What safety metrics should we measure in our construction company to assign safety/risk scores per employee

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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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# Health and Safety Programs - Leading and Lagging Indicators (cont.) ## What are the benefits and limitations of lagging indicators? (cont.) - They do not reveal whether an organization will be effective at preventing incidents. - Only report on what has already happened - they 'lag' behind. - There is a gap in time between the event and when the outcomes are measured. It takes time to show when a desired safety outcome has failed, or when a health and safety objective has not been achieved. - Results in the implementation of reactive rather than proactive measures. Another important consideration when it comes to trends is that many workplaces have too few injuries to be able to distinguish real trends from random occurrences, and there is also the possibility that not all incidents or injuries are reported. ## How are leading and lagging indicators used in hazard identification and risk assessment? Using lagging and leading indicators together will help provide a better understanding of what is and is not working in your occupational health and safety program. Every organization and workplace is unique, so it is important to determine which indicators will provide you with the best information. Leading indicators can be used proactively to identify and control hazards in the workplace. By allowing for a continuous improvement process, the workplace can identify hazards before an incident. Lagging indicators can be used during risk assessments to assign probability and severity of occurrence from past events and incidents. Lagging indicators can also evaluate the effectiveness of controls by monitoring trends after workplace modifications. For example, if a leading indicator is training, and more employees and managers are trained on the importance of indoor air quality and hazards associated with poor indoor air quality, the workplace can proactively address potential hazards such as furnace maintenance or excessive condensation on windows, and de…

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# Hazard and Risk - Hazard Identification (cont.) ## What is hazard identification? (cont.) - Identify hazards and risk factors that have the potential to cause harm (hazard identification). - Analyze and evaluate the risk associated with that hazard (risk analysis, and risk evaluation). - Determine appropriate ways to eliminate the hazard or control the risk when the hazard cannot be eliminated (risk control). Overall, the goal of hazard identification is to find and record possible hazards that may be present in your workplace. It may help to work as a team and include people familiar with the work area, as well as people who are not -this way, you have both experienced and fresh eyes to conduct the inspection. ## When should hazard identification be done? Hazard identification can be done: - During design and implementation - Designing a new process or procedure - Purchasing and installing new machinery - Before tasks are done - Checking equipment or following processes - Reviewing surroundings before each shift - While tasks are being done - Be aware of changes, abnormal conditions, or sudden emissions - During inspections - Formal, informal, supervisor, health and safety committee - After incidents - Near misses or minor events - Injuries ## How are hazards identified? There are many ways a workplace can identify hazards, including: Workplace inspections Hazard and Risk - Hazard Identification CCOHS

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# Hazard and Risk - Hazard Identification (cont.) ## How are hazards identified? (cont.) - Job descriptions and demands analysis - Job safety analysis - Incident investigations - Documents and records - Hazard reporting by employees - Hazard mapping To be sure that all hazards are found: - Look at all aspects of the work and include non-routine activities such as maintenance, repair, or cleaning. - Look at the physical work environment, equipment, materials, products, etc. that are used. - Include the various steps that make up a task or activity. - Look at injury and incident records. - Talk to the workers: they know their job and its hazards best. - Include all shifts and people who work off-site, either at home, on other job sites, drivers, teleworkers, or with clients. - Look at the way the work is organized or done by different individuals (including the experience of people doing the work, systems being used, if alternate methods are 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, etc.). - Determine whether a product, machine, or equipment can be intentionally or unintentionally changed (such as a safety guard that could be removed). - Review all of the phases of the lifecycle of processes, products, and services (such as design, transportation, construction, dismantling, and disposal). - Examine risks to visitors or the public. - 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. - Consider the psychosocial aspects of the job and the hazards that could be created. ## What types of hazards are there? A common way to classify hazards is by category: Hazard and Risk - Hazard Identification CCOHS

