In this module
Objectives covered: LO 2.3.1. By the end you will be able to:
- Use workplace inspections, observation and worker interviews to find hazards.
- Use records such as incident reports, SDS and maintenance logs as hazard sources.
- Explain why workers must be part of hazard identification.
3.1 Many ways to find hazards
No single method finds every hazard. Good teams use several methods together.
| Method | How it works | Strength |
|---|---|---|
| Workplace inspection | Walk the area with a checklist on a regular schedule | Finds unsafe conditions: missing guards, blocked exits, leaks |
| Task observation | Watch a worker do the real job from start to finish | Finds unsafe acts and hidden steps the checklist misses |
| Talk to workers | Ask: what is the worst thing that could happen? What nearly went wrong? | Workers know the shortcuts and the problems |
| Incident and near-miss records | Review past events for patterns | Shows where harm already happens |
| Safety Data Sheets (SDS) | Read Sections 2, 7, 8 and 10 for each chemical | Lists chemical hazards, storage and exposure limits |
| Manufacturer manuals | Check warnings, maintenance and lockout points | Finds equipment-specific hazards |
| Exposure monitoring | Measure noise, dust, gas, heat, lighting | Turns "it feels loud" into numbers you can act on |
| Health records | Look at sick leave, first-aid and medical check data | Reveals slow health hazards |
3.2 How to do a good inspection
- Use a checklist made for that area, but also look beyond it.
- Look up, down and behind: roof sheets, cable trays, under machines, behind stacks.
- Talk to the people working there.
- Write each finding with its location, a photo if possible, a risk rating and a responsible person.
- Fix the urgent items the same day. Track the rest until closed.
An inspection that finds 30 hazards but closes none has made nobody safer. Track every finding to closure.
3.3 Do not forget non-routine work
Many serious incidents happen during work that is not done every day: maintenance, cleaning, breakdowns, start-up and shutdown, changes, and contractor jobs. Make sure your hazard identification covers these as well as normal production.
- ISO 45001 clause 5.4 requires consultation and participation of workers in hazard identification.
- OSHA Recommended Practices for Safety and Health Programs (2016): "Hazard Identification and Assessment" core element.
- OSHA 1910.1200: employers must keep an SDS for each hazardous chemical and make it available to workers.
- Bangladesh Labour Rules 2015: the safety committee must carry out regular inspections and report findings.
A power plant in Narayanganj ran monthly inspections that kept showing "no major findings". When the safety officer started asking night-shift operators about near misses, they described steam leaks being hand-checked and a fuel-oil pump area with no lighting. These hazards were real but invisible to day-shift inspectors. Talking to workers on every shift found more than the checklist did.
Learning Check
Answer these two questions to check your understanding. You can try again as many times as you like.