hazard assessments

​hazards are those that are foreseeable and reasonably likely to occur.  The purpose of the hazard assessment is to identify and evaluate those conditions that could lead to workers getting hurt or becoming ill.  Assessing hazards involves taking a look at what could harm workers at a workplace.  The typical question to ask is “What could go wrong?”  Doing a hazard assessment allows CPO to decide whether appropriate precautions have already been taken to prevent accidents and injuries, or whether more needs to be done.  A formal hazard assessment (JSA) considers the hazards specific to the task being done.
Formal hazard assessments will be conducted (or reviewed):

• Annually
• When changes are made to the operation or work-related process
• When a new work process is introduced
• When a temporary or mobile work process is introduced
• When site-specific hazard assessments identify a new hazard
• When an inspection identifies a new hazard
• When an investigation identifies a new hazard

It is the intent of CPO to provide a healthy and safe work environment for all job tasks that are to be performed.  Proper hazard identification and controls will provide workers with proper direction in the safe performance of their tasks. All CPO workers required to perform hazardous tasks, will receive appropriate instruction and training.  Written copies of safe work procedures will be accessible and available to all workers.
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It is CPO’s policy and practice to:

• assess the hazards of the workplace, job tasks, environment where the job tasks are being completed,

• eliminate or minimize the dangers of these hazards,
• ensure all workers understand the nature of the workplace hazards and use safe work practices, and

• ensure workers receive training in the proper handling, use, and disposal of hazardous materials.

Work being performed outside regular controlled environments must have a field level hazard assessment completed by the workers prior to the commencement of work. Any unresolved hazards will be discussed and resolved prior to the commencement of work at the pre-job meeting.
Whenever a new job task or piece of equipment is implemented or acquired, a written formal hazard assessment (JSA) will be completed, which will assist in the development of adequate controls.  Written procedures and proper training will precede the performing of the new task or use of the new equipment. CPO must be able to demonstrate that all existing and potential hazards have been identified.  The hazard assessment need only include those hazards that apply, or are reasonably likely to apply, to CPO. The hazard assessment report must be dated to confirm when it was completed and how current it is. A manager and field worker will assist in the formal hazard assessment and development of the controls.
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Written procedures will be prepared or revised when any of the following occur:

• A new activity or equipment have been introduced
• New Regulations are implemented that affect a specific written procedure
• Inspection reports indicate changes
• Incident investigations indicate changes
• New specifications are implemented.
• First aid records indicate a trend and need
• Worker suggestions are received and valid
• Safety committee requests changes
• Hazard assessments indicate the need for change

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hazard control

As part of its commitment to ensuring a safe work environment for our workers, CPO will take all necessary steps to eliminate or reduce the hazards present on any given work site.
Before beginning any task or operation, workers are to assess the possible danger to themselves and to other persons on the job site and are to act appropriately.

It is CPO’s policy and practice to:

• assess the hazards of the workplace, job tasks, environment where the job tasks are being completed,

• eliminate or minimize the dangers of these hazards,
• ensure all workers understand the nature of the workplace hazards and use safe work practices, and

• ensure workers receive training in the proper handling, use, and disposal of hazardous materials.

It is the responsibility of the Manager / Supervisor to ensure all hazard assessments are completed for their area. Workers are to assist the Manager / Supervisor in completing this task. Workers are to also know and understand the hazards of all of their job tasks. Each hazard assessment is to be reviewed on an annual basis. Each worker must review his or her own hazard assessment. Any updates or changes to the hazard assessments are to be directed to the Manager / Supervisor attention. Any work being performed outside regular controlled environments must have a field level hazard assessment completed by the workers prior to the commencement of work. Any unresolved hazards will be discussed and resolved prior to the commencement of work at the pre-job meeting.

Field level hazard assessments are to be completed for each jobsite and updated:

• Before new processes or activities are introduced.
• Before changes are introduced to existing processes or activities, including when products, machinery, tools, equipment change or new information concerning harm becomes available.
• When new hazards are identified.
  
  

Controlling Hazards
We use controls as a method to prevent or control worker exposure to safety or health hazards.  Whenever possible, hazards should be eliminated.  If elimination is not possible, other control methods should be used to protect the workers.  The following are ways of controlling hazards that will help reduce work injuries:

• Enclosing hazards.
• Isolating workers from hazards.
• Codes of practice.
• Safe work procedures.
• Performing maintenance on vehicles and equipment.
• Marking hazards with signs, flags, lights, alarms, barricades, fences, labels, placards or other materials.
• Providing personal protective and other safety equipment.
• Informing workers of the hazards (Tailgate and Safety Meetings).
• Safety program participation.

Whenever possible, hazards should be eliminated or controlled at their source – as close to where the problem is created as possible – using engineering solutions.  If this is not possible, controls should be placed between the source and the workers.  The closer a control is to the source of the hazard the better. If this is not possible, hazards must be controlled at the level of the worker.  Administrative controls and personal protective equipment (PPE) control hazards at the level of the worker.  These control methods reduce the likelihood and severity of worker injury but do not eliminate the hazard.  Whatever control method is used, it should attack the source of the hazard, not its outward signs. 
CPO should be able to describe which hazards identified by the hazard assessment have been eliminated or controlled.  For remaining hazards, particularly those being controlled by the use of personal protective equipment, CPO should be able to explain why those hazards could not practicably be eliminated.  For compliance purposes, CPO should be able to justify the appropriateness of the hazard controls used.  All reasonably practicable steps should have been taken to first eliminate the hazard.  Particular attention will be placed on those hazards that CPO has chosen to control through the use of administrative procedures and, in particular, PPE.

Engineering controls provide the highest degree of worker protection because they eliminate or control the hazard at its source.  Engineering controls are the preferred method of eliminating or controlling hazards.  Engineering controls include the following:
Elimination – getting rid of a hazardous job, tool, process, machine or substance may be the best way of protecting workers.
Substitution – if elimination is not practical, try substituting or replacing one substance or process with another.
Redesign – hazards can sometimes be “engineered out” through redesign of the work site, workstations, work processes and jobs.
Isolation – hazards can sometimes be isolated through containment or enclosure.
Automation – some processes can be automated or mechanized.

Administrative Controls
If engineering controls cannot eliminate or control a hazard, administrative controls can be used to control the hazard to a level that is as low as reasonably achievable.  Administrative controls are less effective than engineering controls since they do not eliminate the hazards.
Personal Protective Equipment
As a last resort, workers may need to use personal protective equipment (PPE) to reduce the potentially harmful effects of exposure to a known hazard.  PPE is much less effective than engineering controls since it does not eliminate the hazards.  PPE must be used properly and consistently to be effective. Awkward or bulky PPE may prevent a worker from working safely.  In some cases, PPE can increase the likelihood of hazards such as heat stress and tripping and falling.

​Emergency Controls
Only those workers competent in correcting the hazardous condition may be exposed to the hazard.  The number of these exposed workers must be kept to a minimum – as few as is necessary to correct the condition.  CPO will make every possible effort to control the hazard while this is being done.

Worker Involvement
CPO will involve workers in hazard assessment, elimination, and control activities.  Workers are often very knowledgeable about the tasks or processes being assessed, and can be directly affected by the hazard elimination and control activities.  Workers often have more insight into a task or process than persons who only observe the completed work.  To demonstrate compliance with this requirement, CPO should be able to indicate which workers were meaningfully involved and to what extent.  Workers should be able to confirm their involvement in the assessment, elimination, and control of activities.