Hazard Identification

Hazard Identification

      As Manuele (2010) argued we perceive hazards at varying levels of risk to our safety; what one person views as high risk, another may not. The ethical conduct and profitability of organizations relies on occupational hazards identified and managed within competent risk assessment processes. These occupational hazards can be physical, chemical or physiological that leads to workplace accidents and impact on firms’ productivity and profitability (Ramsay et al., 2006; Lees, 1996; Hollmann et al., 2001). But not all hazards are known and risk management is also about dealing with the unknown.

Hazards can be determined by using assessment methodology which is include following documents and information:

i.              Any hazardous occurrence investigation reports;

ii.            First aid records and minor injury records;

iii.          Workplace health protection programs;

iv.          Any results of work place inspections;

v.            Any employee or students complaints and comments;

vi.          Any reports, studies and test concerning the health and safety of employees;

vii.        Any reports made under the Regulation  of Occupational Safety and Health Act, 1994;

viii.      The record of hazardous substances; and

ix.          Any other relevant information.

For fire to occur there must be a source of ignition, fuel and oxygen. If all three (3) elements are present and in close proximity, then the fire risk could increase as a result. In the average premises fire hazards will fall into the first two (2) categories, while the oxygen will be present in the air in the surrounding space. Occasionally oxygen can be found in chemical form (oxidising agents) or as a gas in cylinders or piped systems.

Potential sources of ignition are :

i.              Naked flames: smokers materials, matches, pilot lights, gas/oil heaters, gas welding, cookers;

ii.            Hot surfaces: heaters, engines, boilers, machinery, lighting (for example, halogen lamps), electrical equipment etc.; and 

iii.          Hot work: welding, grinding, flame cutting. 

Other than that, hazard can be worse when the building is not really prepared for fire. Examples like :

i.              No training among the staff about fire drill and fire fighting equipment;

ii.            Firefighting device is not well equip;

iii.          Design of the building are not save for evacuation (Fig. 3); or

iv.          No proper Standard Of Procedure (SOP) when fire occurred.

There are considered several types of situation during fire such as fall from stair during evacuation of building; time evacuation; firefighting equipment working; and knowledge of occupant using firefighting equipment.