At Best in the West safety we often find that employers still need to examine their workplaces and perform a hazard assessment or workplace examination to identify the health and safety issues at their business or worksites. 

 One of the “root causes” of workplace injuries, illnesses, and incidents is the failure to identify or recognize hazards that are present, or that could have been anticipated. A critical element of any effective safety and health program is a proactive, ongoing process to identify and assess such hazards.  Hazards can be introduced over time as workstations and processes change, equipment or tools become worn, maintenance is neglected, or housekeeping practices decline. Setting aside time to regularly inspect the workplace for chemical, biological, physical, and ergonomic hazards can help identify safety shortcomings so that safe work procedures and workplace changes can be implemented before an incident occurs.

 To identify and assess hazards, employers and workers should routinely examine past injury and illness records, review worker’s job sites and job tasks to determine what hazards are present or likely to be present.  Conduct initial and periodic workplace inspections of the workplace to identify new or recurring hazards. Investigate close calls and near misses.  In addition, determining the severity and likelihood of incidents that could result for each hazard identified, will help a business prioritize corrective action measures.

 Every company must review their historical workplace problems, hazards and worker’s reports and determine if those hazards are present or if they have been or can be mitigated.  Examining your existing written programs (at least annually) and your safe work procedures, performing Job Hazard Analyses and PPE Assessments while including both management and workers in the review process and safe work practices. 

 AT Best in the West Safety we work with construction companies, manufacturing facilities and healthcare businesses to examine their workplaces to identify hazards and work to improve their safety health programs to safeguard workers from existing hazards.  Knowledge is power and we help businesses identify unsafe conditions and unsafe work practices to prevent injuries and save workers lives.  Our safety and health professionals are ready to assist your business in completing your annual review of safety programs and perform site safety audits and hazard assessments to identify safety problems before workers are injured. 

 Ready to have us conduct a site audit or provide OSHA 10 or 30 Hour training with hazard assessments, site walk hazards identification and PPE assessments? Schedule training now. 

 Not sure how to perform a workplace hazard investigation or a job hazard analysis?  Select the contact us button and we will be happy to answer your questions to help provide you your first assessment solution for your workplace and to meet your OSHA compliance requirements today.