A hazard is a situation that poses a level of threat to life, health, property, or environment. Most hazards are dormant or potential, with only a theoretical risk of harm; however, once a hazard becomes "active", it can create an emergency situation. A hazardous situation that has come to pass is called an incident. Hazard and possibility interact together to create risk.
Identification of hazardous risks is the first step in performing a risk assessment.
Types of Hazards
Hazards are generally labelled as one of five types:
Physical hazards are conditions or situations that can cause the body physical harm or intense stress. Physical hazards can be either natural or human made elements.
Chemical hazards are substances that can cause harm or damage to the body, property or the environment. Chemical hazards can be both natural and human made origin.
Biological hazards are biological agents that can cause harm to the human body. Biological agents can be viruses, parasites, bacteria, food, fungi, and foreign toxins.
Psychological hazards are created during work related stress or a stressful environment.
Radiation hazards are those that harm or damage the human body by directly affecting cells.
Classifying Hazards
By its nature, a hazard involves something that could potentially be harmful to a person's life, health, property, or the environment. One key concept in identifying a hazard is the presence of stored energy that, when released, can cause damage. Stored energy can occur in many forms: chemical, mechanical, thermal, radioactive, electrical, etc. Another class of hazard does not involve release of stored energy; rather it involves the presence of hazardous situations. Examples include confined or limited egress spaces, oxygen-depleted atmospheres, awkward positions, repetitive motions, low-hanging or protruding objects, etc.
There are several methods of classifying hazards, but most systems use some variation on the factors of "likelihood" of the hazard turning into an incident and the "seriousness" of the incident if it were to occur.
An important component of "seriousness if incident occurred" is "serious to whom?" Different populations may be affected differently by accidents. For example, an explosion has widely differing effects on different populations, depending on the distance from the explosion. These possible effects range from death from overpressure or shrapnel, to inhalation of noxious gases (for people downwind), to exposure to a loud noise.
Hazard pictograms
Hazard pictograms form part of the international Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS). Two sets of pictograms are included within the GHS:
One for the labelling of containers and for workplace hazard warnings
A second one for use during the transport of dangerous goods
Either one or the other is chosen, depending on the target audience, but the two are not used together. The two sets of pictograms use the same symbols for the same hazards, although certain symbols are not required for transport pictograms. Transport pictograms come in wider variety of colors and may contain additional information such as a subcategory number.
Hazard pictograms are one of the key elements for the labelling of containers under the GHS, along with:
A signal word – either Danger or Warning – where necessary
Hazard statements, indicating the nature and degree of the risks posed by the product
Precautionary statements, indicating how the product should be handled to minimize risks to the user (as well as to other people and the general environment)
The identity of the supplier (who might be a manufacturer or importer)
Acute hazards to the aquatic environment, category 1
Chronic hazards to the aquatic environment, categories 1, 2
Environmental toxicity, categories 1, 2
No pictogram required
Usage
Acute hazards to the aquatic environment, categories 2, 3
Chronic hazards to the aquatic environment, categories 3, 4
Transport pictograms
Class 1: Explosives
Divisions 1.1–1.3
Usage
Explosives
Division 1.1: Substances and articles which have a mass explosion hazard
Division 1.2: Substances and articles which have a projection hazard but not a mass explosion hazard
Division 1.3: Substances and articles which have a fire hazard and either a minor blast hazard or a minor projection hazard or both, but not a mass explosion hazard
Note
The asterisks are replaced by the class number and compatibility code
Division 1.4
Usage
Explosives
Substances and articles which are classified as explosives but which present no significant hazard
Note
The asterisk is replaced by the compatibility code
Division 1.5
Usage
Explosives
Very insensitive substances which have a mass explosion hazard
Note
The asterisk is replaced by the compatibility code
Division 1.6
Usage
Explosives
No hazard statement
Note
The asterisk is replaced by the compatibility code
Class 2: Gases
Division 2.1Alternative sign
Usage
Flammable gases
Gases which at 20°C and a standard pressure of 101.3 kPa:
Are ignitable when in a mixture of 13 per cent or less by volume with air; or
Have a flammable range with air of at least 12 percentage points regardless of the lower flammable limit.
Division 2.2Alternative sign
Usage
Non-flammable non-toxic gases
Gases which:
Are asphyxiant – gases which dilute or replace the oxygen normally in the atmosphere; or
Are oxidizing – gases which may, generally by providing oxygen, cause or contribute to the combustion of other material more than air does; or
Do not come under the other divisions;
Division 2.3
Usage
Toxic gases
Gases which:
are known to be so toxic or corrosive to humans as to pose a hazard to health; or
are presumed to be toxic or corrosive to humans because they have an LC50 value equal to or less than 5000 ml/m3 (ppm).
