Identifying the Hazards
Many workplaces contain one or more hazardous materials, equipment, machinery, tools, and work environments. Employees, themselves, may be hazardous if they are not "sober and focused" on the work.
What is the hazard here? Cave-in.
- Many workplaces contain hazardous materials including raw materials (wood, metal, plastic) to be manufactured into finished goods, and toxic chemicals (solvents, acids, bases, detergents) used at various stages of the process.
- Stationary machinery and equipment may not be properly guarded, or in poor working order because of poor preventive/corrective maintenance.
- Tools may not be properly maintained. Saws may not be sharpened or safety harnesses may be old and in need of replacement.
- The work environment might include extreme noise, flammable or combustible atmospheres, or poor workstation design. Floors may be slippery and aisles cluttered. Guardrails, ladders, or floor hole covers may be missing or damaged.
- Employees might be fatigued, distracted in some way, or otherwise lack the mental or physical capacity to accomplish work safely.
Some or all of these potential safety hazards may exist in a workplace. The list could go on and on. It's vitally important that workers and supervisors are knowledgeable to ensure that workplace hazards are identified and eliminated as soon as possible. Remember, it takes both a hazard and exposure to the hazard before an accident will occur.
Hazard + Exposure = Possible Accident
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
1-2. Before an accident can occur, which two conditions must be met?
You forgot to answer the question!