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CCOHS CCHST Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety + Centre canadien d'hygiène et de sécurité au travail Hazard and Risk # Hazard and Risk - Hazard Identification ## On this page What is a hazard? What is hazard identification? When should hazard identification be done? How are hazards identified? What types of hazards are there? How do I know what is a hazard? Where can I find more information about hazards? What if I am new to the task or the workplace? ## What is a hazard? There are many definitions of hazard, but the most common definition when talking about workplace health and safety is "A hazard is any source of potential damage or harm to someone or something." The CSA Z1002 Standard "Occupational health and safety - Hazard identification and elimination and risk assessment and control" uses the following terms: - Harm - physical injury or damage to health. - Hazard - a potential source of harm to a worker. Basically, a hazard is the potential for harm or an adverse effect (for example, to people as health effects, to organizations as property or equipment losses, or to the environment). Please see the OSH Answers fact sheet on Hazard and Risk for more information. ## What is hazard identification? Hazard identification is part of the process used to evaluate if any particular situation, item, or thing may have the potential to cause harm. The term often used to describe the full process is risk assessment: Hazard and Risk - Hazard Identification CCOHS

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# How is a risk assessment done? (cont.) ## Semi-quantitative Methods (cont.) <table><tr><th></th><th>Negligible Severity (1)</th><th>Minor Severity (2)</th><th>Moderate Severity (3)</th><th>Major Severity (4)</th><th>Catastrophic Severity (5)</th></tr><tr><td>Rare Probability (1)</td><td>Low (1)</td><td>Low (2)</td><td>Low (3)</td><td>Moderate (4)</td><td>Moderate (5)</td></tr><tr><td>Unlikely Probability (2)</td><td>Low (2)</td><td>Moderate (4)</td><td>Moderate (6)</td><td>High (8)</td><td>High (10)</td></tr><tr><td>Possible Probability (3)</td><td>Low (3)</td><td>Moderate (6)</td><td>High (9)</td><td>High (12)</td><td>Extreme (15)</td></tr><tr><td>Likely Probability (4)</td><td>Moderate (4)</td><td>High (8)</td><td>High (12)</td><td>Extreme (16)</td><td>Extreme (20)</td></tr><tr><td>Almost Certain Probability (5)</td><td>Moderate (5)</td><td>High (10)</td><td>Extreme (15)</td><td>Extreme (20)</td><td>Extreme (25)</td></tr></table> When using this method, it is important to clearly define the parameters for assigning scores for severity and probability, so all team members understand the scoring criteria. Using Table 3, a hazard assigned as having an unlikely probability of occurring (probability score of 2) and minor severity (severity score of 2) is a moderate riskwith a risk rating score of 4. Remember! Risk = probability X severity. The qualitative and semi-quantitative risk matrices above are just a couple of examples. These matrices can be customized to further refine risk by considering more detailed criteria for probability and severity. Quantitative methods are also sometimes used, which calculate risk based on data collected over a period of time or multiple situations. Examples include failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA) and decision tree analysis (these methods are not covered in this fact sheet). ## Field-level Risk Assessment A field-level risk assessment (FLRA) is another method that is commonly used in industries and wor…

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# Hazard and Risk - Hazard Control (cont.) ## What are the main ways to control a hazard? (cont.) - Administrative Controls: controls that alter how the work is done, including timing of work, policies and other rules, and work practices such as standards and operating procedures (including training, housekeeping, equipment maintenance, and personal hygiene practices). - Personal Protective Equipment: equipment worn by individuals to reduce exposure, such as contact with chemicals or exposure to noise. These methods are also known as the "hierarchy of controls". For more information, please see the OSH Answers document Hierarchy of Controls. ## Where are controls used? Controls are usually placed: 1. At the source (where the hazard "comes from"). 2. Along the path (where the hazard "travels"). 3. At the worker. Air Path Dip Tank Source Worker Figure 2 The best strategy is to control the hazard at its source. Control at the source and control along the path are sometimes also known as engineering controls. ## Why is it important to monitor and review your hazard control program and methods? It is important to monitor both the hazard and the control method to make sure that the control is working effectively and that exposure to the hazard is reduced or eliminated. Some tools include physical inspection, testing, exposure assessment, observations, injury and illness tracking, incident investigations reports, employee feedback or input, occupational health assessment and other methods. Be sure to answer the following questions: Hazard and Risk - Hazard Control CCOHS

