HAZARD IDENTIFICATION AND RISK ASSESSMENT

APPLICABLE DEFINITIONS

Danger. Means anything which may cause injury or damage to persons or property.

Hazard. Means a source of, or exposure to danger.

Incident. Means an incident occurring at work, or arising out of, or in connection with the
activities of persons at work or connection with plant machinery.

Risk. Means the probability that injury or damage will occur.

Safe. Means free from any hazard.

 RULES WHEN CONDUCTING A HIRA

During the identification of hazards, the following rules apply with the assessment of risks & risk
control:

• Human health & safety should always be the point of view at all times.

• Criteria used to assess significance of risks should not include business requirements
such as finance or the image of organisation.

STEPS IN CONDUCTING A HIRA

1. List all tasks or activities.

2. Identify the hazards.

3. Calculate the risk.

4. Determine if the risk has a high, medium or low significant.

5. Define significant criteria used in formula.

6. Significant statement.

7. Key/Legend
 FLOOR PLAN OF WORKSHOP

Off load area

Storage area

Tea Room Storage area Welding area

Office

Extractor fan
 EXERCISE: HAZARD AND RISK TABLE (HIRA)
Example 1
Area: …………………………… OHS Representative: ………………………. Date: ……………

What are the Area Who might be harmed What control measures are in What further actions is necessary?
Hazards? and how? place?
 EXERCISE: HAZARD AND RISK TABLE (HIRA)
Example 2
Area: …………………………… OHS Representative: ………………………. Date: ……………
Ser Activity, Process, Service, etc. ID Hazard Risk Calculation
Nr Determine Significance

Formula: ………………..
EXERCISE: HAZARD AND RISK TABLE (HIRA)
Example 2 cont.
Define Significance Criteria used in Formula

Significant statement:

Key/Legend:
 STEPS IN CONDUCTING A HIRA (Cont.)
LIST ALL TASKS OR ACTIVITIES

• Movement of steel.
• Welding.
• Hammering and cutting.

IDENTIFY THE HAZARDS

• Exposure to fumes.
• NIHL.
• Maintenance of equipment.

CALCULATE THE RISK

Applicable for Example 2

SIGNIFICANCE CRITERIA USED

• Probability of exceeding.

Very unlikely. Has not happened yet. (1)

Unusual but possible. Once a year. (3)
Continuous exceeding. More than once a year. (5)
 CALCULATE THE RISK (Cont.)

SIGNIFICANCE CRITERIA USED

• Duration of exposure to hazard.

Short term. Cont. between 0 & less than 2 h of 8 h shift. (1)

Medium term. Cont. between 2 & less than 4 h of 8 h shift. (3)
Long term. Between 4-8 h per 8 h shift. (5)

• Severity of injury/ ill health.

Minor injury/ illness. Absent for 1 h or less in a 8 h shift. (1)

Major injury/ illness. Absent for more than 2 h in a 8 h shift. (3)
Serious/ Fatal injury/ illness. Absent for more than 1 day. (5)

• Mitigation. (Control Measures)

Low. No measures in place to eliminate or mitigate

hazards – housekeeping. (1)
Medium. Some measures in place. Safety, OH&S
policies hazard identification & PPE. (3)
High. All possible control measures in place. (5)
 CALCULATE THE RISK (Cont.)

• Consequence.

Minor injury. (1)

Serious injury. (3)
Fatal injury/ death. (5)

There are various formula’s that can be used for example:

 S X P X E = Raw Risk
 P+C–M

For this exercise the formula P + C – M will be used

 DETERMINE THE RISK

Movement of steel. P+C–M

3 + 3 – 3 = 3 Moderate

Welding. P + C – M
5 + 3 – 3 = 5 High

Hammering and cutting. P + C – M

3 + 3 – 3 = 3 MODERATE