, substances, and the physical conditions of the workplace;
2) product and service design, research, development, testing, production, assembly, construction, service delivery, maintenance, and disposal;
3) human factors;
4) how the work is performed;
c) past relevant incidents, internal or external to the organization, including emergencies, and their causes;
d) potential emergency situations;
e) people, including consideration of:
1) those with access to the workplace and their activities, including workers, contractors, visitors, and other persons;
2) those in the vicinity of the workplace who can be affected by the activities of the organization;
3) workers at a location not under the direct control of the organization;
f) other issues, including consideration of:
1) the design of work areas, processes, installations, machinery/equipment, operating procedures, and work organization, including their adaptation to the needs and capabilities of the workers involved;
2) situations occurring in the vicinity of the workplace caused by work-related activities under the control of the organization;
3) situations not controlled by the organization and occurring in the vicinity of the workplace that can cause injury and ill health to persons in the workplace;
g) actual or proposed changes in organization, operations, processes, activities, and the OH&S management system (see 8.1.3);
h) changes in knowledge of, and information about, hazards.

6.1.2.2 Assessment of OH&S risks and other risks to the OH&S management system

The organization shall establish, implement and maintain a process(es) to:
a) assess OH&S risks from the identified hazards, while taking into account the effectiveness of existing controls;
b) determine and assess the other risks related to the establishment, implementation, operation and maintenance of the OH&S management system.
The organization’s methodology(ies) and criteria for the assessment of OH&S risks shall be defined with respect to their scope, nature, and timing to ensure they are proactive rather than reactive and are used in a systematic way. Documented information shall be maintained and retained on the methodology(ies) and criteria.

6.1.2.3 Assessment of OH&S opportunities and other opportunities for the OH&S management system

The organization shall establish, implement and maintain a process(es) to assess:
a) OH&S opportunities to enhance OH&S performance, while taking into account planned changes to the organization, its policies, its processes, or its activities and:
1) opportunities to adapt work, work organization, and work environment to workers;
2) opportunities to eliminate hazards and reduce OH&S risks;
b) other opportunities for improving the OH&S management system