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# Health and Safety Programs - Leading and Lagging Indicators (cont.) ## What are the benefits and limitations of leading indicators? (cont.) - Allocating sufficient resources for the initial setup and measurement of leading indicators. - Requiring adequate support from upper management. ## What are lagging indicators? Lagging indicators are a record of what has happened. They look back and measure a company's health and safety performance by tracking incident statistics such as: - Injury frequency and severity - Lost time injuries - Incidents (including property damage, environmental spill) - Near-misses and close calls - Workers' compensation costs These metrics are used to evaluate the overall past effectiveness of your workplace health and safety program. The numbers tell you how many people got hurt and how badly. As they are looking retroactively, they are reactive in nature. Be sure to look at a number of factors. For example, when an employer sees a low rate of lost time injuries over the last 6 months, they may believe that they do not have a safety issue, when there may have been double the number of near misses over that time. This low rate of lost time injuries could mislead the employer to believe that there are no health and safety issues that may contribute to a future increase in lost workdays. ## What are the benefits and limitations of lagging indicators? Some benefits of using lagging indicators include: - Assisting in the identification of safety trends over time. This trend is a signal that improvements are needed in the workplace safety system. - Demonstrating historic trends over the years to see if there are certain months or times that may have higher injury rates so that appropriate action can be taken. Benchmarking and compiling safety statistics for comparison across many industries. - Using standard calculations for injury frequency rates that are widely accepted and understood. Some limitations of using lagging i…

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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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# Hazard and Risk - Risk Assessment (cont.) ## What is a risk assessment? (cont.) Risk - the combination of probability and severity that a person will be harmed or experience an adverse health effect if exposed to a hazard. Risk can also be applied to situations with property or equipment damage, or harmful effects on the environment. Probability - the extent to which an event is likely to occur. The probability of harm may also be referenced as the likelihood of harm. Severity - the seriousness of an incident, injury, or illness. Severity, or consequence, describes the highest level of damage possible from a hazard and is often described in terms such as catastrophic, critical, moderate, minor, or negligible. In general, risk can be expressed as: Risk = probability X severity Hazard control - control measure(s) and action(s) taken to reduce the risk of a hazard based on the risk assessment. Hazard control should also include monitoring, re- evaluation, and compliance with decisions (the term "controls" or "control measures" are also used and have the same meaning). Recommending or determining hazard controls may be incorporated into the risk assessment process, or completed separately following a risk assessment. For definitions and more information about what hazards and risks are, please see the OSH Answers document Hazard and Risk. ## Why is risk assessment important? Risk assessments are very important as they form an integral part of an occupational health and safety management plan. They help to: - Create awareness of hazards and risks. - Identify who may be at risk (e.g., workers, cleaners, visitors, contractors, the public, etc.). - Determine whether a control program is required for a particular hazard. - Determine if existing control measures are adequate or if more should be done. Prevent injuries - or illnesses, especially when done at the design or planning stage. - Prioritize hazards and control measures. - Meet legal requirements …

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# Health and Safety Programs - Leading and Lagging Indicators (cont.) ## How do leading and lagging indicators apply to a health and safety program? (cont.) Leading indicators are proactive, preventative, and predictive measures taken to identify and eliminate hazards in the workplace. Leading indicators look forward to future health and safety performance with the goal of continually improving. Workplaces can use leading indicators to determine the effectiveness of their health and safety programs and to highlight any issues that should be corrected before an incident occurs. Examples of leading indicators include: - Engagement in training programs and orientation - Percentage of managers with occupational health and safety training - Percentage of workers with health and safety training - Frequency of health and safety meetings - Frequency of ergonomic assessments - Frequency of safety audits - Workplace culture When using leading indicators, it is important to make sure the metrics are based on impact. For example, instead of measuring the number and attendance of safety meetings and training sessions - measure the impact of the safety meeting and training by determining the number of people who engaged in the meeting and how many met the key learning objectives of the training. ## What are the benefits and limitations of leading indicators? Some benefits of using leading indicators include: - Focusing on future safety performance and continuous improvement. - Assisting in proactively identifying and understanding the factors that affect the risk of injury and illness and how to prevent them. - Connecting key performance indicators to specific health and safety program goals. - Increasing accountability for goals, whether it is through compliance, improvement, or continuous learning. Some limitations of using leading indicators include: Lacking understanding and experience around how to identify, apply, and benefit from leading indicat…