Workplace hazardsWorkplace Learning and Assessment Activity

________________________________

Workplace Learning and Assessment Activity

Print this activity then complete it and keep it as evidence in

your folder, or portfolio.

Hazard checklist
(a) Do a workplace safety audit in your area by using the checklist and
identifying any potential hazards.
(b) When you have finished, present your checklist to your team at a
regular meeting.
(c) Decide which three aspects of your job have the most potential to be a
hazard. Discuss your findings with your supervisor or coach.

Commonwealth of Australia 2007

Workplace HazardsLearning and assessment Activity

________________________________

Workplace Hazard Checklist

This Checklist is a guide to the identification and reporting of workplace
hazards and contains some of the questions you should ask to help
identify hazards arising from equipment. It is adapted from the
Equipment Hazard Checklist published by WorkSafe Victoria.
The following are examples of hazards identified and recorded in
checklists:
someones fingers may get caught between the two rollers of the paper
processing machine
the pipe containing high pressure fluids in the stamping machine may
burst
people may trip over the electric power lead for the bench grinder
When completing the checklist, consider the hazards that may affect:
equipment operators or
anyone working, or near the equipment
others who could be affected, such as visitors, contractors, etc.

Commonwealth of Australia 2007

Workplace HazardsLearning and Assessment Activity

________________________________

If yes is the answer to a question in the checklist, a description of the

hazard/situation should be written in the space provided.
A. ENTANGLEMENT
Can anyones hair, clothing, gloves, necktie,
jewellery, cleaning brushes, rags or other
materials become entangled with moving
parts of the equipment, or materials in
motion?

B. CRUSHING
Can all or part of anyone be crushed due to:
a. material falling off or from the equipment?

b. uncontrolled or unexpected movement of

the equipment or its load?

c. lack of capacity for the equipment to be

slowed, stopped or immobilised?

d. the equipment tipping or rolling over?

e. parts of the equipment collapsing?

f. coming in contact with moving parts of the

equipment during testing, inspection,
operation, maintenance, cleaning or repair?

g. being thrown off or under the equipment?

Commonwealth of Australia 2007

Workplace HazardsLearning and assessment Activity

________________________________

h. being trapped between the equipment

and materials or fixed structures?

i. other factors not mentioned?

C. CUTTING, STABBING AND

PUNCTURING
Can anyone be cut, stabbed or punctured
due to:
a. coming in contact with sharp or flying
objects?
b. coming in contact with moving parts of
the plant during testing, inspection,
operation, maintenance, cleaning or
repair of the plant?
c. the equipment, parts of the equipment
or work pieces disintegrating?
d. work pieces being ejected?
e. mobility of the equipment?
f.

D.

uncontrolled or unexpected movement

of the equipment or material handled by
the equipment?

SHEARING

Can anyones body parts be sheared

a. between two parts of the equipment,
b. or between a part of the equipment and a
work piece or structure?

Commonwealth of Australia 2007

Workplace HazardsLearning and Assessment Activity

________________________________

E. FRICTION
Can anyone be burnt due to contact with
moving parts or surfaces of the equipment,
or material handled by the equipment?

F. STRIKING
Can anyone be struck by moving objects
due to:
a. uncontrolled or unexpected movement of
the equipment or material handled by the
equipment?
b. the equipment, parts of the equipment or
work pieces disintegrating?

c. work pieces being ejected?

d. mobility of the equipment?

e. other factors not mentioned?

G. HIGH-PRESSURE FLUID
Can anyone come into contact with fluids
under high pressure, due to equipment
failure or misuse of the equipment?

Commonwealth of Australia 2007

Workplace HazardsLearning and assessment Activity

________________________________

H. ELECTRICAL
Can anyone be injured by electrical
shock or burnt due to:
a. the equipment contacting live electrical
conductors?

b. the equipment working in close proximity

to electrical conductors?

c. overload of electrical circuits?

d. damaged or poorly maintained electrical

leads and cables?

e. damaged electrical switches?

f. water near electrical equipment?

g. lack of isolation procedures?

h. other factors not mentioned?

Commonwealth of Australia 2007

Workplace HazardsLearning and Assessment Activity

________________________________

I. EXPLOSION
Can anyone be injured by explosion of
gases, vapours, liquids, dusts or other
substances, triggered by the operation of
the equipment or by material handled by
the equipment?

J. SLIPPING, TRIPPING AND FALLING

Can anyone using the equipment, or in the
vicinity of the equipment, slip, trip or fall
due to:
a. uneven or slippery work surfaces?

b. poor housekeeping, eg. waste in the

vicinity of the equipment, spillage not
cleaned up?
c. obstacles being placed near the
equipment?

d. other factors not mentioned?

e. lack of proper stairs or ladders?

f. lack of guardrails or other suitable edge

protection?

g. unprotected holes, penetrations or

gaps?

h. poor floor or walking surfaces, such as

the lack of a slip-resistant surface?

Commonwealth of Australia 2007

Workplace HazardsLearning and assessment Activity

________________________________

i. steep walking surfaces?

j. collapse of the supporting structure?

K. ERGONOMIC /MANUAL HANDLING

Can anyone be injured due to:
a. poorly-designed seating?

b. repetitive body movement?

c. constrained body posture or the need for

excessive effort?

d. design deficiency causing mental or

psychological stress?

e. inadequate or poorly placed lighting?

f. lack of consideration given to human

error or human behaviour?

g. mismatch of the equipment with human

traits and natural limitations?

h. other factors not mentioned?

Commonwealth of Australia 2007

Workplace HazardsLearning and Assessment Activity

________________________________

L. SUFFOCATION
Can anyone be suffocated due to lack of
oxygen, or atmospheric contamination?

M. HIGH TEMPERATURE OR FIRE

Can anyone come into contact with
objects at high temperatures?
Can anyone be injured by fire?

N. TEMPERATURE (THERMAL
COMFORT)
Can anyone suffer ill-health due to
exposure to high or low temperatures?

O. OTHER HAZARDS
Can anyone be injured or suffer ill-health
from exposure to:
a. chemicals?

b. toxic gases or vapours?

c. fumes?

d. dust?

Commonwealth of Australia 2007

Workplace HazardsLearning and assessment Activity

________________________________

e. noise? Does the noise annoy you? Do

you need to raise your voice when talking?

f. vibration?

g. radiation?

h. other factors not mentioned?

Commonwealth of Australia 2007

10

Workplace HazardsLearning and Assessment Activity

________________________________

Hierarchy of Control
(d) Find out which level of the Hierarchy of Control was used on a hazard
identified in your work area. The hazard may have occurred in the past,
so you may need to talk to your team leader, safety representative or OHS
professional, or coach. Write the details below.
What was the hazard?

How was it controlled?

Which level of the Hierarchy of Control is that?

Commonwealth of Australia 2007

11

Workplace HazardsLearning and assessment Activity

________________________________

Problem Solving
(e) Find out an Occupational Health and Safety example of effective
problem solving. How and when has the Plan, Do Check, Act cycle been
used in your workplace? You may need to talk to your team leader, coach
or safety specialist. Describe the example below.

Commonwealth of Australia 2007

12