Steps of risk management - Step 1: Identify the hazard

A hazard is anything with the potential to cause damage to people, the environment, property, plant or equipment. Hazards can include things such as noise, computer workstations, electricity, radiation and chemicals, the hazard table provide a more detailed list of possible hazards that may exist at UTS.

There are a number of ways that hazards may be identified:

• At UTS the work environment risk and safety checklists are a tool to assist.

  Hazards are usually linked to activities, so a good starting point is to identify activities, tasks or projects undertaken in your workplace and ask yourself: "What types of hazards are present?". Thinking about the work environment where tasks are carried out can help identify hazards.

  It is often useful to list the steps involved in a task or project. Breaking the activity into steps can make hazard identification simpler.

  By law, management must identify hazards in consultation with employees as part of the risk management process.

• Some hazards will also be identified through the reporting of accidents or incidents.