Classes 3 and 4: Flammable liquids and solids
Class 3Alternative sign
Usage Flammable liquids
Liquids which have a flash point of less than 60°C and
which are capable of sustaining combustion.
Division 4.1
Usage
Flammable solids, self-reactive substances and solid desensitized explosives
Solids which, under conditions encountered in transport, are readily combustible or may cause or contribute to fire through friction; self-reactive substances which are liable to undergo a strongly exothermic reaction; solid desensitized explosives which may explode if not diluted sufficiently.
Division 4.2
Usage
Substances liable to spontaneous combustion
Substances which are liable to spontaneous heating under normal conditions encountered in transport, or to heating up in contact with air, and being then liable to catch fire
Division 4.3Alternative sign
Usage
Substances which in contact with water emit flammable gases
Substances which, by interaction with water, are liable to become spontaneously flammable or to give off flammable gases in dangerous quantities
Other GHS transport classes
Division 5.1
Usage
Oxidizing substances
Substances which, while in themselves not necessarily combustible, may, generally by yielding oxygen, cause, or contribute to, the combustion of other material
Division 5.2Alternative sign
Usage
Organic peroxides
Organic substances which contain the bivalent –O–O– structure and may be considered derivatives of hydrogen peroxide, where one or both of the hydrogen atoms have been replaced by organic radicals
Division 6.1
Usage
Toxic substances
Substances with an LD50 value ≤ 300 mg/kg (oral) or ≤ 1000 mg/kg (dermal) or an LC50 value ≤ 4000 ml/m3 (inhalation of dusts or mists)
Class 8
Usage
Corrosive substances
Substances which:
cause full thickness destruction of intact skin tissue on exposure time of less than 4 hours; or
exhibit a corrosion rate of more than 6.25 mm per year on either steel or aluminum surfaces at 55°C
Non-GHS transport pictograms
The following pictograms are included in the UN Model Regulations but have not been incorporated into the GHS because of the nature of the hazards.
In the Resource field, enter the name of the resource
In the Description field, enter a description of the resource
In the Type field, select the relevant type from the dropdown list
Click Save
The text entered in the Resource and Description fields on the Resources form, should be the same as the text entered in the Location ID and Description fields on the Location form.
Go to: HSE > Setup > Work location > Location
On the Action pane, click New
Under the General Fast tab, in the Location ID field, enter the HSE location
In the Description field, enter a description of the resource
In the Location (Work centre) field, select the relevant resource from the dropdown list (the same name as the one entered in the Location ID field)
If this is a “child” location, select the relevant “parent” location from the list in the Parent field
In the Reporting field, select whether the hazard is Asbestos or Confined space (The default is None)
Select the relevant Site and Department from the drop-down lists
Select the relevant hazard Classification from the drop-down list
If the hazardous substance is a pollutant, select the Yes option under Pollutant (This will be dealt with in detail in test script OHS009 – Industrial hygiene)
Select the relevant Pollutant type from the dropdown list
Select the Risk type relevant to the hazard
Select the Type of hazard from the dropdown list
Enter additional Notes in the box provided
¶ Step 2.2: The Homogenous exposure group Fast tab
Under the Exposure limits Field group, in the Button strip, click on the Add button
Select the relevant exposure limit Sub-type from the dropdown list
Enter the Short-term exposure limit value
Enter the Long-term exposure limit value
Select the relevant Unit of measure from the dropdown list
Under the Identification Field group, select the relevant Pollutant group from the dropdown list
Under the Is pollutant Field group, indicate whether this pollutant is:
Significant
Additive
Individually measured (Going to be measured directly against a worker)
Select the relevant Substance ID from the dropdown list
In the 500m field, enter the estimated concentration of the pollutant in water, soil and/or air within a 500m radius of the epicentre of the incident
In the 2000m field, enter the estimated concentration of the pollutant in water, soil and/or air within a 2000m radius of the epicentre of the incident
In the 1000m field, enter the estimated concentration of the pollutant in water, soil and/or air within a 1000m radius of the epicentre of the incident
In the Concentration unit (e.g. ppm) field, provide the unit of concentration used in previous columns
If this hazard is used in a Risk register, it will be displayed here
¶ Step 2.10: The Globally Harmonized System (GHS) Fast tab
Compliance with GHS and CLP regulation starts with Hazard and Hazardous substances (hazmat) identification. Then classification accordingly plus legal labelling. Inside HSE 365 users can do these. Of particular importance is the many substances that are linked to a specific Hazard. It goes further; users are allowed to specify P-codes; H-codes and EU-codes.
