​Hazard identification

Why it matters
Seeing hazards early is the fastest way to prevent accidents. When workers can spot what others miss, safety becomes everyone’s job—not just the safety team.

What to look for

• Physical: Moving parts, energy sources, sharp edges, slips/trips/falls.
• Chemical: Vapors, dust, liquids, skin/respiratory exposure.
• Biological: Mold, bacteria, bloodborne risks, animal/insect exposure.
• Ergonomic: Awkward postures, repetition, force, reach/grip issues.
• Psychosocial: Fatigue, time pressure, poor communication, lone work.
• Interfaces:
  • Work–task: mismatched tools/methods.
  • Work–human: skill, training, fitness for duty.
  • Work–environment: lighting, weather, noise, congestion.

Field routines that work

• 60-second scan: Look-Up, Look-Down, Look-Through before starting high-risk tasks.
• Pattern library: Know recurring hazards by task (hot work, lifting, driving, maintenance).
• Good-catch prompt: “What’s changed since yesterday?” Capture near misses quickly.
• Worker voice: Ask the person doing the job: “What could bite us here?”

Quick exercise

• Action: Upload or snap a photo of a job area.
• Task: Tag 5 hazards across categories.
• Reflection: What’s the highest-risk interface? What’s the easiest fix?