Immediate visual detection

One way of identifying hazards is for the manager or supervisor to gather information from people in the workplace. This enables something to be done about the hazard before it causes an injury.

Communication can be either informal, through employer-employee discussion, or formal. Informal communication might simply involve asking employees if they have ever had any problems with equipment.

Formal methods include:

• consulting with OHS representatives or the OHS Committee
• having health and safety as a standing item on meeting agendas
• having regular toolbox meetings.

The information gathered from these activities should be given to the OHS representative or OHS committee to keep a record of the hazards. The OHS committee records its activities through agendas and meeting minutes. If there is no OHS representative or committee in your workplace, then managers or supervisors should take action or an inspector can be invited to the workplace to resolve the issue.

Hazard identification need not rely on the manager or supervisor consulting staff. It should be an integral part of workplace culture, involving everyone in the workplace. Employees must be encouraged to report any hazardous situations that may occur, as they occur. Hazard identification is everyone's responsibility.