Hazard Audit

I have been asked to conduct a category specific hazard audit of my workplace (training centre) , specifying a range of appropriate categories, identifying hazards for each category and current workplace precautions and risk control systems. An initial assessment of risk to employees and others using an appropriate measure.

Can any one provide examples of best way of doing this please?????????????

[Philip D Parks, MD, MPH, MOccH, FACOEM]

Hello Chris,

In what country to you work? I am curious because each country has governmental standards that apply to the workplace regarding health and safety regulations and required compliance.

Is this the first time that the employer has conducted a "category specific hazard audit"?

There are many categories or types of hazards:
1. Physical Hazards - manual materials handling, noise, vibration, pressure, temperature extremes, oxygen deficiency, and non-ionizing radiation (including ultraviolet, visible, infrared, radio frequency, microwave, laser, static magnetic fields).

2. Chemical Hazards - Exist when there is or there is risk of direct skin contact, inhalation, accidental ingestion, or absorption of hazardous chemicals in the form of liquids, solids, vapors, gases, dusts, fumes, or mists. The toxicity of chemicals depends on the properties of the chemical, the dose (amount of exposure), and the duration of exposure.

3. Biologic Hazards - Include bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoan or other living organisms that have the ability to cause harm to the environment or cause disease or illness in humans.

The outline of your report might look something like this:
1. Executive Summary
2. Introduction
3. Analysis Approach and Methods
4. Findings
         - You may consider organizing by type of hazard or by functional area at the site.
5. Discussion
6. Recommendations
         - Use the same organizational strategy for the discussion and recommendations sections as you did for the Findings section.
7. Conclusion

In the meantime, here are some potentially helpful links:

* http://www.iapa.ca/main/Resources/resources_downloads.aspx#hazard
* http://www.cpwr.com/pdfs/Perini/ExecSumFinal.pdf
* http://www.sspc.org/pdfs/QP/QP2IntAudit.pdf
* http://www.prtctransit.org/docs/commission/May2009/Item_12C3_PRTC_Info--Fleet_Maintenance_Report_2-09.pdf

I hope that this helpful.

~•~ Dr. Parks

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice. The information presented in this posting is for patients’ education only. As always, I encourage you to see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case