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Meaning of Hazard, Risk and Risk Assessment

Hazard

‘something or anything with the potential to cause harm’.

this can include
• articles, such as screwdriver, hammer.
• substances, such as chemical agents used in the workplace including cleaning agents, paint,
thinner, cement etc.
• plant or machines, for example the work equipment such as x-ray machine, mobile cranes,
grinding machine, jack hammers.
• methods of work, the step by step procedure for carrying out the task, standard operating
procedures, examples procedures for electrical maintenance for a machinery.
• the working environment, example, hot temperature in a foundry, cold temperature in the
catering unit storage area, noise from the machine shop, ventilation system, lighting in the
workplace.
• and other aspects of work organisation including access controls at entry points, breaks,
shifts, working with vulnerable groups.

Hazards are broadly classified into

For instance, A person who is working with a grinding machine during fabrication work, had an
eye injury from the ejected rotating wheels due to absence of fixed guard, then the grinding
machine is the hazards not the absence of guard. The injury is caused due to absence of guards
which is failure in preventing accidents, if the guards were fixed, still the hazard is present from
the rotating wheels, it would have been controlled adequately from ejection of broken wheels.

ENSIGN| Unit IG1 – Element 3 – Managing Risks – Understanding People and Processes 21