"Foreseeable" Hazards
Another important question to ask about the nature of a hazard relates to whether it was "foreseeable." A hazard for which OSHA issues a citation must be reasonably foreseeable. All the factors which could cause a hazard need not be present in the same place at the same time in order to prove foreseeability of the hazard; e.g., an explosion need not be imminent.
Remember, a foreseeable hazard is one that may be reasonably anticipated. Employees and employers should always evaluate hazards based on what could be anticipated, not just what the current environment is at that moment.
If combustible gas and oxygen are present in sufficient quantities in a confined area to cause an explosion if ignited, but no ignition source is present or could be present, no OSHA violation would exist.
If an ignition source is available at the workplace and the employer has not taken sufficient safety precautions to preclude its use in the confined area, then a foreseeable hazard may exist.
It is necessary to establish the reasonable foreseeability of the general workplace hazard rather than the particular hazard, which led to the accident.
Titanium dust, produced during the manufacturing process, caught fire from an equipment spark. The fire spread to an adjacent room, which contained an open can of gasoline (petrol). An employee assigned to work in both rooms was burned when the fire spread from the first to the second room. The employee received second-degree burns to the face and upperback.
What is the foreseeable hazard?
If gasoline in the second room is a rare occurrence, then it would not be considered a foreseeable hazard. It is only necessary to prove the fire hazard, the presence of titanium dust, was reasonably foreseeable.
All these activities to identify hazards in the workplace are important to the overall effectiveness of your safety management system. Be sure these activities are integrated into the line positions...employees, supervisors and managers. Safety is a line responsibility!
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
2-4. OSHA considers a "foreseeable" hazard as _____.
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