Hazard identification: methods for determining

In any production, accidents are possible . In order to avoid emergencies, organizations need to be assigned a qualitative hazard identification. It is this system that will be discussed in this article.

Hazards in production

There are many different classifications of hazards. However, at present, many companies use a single, most generalized register of production risks and hazardous situations.

Every enterprise where there is a risk of a threat to life or health of a person should be guided by a special document that fixes the main types of organizational risks and methods of hazard identification. The first thing that should be enshrined in this document is all the necessary information about the organization. The name of departments or divisions, the names of professions, certain types of labor duties, etc. Further, in accordance with the fixed functions performed by workers, the main types of risks and dangerous situations are also identified. By what criteria can they be classified? This will be discussed later.

The main types of hazards

So, what is the common system for determining the main production risks? Identification of hazards, risks and emergencies is carried out according to a special scheme. There are four main groups of production hazards. These include:

• Physical risks. Various machines, mechanisms and other equipment can cause significant harm to the human body. Vibration, noise, strong brightness and many other negative factors have a very negative effect on the human body.
• Chemical hazards. May not be present in all industries; They do, however, extremely harmful to the human body. This includes various kinds of toxic, carcinogenic and other irritants.
• Biological hazards. Bacteria, viruses, animals and other living organisms can adversely affect human health.
• Psychophysiological dangers. Here the main object is the employee himself. There are many different factors that can have an unhealthy effect on a person's mental or physical condition.

About the basic rules of hazard identification

So, what is the identification of danger? What is this procedure, and how is it conducted? There are several special methods and rules for assessing production risks. It is worth starting with the rules.

First, the presented procedure should be non-reactive, but a warning one. Often in factories everything happens exactly the opposite. It is because of the wrong organization of the risk identification system that people suffer.

Secondly, the identification of the danger, as a clearly structured and competently built system, should be documented and properly designed. A qualitative ranking should be provided, thanks to which the system in question will work effectively.

Organizational procedures

It is worthwhile, finally, to talk about the procedures themselves, which relate to the concept of "hazard identification". What are their characteristics, how are they organized?

First, the procedures should take into account all unscheduled or planned activities. It is also worth noting that for the qualitative implementation of activities to identify the danger must also take into account the behavioral characteristics of people. It is worth taking into account the character traits of employees, their mental and physical data, etc.

Secondly, to the procedures for identifying the danger, all persons involved in production, in one way or another, should be involved. Similarly, as a source of danger, any items of equipment under the organization's control should be considered.

There are several other rules for which procedures such as hazard identification and risk management should fall under. Read more about this in any safety instructions.

On the process of eliminating hazards

How should the organization eliminate hazards in a timely manner? Of course, everything depends on the level and magnitude of a possible emergency. However, there are several basic measures that are used most often, and, in fact, are considered the main and most common. What can be distinguished here?

• Complete elimination of the source of danger. This includes, for example, the removal of some inadequate elements of equipment that can harm the health or life of the employee.
• Work to replace. A certain mechanism or piece of equipment is eliminated, and a new one is installed in its place.
• Implementation of repair work.

And what about the process of identifying the danger? The definition of dangerous situations occurs due to risk assessment.

Risk assessment

Risk assessment is the main concept in the field of hazard identification. This is a whole system, which includes many different elements and data. What exactly can be distinguished here?

For a competent risk assessment, it is necessary to make a qualitative statistical calculation of all accidents for a certain period of time. In addition, experts should be involved in the work. They should evaluate the equipment and determine how reliable and suitable for operation. Another important factor is the certification of jobs. This includes the comparison of all labor functions of employees with possible risks.

Thus, identifying the hazard is a very long and difficult process. There are several methods that simplify this process. The most important of them will be discussed later.

Classical method of hazard identification

It is worth describing the most common method in any production to identify dangerous situations. A special formula is calculated: R = P x S, where R is the risk, P is the hazard probability, and S is the severity of the dangerous consequences. In order to determine the probability of occurrence of an emergency, it is necessary to use digital coefficients - from 1 to 5.

As a rule, all necessary calculations are carried out by specially authorized persons or management. However, the worker can also make a competent identification of the hazard. The process of qualitative risk assessment will help, in case of what, to challenge incorrect calculations of the authorities and demand replacement of equipment or fair compensation.

On the results of the evaluation

As a result of all the work done, it is necessary to verify the obtained data with a special table in which the risks are classified into low, medium and high.

• If R <6, then the risk is considered insignificant, that is, low. In this case, it is necessary to take all necessary measures to eliminate them.
• At R = 6-12, the risks are considered average (or moderate). If they are not removed in a timely manner, the property of the organization, as well as life and health of the person, can be severely damaged.
• R> 12 - the indicator of a high level of danger. All that is necessary in this case must be done, prescribes labor protection.

The identification of hazards, thus - the process is very complex and extensive. It is worth noting and the fact that this is also a highly individual procedure. For each enterprise or production, this process is built up in a specialized way and separately.