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# How is a risk assessment done? (cont.) ## How are the hazards identified? (cont.) Hazard mapping is a method of hazard identification that is performed by employees themselves. All of the employees from a work area, including supervisors and managers, get together and mark hazard locations on the building's floor plan. Later, the group discusses how to control these hazards and which ones should be dealt with first. This approach makes use of employees' knowledge and experience, empowers employees, and encourages involvement and cooperation. More information is also available in the OSH Answers on Hazard Identification. ## How do you know if the hazard will cause harm (poses a risk)? Each hazard should be studied to determine its level of risk. Understanding how likely it is that a hazard will cause harm and how severe that harm could be. To research the hazard, you can look at: - Product information and the manufacturer documentation. - Past experience (knowledge from workers, etc.). - Legislated requirements and applicable standards. - Industry codes of practice and good practices. - Health and safety material about the hazard, such as safety data sheets (SDSs), research studies, or other manufacturer information. - Information from reputable organizations. - Results of testing (atmospheric or air sampling of the workplace, biological swabs, etc.). - The expertise of an occupational health and safety professional or other technical experts. - Information about previous injuries, illnesses, near misses, incident reports, etc. - Observation of the process or task. Remember to include factors that contribute to the level of risk, such as: - The work environment (layout, condition, weather, etc.). - The procedures for performing a task. - The range of foreseeable conditions. - The way the source may cause harm (e.g., inhalation, ingestion, etc.). - How often and how much a person will be exposed. - The interaction, capability, skill, and ex…

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# How is a risk assessment done? In general, to do an assessment, you should: 1. Assemble a risk assessment team. Assessments should be done by a competent person or team of individuals who have a good working knowledge of the situation being studied. Include the supervisors and workers who work with the process under review on the team or as sources of information, as these individuals are the most familiar with the operation. The health and safety committee or representative should also be consulted. 2. Select the job or process to assess. Refer to the above section, "When should a risk assessment be done", to help prioritize your assessments. Ideally, risk assessments should be done for all jobs. Jobs or tasks with higher injury and illness rates, worker concerns, and other factors should be considered first. 3. Break down the job or process into tasks. Divide the job or process into tasks or basic steps to better understand the hazards. 4. Identify the hazards of each task. After the basic steps or tasks have been recorded, identify the hazards of each step or task. List the hazards based on observations and inspections, previous causes of incidents and injuries, feedback from workers and supervisors directly involved in the task, and other considerations. 5. Assess the risk of each hazard. For each hazard, determine the likelihood of harm, such as an injury or illness occurring, and its severity. Use a risk assessment method appropriate for your workplace (see further below for details on risk assessment methods). Consider normal operational situations as well as non-standard events such as maintenance, shutdowns, power outages, emergencies, extreme weather, etc. Review all available health and safety information about the hazard, such as Safety Data Sheet (SDS), manufacturer's literature, information from reputable organizations, results of testing, workplace inspection reports, records of workplace incidents (accidents), including information about the …

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# How is a risk assessment done? (cont.) ## Field-level Risk Assessment (cont.) The purpose of a field-level risk assessment is to identify, assess, and manage hazards and risks in real-time or on-site as work progresses, with a focus on ensuring the safety of workers. Field- level risk assessments are often completed in addition to formal risk assessments that have already been done before that specific day. Field-level risk assessments can also supplement safety meetings with teams as you work together through a common task, highlighting hazards and control measures that are currently in place. It can also be a good opportunity to brainstorm additional controls or better ways to complete the task. These risk assessments can help continue the safety conversation and avoid complacency. Similar to other risk assessments, each step of the task should be written down and hazards identified. The risk of each hazard can then be assessed based on the likelihood and severity of harm. Then, the team will determine if the current controls in place are adequate, or if further measures are needed prior to work beginning. An example of a table that may assist with a field- level risk assessment is shown in Table 4. Risk matrices similar to those in Table 2 or Table 3 can also be used to assess the risk for each hazard. Table 4: Field-level risk assessment Job or work activity being assessed: <table><tr><th>Step/task description</th><th>Hazards</th><th>Risk</th><th>Priority</th><th>Current controls</th><th>Recommended controls</th></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr></table> ## What are methods of hazard control? Once you have established the priorities, the organization can decide on ways to control each specific hazard. Hazard control methods are often grouped into the following categories: - Elimination. - Substitution. - Engineering controls. - Administrative controls. …

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# How is a risk assessment done? (cont.) ## How do you know if the hazard will cause harm (poses a risk)? (cont.) - The number of people that could be impacted. - Working alone or in a remote area. ## How are risks ranked or prioritized? Ranking or prioritizing hazards is one way to help determine which hazards are the most serious and, thus, which to control first. Priority is usually established by taking into account the probability of employee exposure to the hazard and the potential severity of an incident, injury or illness associated with the hazard. By assigning a priority to the hazards based on the risks, you are creating a ranking or an action list. Risk assessments with clearly defined parameters for probability and severity will make it easier to determine which hazards should be addressed first. ## What risk assessment methods should be used? Numerous methods exist to analyze risk, and the method used will depend on many factors, including the experience level of the risk assessment team, the scope, the data available, and the level of detail required to adequately understand the risks. There is no one simple or single way to determine the level of risk. Nor will a single method apply in all situations. The organization has to determine which method will work best for each situation. Ranking hazards requires knowledge of workplace activities, the urgency of situations, and, most importantly, objective judgment. For simple or less complex situations, an assessment can literally be a discussion or brainstorming session based on knowledge and experience. In some cases, checklists or a risk matrix can be helpful. For more complex situations, a team of knowledgeable personnel who are familiar with the work and risk assessment methodologies is usually necessary. Depending on the circumstances or situation being assessed, the legislation may specify how the risk assessment needs to be done, including what personnel need to be involved. Depending on t…

