Many different regulations require that a hazard assessment be done. Some regulations call it a "hazard analysis," some call it a hazard assessment. This written plan contains detailed hazard information that may be a part of several different regulatory compliance programs.

Administrative Duties

Principia Workplace Safety Director, or designee, is responsible for implementing and maintaining our facility's hazard assessment plan. The plan is available for review and is kept at our corporate offices.

Our company performs regular hazard assessments. It is the best way to review the hazards in the workplace, and protect employees from those hazards. Hazards can change with every process change. Therefore, we perform a hazard assessment of our facility at the beginning of every shift.

Our system for conducting a hazard assessment involves a walkthrough of the facility by the Safety Director, or designee, members of a joint employee-management safety committee, or on shift employees to identify and predict hazards associated within our operations. We utilize the OSHA General Industry Digest to assist in identifying hazards such that they can be controlled or mitigated.

When safety deficiencies are discovered, the following is the process for getting the deficiencies mitigated: utilize engineering controls to mitigate or control the hazard, develop work practices and training on how to avoid or minimize exposure to the hazard, or assign personal protective equipment to protect the employee from the hazard.

General Conditions at the Worksite

The OSHA General Industry Digest, which covers the most frequently cited and most hazardous conditions in the workplace, has many requirements that we strive to comply with. Some of the more apparent ones, which have a direct effect on safety, are as follows:

• The floors are clean, dry, and clear of obstacles.
• There are no materials on the floor that could trip a worker.
• The lighting is adequate for the work being performed.
• Live electrical hazards at the job site are guarded.
• Tools, including hand tools, machines and equipment that were found to be in need of repair are removed from service and repaired or replaced with approved equipment/tools.
• There is not excessive noise in the work area, hindering worker communication.
• Fire protection equipment is readily accessible and identifiable.
• Employees have been trained on hazard recognition, evaluation, and control.
• All employees operating vehicles and equipment are properly trained and authorized.
• All employees are wearing proper personal protective equipment for the jobs they are performing.

In addition to these requirements, we have also developed a Hazard Assessment form to assist our employees in recognizing hazards. Once hazards are recognized, we always strive to eliminate them and/or control them by utilizing engineering controls, work practices, personal protective equipment, and administrative controls. This form is attached as part of this written program.

Employee Exposures to Chemicals

Our hazard assessment also looks at the workers' exposures to the chemicals they handle or may be exposed to. Physical symptoms may indicate overexposure, so they are carefully recorded. When necessary, or as indicated by potential symptoms of exposure to employees, industrial hygiene monitoring may be conducted to determine the adequacy of implemented engineering controls, work practices, and PPE.

Conclusion

It is important in the safety picture to perform a complete hazard assessment of the facility/job site. We have done that at our facility. Then we take the next step. We utilize the information that results from the assessment to correct problems or potential problems to ensure a safe environment for our employees and the surrounding community.

Job Hazard Assessment Form

This form is to be utilized as a tool to identify and predict hazards of the workplace, provide guidance on what applicable programs of the Principia Safety and Health manual may apply to various operations, and document the preventative measures, engineering controls, work practices, and personal protective equipment needed to protect our personnel.