Hazard Identification And Risk Assessment Essay

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7. Hazard Identification and Risk Assessments Introduction A hazard is defined as an activity or object that has the potential to cause harm if contact is made with the person, object or activity (MHS, 1996; Harmse, 2007; HSE, 2006). These hazards in a work place need to be identified and dealt with accordingly to prevent any harm to employees or any individual acquainted to a certain activity or establishment. The key roles and principles of occupational hygiene are Anticipation, Identification, Evaluation and Control (Schoeman and van den Heever, 2014; Harmse, 2008; SAMTRAC, 2012). To practise in accordance to the above principle; a hazard identification and risk assessment needs to be conducted. Anticipation is the foreseeing of the activity …show more content…

A HIRA should be specific, suitable and appropriate to the nature of the activity identified and be accountable to a certain extend (Schoeman and van den Heever, 2014; NOSA, 2010). A HIRA can be kept for record purposes as this will assist in the alteration of certain work processes, procedure or even establishing new infrastructure (MHA, 1996). A HIRA can be a basis document used to prevent any faulty activity, build more moral in an establishment as employees enjoy working in a safe environment, and encourage safe practises by employees who can yield more production time that can be beneficial to the employee and employer (Harmse, 2007; Brandsæter, 2002 ). The Purpose of HIRA The purpose of a HIRA is for legislative compliance, sustain a productive workflow, reduce excess financial implications from injuries causing loss of production time, employing correctly and the appropriate allocation of occupational individuals in accordance to their skills and educating all employees or involved parties on occupational health and safety (Schoeman and van den Heever, 2014; TUC, 2008; Brandsæter, 2002). Risk Assessment …show more content…

Thus from this definition it is deduced that a plan must be comprised of a planned, documented and verifiable method of managing hazards and associated risks (Bryan, 1999; Bakri et al., 2006). This includes the organization structure, planning activities, responsibilities, practices, procedures, processes and resources for developing, implementing, achieving, reviewing and maintaining the organization’s OSH policy (Biggs et al., 2005; Gaßner et al., 2003; Bakri et al., 2006). An OSHMP illustrates an organisation’s dedication to health and safety in the workplace by providing a clearly written statement of intent and plan of action for the prevention of accidents and occupational illness and injury (Gaßner et al.,

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