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# Hazard and Risk - Risk Assessment (cont.) ## What is the goal of risk assessment? (cont.) a. What can happen, and under what circumstances? b. What are the possible consequences? C. How likely are the possible consequences to occur? d. How severe are the possible consequences? e. Has an adequate level of risk reduction been achieved, or is further action required? ## When should a risk assessment be done? There may be many reasons a risk assessment is needed, including: - Before new processes or activities are introduced. - Before changes are introduced to existing processes or activities, including when products, machinery, tools, or equipment change. - When new information concerning harm becomes available. - When hazards are identified. - Before working in a new environment. - When new information on hazard controls or good practices becomes available. - Before performing maintenance or commissioning of equipment - Before completing routine or non-routine tasks. - When the legislation requires a risk assessment to be done. ## How do you plan for a risk assessment? In general, determine: - What the scope of your risk assessment will be (e.g., be specific about what you are assessing such as the lifetime of the product, the physical area where the work activity takes place, or the types of hazards). - The resources needed (e.g., training a team of individuals to carry out the assessment, the types of information sources, etc.). - What type of risk analysis measures will be used (e.g., how exact the scale or parameters need to be in order to provide the most relevant evaluation)? - Who are the stakeholders involved (e.g., manager, supervisors, workers, worker representatives, suppliers, etc.). - What relevant laws, regulations, codes, or standards may apply in your jurisdiction, as well as organizational policies and procedures? Hazard and Risk - Risk Assessment CCOHS

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# How is a risk assessment done? (cont.) - The methods and procedures used in the processing, use, handling, or storage of the substance, etc. - The actual and the potential exposure of workers (e.g., how many workers may be exposed, what that exposure is or will be, and how often they will be exposed). - The measures and procedures necessary to control such exposure by means of engineering controls, work practices, and hygiene practices and facilities. - The duration and frequency of the task (how long and how often a task is done). - The location where the task is done. - The machinery, tools, materials, etc., that are used in the operation and how they are used (e.g., the physical state of a chemical or lifting heavy loads for a distance). - Any possible interactions with other activities in the area and if the task could affect others (e.g., cleaners, visitors, etc.). - The lifecycle of the product, process, or service (e.g., design, construction, uses, decommissioning). - The education and training the workers have received. - How a person would react in a particular situation (e.g., what would be the most common reaction by a person if the machine failed or malfunctioned). It is important to remember that the assessment must take into account not only the current state of the workplace but any potential situations as well. By determining the level of risk associated with the hazard, the employer and the health and safety committee (where appropriate) can decide whether a control program is required and to what level. See a sample risk assessment form. ## How are the hazards identified? Overall, the goal is to find and record possible hazards that may be present in your workplace. It may help to work as a team and include both people familiar with the work area, as well as people who are not - this way you have both the experienced and fresh eye to conduct inspections and evaluations. In either case, the person or team should be competent to carr…

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# How is a risk assessment done? (cont.) ## How are the hazards identified? (cont.) - Include people who work off-site either at home, on other job sites, drivers, teleworkers, with clients, etc. - Look at the way the work is organized or done (include the experience of people doing the work, systems being used, etc.). - Look at foreseeable unusual conditions (for example: possible impact on hazard control procedures that may be unavailable in an emergency situation, power outage, climate event, etc.). - Determine whether a product, machine or equipment can be intentionally or unintentionally changed (e.g., a safety guard that could be removed). - Review all of the phases of the process or lifecycle. - Examine risks to visitors or the public. - Consider the knowledge, experience, training, and education of the individuals performing the work. - Consider the groups of people that may have a different level of risk such as young or inexperienced workers, persons with disabilities, or new or expectant mothers. It may help to create a chart or table such as the following: Table 1: Hazards, risks, and controls Job: Delivery Driver Task: Delivering Products to customers <table><tr><th>Hazards</th><th>Potential Outcomes</th><th>Risk</th><th>Priority</th><th>Hazard Controls</th></tr><tr><td>Working alone</td><td>May not be able to call for help if needed</td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Manually lifting and carrying boxes</td><td>Musculoskeletal injuries (e.g., back or shoulder injury) due to manual material handling</td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Working long hours</td><td>Fatigue, stress, short rest time between shifts, motor vehicle collision.</td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Driving in congested traffic</td><td>Motor vehicle collision, stress</td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr></table> Please see further below for guidance on determining the risk and priority of each hazard, including the risk matrices in Table 2 and Ta…

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# Why is it important to review and monitor the assessments? It is important to know if your risk assessment was complete and accurate. It is also essential to be sure that any changes in the workplace have not introduced new hazards or changed hazards that were once ranked as lower priorities to higher priorities. It is good practice to review your assessment on a regular basis to make sure your control methods are effective. ## What documentation should be done for a risk assessment? It is very important to keep records of your assessment and any control actions taken. You may be required to store assessments for a specific number of years. Check for local requirements in your jurisdiction. The level of documentation or record keeping will depend on: - Level of risk involved. - Legislated requirements. - Requirements of any management systems that may be in place. Your records should show that you: - Conducted a good hazard review. - Determined the risks of those hazards. - Implemented control measures suitable for the risk. - Reviewed and monitored all hazards in the workplace. Fact sheet last revised: 2025-03-12 ## Disclaimer Although every effort is made to ensure the accuracy, currency and completeness of the information, CCOHS does not guarantee, warrant, represent or undertake that the information provided is correct, accurate or current. CCOHS is not liable for any loss, claim, or demand arising directly or indirectly from any use or reliance upon the information. Hazard and Risk - Risk Assessment CCOHS