OHS

Hazards Identification

SPOT THE HAZARD

OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY

HAZARDS

source or situation with a potential

for harm in terms of human injury
or ill health, damage to property,
damage to the workplace
environment, or a combination of
these.

Fatal Rates by Industry

Industry

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

Agriculture

0.03

0.06

0.07

0.17

0.18

Mining

0.05

0.27

0.62

0.41

0.26

Manufacturing

0.04

0.03

0.12

0.11

0.14

Construction

0.13

0.06

0.19

0.36

Transport

0.02

0.86

0.17

0.06

Philippine OSH Situationer

Common types of accidents were:
Falls
- 20 cases
Struck or hit by falling
objects/materials
- 7 cases
Electrocution
- 7 cases
Collapse of structure/
excavation
- 6 cases
Suffocation
- 2 cases

The most commonly-injured

workers were
male, married, 26-30 years old with
1-5 years of service and assigned in
the first shift.
Source: 1997 Work Accidents/Injuries
Summary, BWC-DOLE

OHS Hazards
source or a situation with a potential for harm
in terms of human injury or ill health, damage
to property, damage to the workplace
environment, or a combination of these.
OHS Hazards exist in
INPUTS

PROCESS

OUTPUTS

OHS Hazards

Unsafe condition
Unhealthful conditions
Unsafe act
Unhealthful act

Unsafe/Unhealthful Practices
operating without
permission
failure to warn
failure to secure
operating beyond
speed/ capacity limit
removing safety
devices
using defective tools/
equipment

failure to use PPE as

instructed
improper prioritizing
for task
improper loading
method
servicing equipment
in operation
influenced by alcohol/
drugs

Unsafe/Unhealthful Practices
Inadequate guard
Inadequate PPE
Defective tool/
equipment
Congestion
Inadequate Working
System
Flammable and
explosive
environment

Poor housekeeping
Excessive noise
Extreme heat or cold
Improper lighting
Improper ventilation
Hazardous
environmental
conditions (gases,
dust, smoke, fumes)

OHS Hazards

Chemical Hazards
Physical Hazards
Biological Hazards
Ergonomic Hazards

Chemical Hazards

carcinogenic
explosive
flammable liquids mutagenic
gases and air
corrosive
particulates
oxidizing
materials
toxic

Physical Hazards
noise

height

vibration

electricity

radiation

physical characteristics
(sharpness, roughness,
slipperiness)

temperature
pressure
velocity

moving parts of
machinery

Biological Hazards

biological waste (blood, fluids)

drugs (antibiotic, marijuana)
genetically-engineered materials
viruses, bacteria
fungi, molds
parasites, insects
poisonous or deceased plants, animals

Ergonomic Hazards

poor work design

repetitive motion
prolonged sitting
poor layout
poor posture, excessive bending
overload
poorly designed tools

OHSAS 18001
Requirement:
AN OVERVIEW

OHS Hazards
Identification
List of OHS
Hazards

Identification of
Applicable
Regulatory
Requirements

Determination of
Unacceptable
OHS
Hazards/Risks

List of Regulations

Defining OHS
Policy

List of Unacceptable
OHS Hazards/Risks

Establishing OHS
Management Plan

OHS Management Plan

OHS Policy

Measurable
Objectives

Establishing
Objectives,
Management
Programs and
Operational
Control
Procedures

Technological options
Financial requirement
Operational requirement
Business requirement
Views of interested
parties

Identifying OHS Hazards

involves:
Conducting work environment
measurement
Identifying OHS Risks
Identifying OHS regulations
Determining unacceptable risks

INITIAL SITE REVIEW OVERVIEW

Activities (routine and
non-routine)

Regulatory
requirements
Work Environment
(facilities)
OHS Hazards
Management Practices

OHS Hazards

Review
site assessment
interview
inspection
measurement
review of
documents and
records

Activities
Previous accidents
and nonconformities

Inputs

Work Environment
Measurement

Regulatory and other

requirements

Recommendation to
address gaps between
existing condition and
Standards (eg. OHSAS
18001, BWC Yellow Book)

Outputs

Work Environment Measurement:

Work Environment include:
Airborne contaminants
Noise

Ventilation
- Air supply
- Cleanliness
- Air movement

Temperature
Humidity
Pressure

Illumination
- Normal lighting
- Artificial lighting
- Intensity

Sources of Information
on OHS Hazards
Past experiences
Occupational health
hazard surveys
Accident/Incident
investigation reports
First aid and medical records

Sources of Information
on OHS Hazards
Work Method
Statements
Inspections
MSDS
Safety Consultants

References:

OSH Yellow Book

OHSAS 18001:2007 Standard

www.bwc.dole.gov.ph

Words to Ponder
To LOOK is one thing.
To SEE what you look at is another.
To UNDERSTAND what you see is
another.
To LEARN from what you understand
is something else.
But to ACT on what you learn is all
that really matters.
- Winston Churchill