GHS describes the nature and severity of a chemical hazard by hazard class and hazard category:
GHS hazard class represents the nature of a chemical hazard, i.e., flammable liquids, carcinogen.
GHS hazard category is the division of criteria within each hazard class. For example, hazard class flammable liquids can be divided into 4 categories among which flammable liquids category 1 represents the most severe hazard.
There are 29 GHS hazard classes in total in UN GHS Rev. 6. They are used to describe 3 main types of chemical hazards: physical hazards, health hazards and environmental hazards.
GHS precautionary statement means a standard phrase that describes measures to minimize or prevent adverse effects of a chemical. Each precautionary statement is designated a code, starting with the letter P and followed by 3 digits.
P1xx: general precautionary statement
P2xx: prevention precautionary statement
P3xx: response precautionary statement
P4xx: storage precautionary statement
P5xx: disposal precautionary statement
GHS hazard statement means a standard phrase assigned to a hazard class and category to describe the nature and severity of a chemical hazard. Each hazard statement is designated a code, starting with the letter H and followed by 3 digits.
H2xx: Physical hazards
H3xx: Health hazards
H4xx: Environmental hazards
EU-code describes the guiding principles and practices to promote an European culture of compliance with the rules and laws (Compliance) within the industrial, associative system of private and public sectors.
The European Union has implemented the GHS through the CLP Regulation. Some R-phrases which do not have simple equivalents under the GHS have been retained under the CLP Regulation: the numbering mirrors the number of the previous R-phrase.
¶ Step 3: Link to Hazardous substance (and item master file)
Go to: HSE > Safety and security > Setup for safety and security > Substances
Can also be seen by viewing details via the right click option
¶ Step 4: Setup Training requirements for resources (type = HR)
Go to: HSE > Setup > Work location > Resources
On the Action pane, in the New group, click the Resource button
In the Resource field, enter an ID for the resource
Enter a brief Description for the resource
To specify the training requirements for the selected resource:
Select the resource Type from the dropdown list
Expand the Training requirements Fast tab
Select the relevant Certificate type from the dropdown list
Select the relevant Skill type from the dropdown list
Select the relevant Level of education from the dropdown list
Select the relevant Course type from the dropdown list
Under the General Fast tab, in the Areas covered by plan field group:
Select the relevant Object type from the dropdown list
Select the Location group from the dropdown list
¶ Step 5.2: The Areas covered by this plan Fast tab
Expand the Areas covered by this plan Fast tab
The lines can be added in two ways:
Manually, by clicking on the Add button on the Button strip and the adding the line details for the Objects, Locations and Jobs index tabs
OR
Automatically populated, by clicking on the Auto populate button on the Button strip
There are three index tabs that need to be opened and completed in order to provide all the necessary information for the safety plan: Object, Locations and Jobs.
Hazards can be used as specific risks inside the Operational Risk register. In the Risk register, Hazards can be classified and quantified using the Risk values and calculations Fast Tab.
Go to: GRC > Risk > Registers > All risk registers
Select the relevant risk register
On the Action pane, click on the Edit button to open the register
In the Lines view, expand the General Fast tab
Under the General index tab, complete the following fields:
Date
Site
Label
Department
Go to: HSE > Safety and security > Hazards > Hazards
If the hazard was referenced in the Risks register, it will show in the grid of the Used in Risk register Fast tab.
Hazard identifications and its uses becomes the flipside of the HSE coin. It now serves as a control measure for an Area of compliance and one of the many functions and standards.
Go to: GRC > Compliance > Area of compliance
Open the Lines view
Expand the Compliance functions Fast tab to add or remove functions and standards
Hazards are also identified in a practical way when workers do certain work. For example working at heights or working at night. Thus, when maintenance workers need a permit to work/clearance certificate, Hazards must be identified. These will eventually end up on a physical permit to work but via the HSE safety plan object.
As an end result to all above, after Hazards have been identified and recorded, and controls have been put in place to mitigate the possible realization of a hazard – users can view the listed hazards per category. This report will also flag if less than two controls are in place.
¶ Step 9: View the Hazard by classification report
Go to: HSE > Safety and security > Reports and Inquiries > Hazards by classification report
¶ Step 10: View the Default controls per department inquiry
Go to: HSE > Safety and security > Reports and Inquiries > Default controls per department
