Health And Safety

Identifying and Reporting Dangerous Situations

The Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992 and its regulations require employers to identify dangerous situations (described in the Act as hazards) that may cause an accident or injury.

Hazards, once identified, must be...

·         eliminated wherever possible;

·         Minimised when the situation cannot be eliminated; and isolated if the situation cannot be controlled.

Following are examples of dangerous situations, their classifications and the action cannot be controlled.

Eliminate a Hazard

The workplace is untidy following the completion of a job. The floor has accumulated rubbish and oil spills, which are a hazard.

Action Taken

The hazard is identified and can be eliminated by clearing the floor and disposing of the rubbish. Oil spills must be removed according to an appropriate workplace procedure to ensure damage to the environment does not occur.

Minimise a Hazard

The workplace is excessively noisy due to a range of manufacturing processes involving grinding and hammering.

Action Taken

The hazard is identified and minimised by having each employee wear ear protection during the period when the background noise exceeds 40 dB.

Isolate a Hazard

An electric motor has to be removed from a pump for servicing. The equipment is connected to the mains supply and the motor may start automatically at any time.

Action Taken

The hazard is identified and must be isolated by disconnecting the motor from the mains supply before work commences. A safety tag must be attached to the pump to identify that the equipment is being repaired and must not be operated.