Hazard Management:

Hazard management is the cornerstone of health and safety management systems the key tool for meeting employer obligations to “take all practicable steps to prevent harm or injury”. Using a systematic approach, we can identify and manage hazards so people are not harmed in the course of their work.

Swiesh Hazard Management Software tool is simply the most efficient way of reporting and managing hazards, improving safety, reducing risk and getting your people back on the job safely.

Hazard Management is ideal for all organizations looking for a proactive solution to manage risk within the workplace. Able to include a variety of hazard types and full customization, this software ensures hazards are more easily identified, reported, and controlled, and the risk level reduced.

If your business is serious about the control of hazards, then Swiesh Hazard Management is the online software solution for you. Swiesh Hazard Management is fully customizable for any category of industry. Swiesh Hazard Management is simply the most efficient way of reporting and managing hazards, improving safety, reducing risk and getting your people back on the job safely.

Hazard Management is simple to use. The system uses dynamic reporting and allows customization to fit any client or industry. You can even change the language or descriptions used to suit your business and integrate the system into existing risk matrices and hazard types. Swiesh Hazard Management software tool doesn’t just record the hazard. It ensures your team applies the correct measures to control the hazard, re-assess the hazard periodically and reduce risks in your workplace.

We start by defining what we mean by ‘hazard’. Put simply, we’re talking about anything that could cause injury or illness in any way. In particular, we are interested in “significant” hazards – those with the potential to cause serious harm or injury.

What are the legal requirements for businesses with regard to Hazard Management?

The Health & Safety in Employment Act requires employers to identify and assess all workplace hazards, apply appropriate controls, and communicate all hazards to employees, contractors and members of the public. Hazards and controls must be periodically reviewed to ensure their ongoing effectiveness, and employees must be informed and trained in procedures to minimize harm and how to use emergency equipment. In addition, employers must give employees an opportunity to be involved in development of hazard management and emergency response procedures.

How do I meet Hazard Management requirements?

 Step 1: Identification

Start by identifying all potential sources of harm or illness. To achieve this, there are

three key approaches you can take:

By area and the work activities carried out in each area (focus on activities)

By occupation and the tasks they do (focus on people and tasks)

By the total process used to convert raw materials into product for sale or to

Delivery a service (focus on process) You’ll need to determine which approach is most suited for your type of business. Keep in mind that each approach may have some limitations – in some cases, you

may find it beneficial to approach hazard identification from more than one point of view.

 Step 2: Risk Assessment

Once a hazard has been identified, you’ll need to determine the level of risk associated with it. A risk assessment takes into consideration such factors as the frequency of exposure to the hazard, the likelihood of harm, and past history of incidents involving that hazard. It also considers the severity of the most likely degree of harm – an important distinction, as many hazards “could” prove fatal, but their most likely consequence is often something less serious. To keep hazard management practical, it must be based on realistic risk assessments – how often is it likely to happen, and what is the most likely consequence?

Step 3: Controls

Now that you know it’s a hazard and what the most likely consequence is, determine what is needed to prevent that consequence. To control hazards most effectively, apply the principles of the “hierarchy of controls” to find the more appropriate solution:

1. Eliminate – Can you get rid of the hazard altogether – eg, stop using the machine or chemical by re-engineering the process so it is no longer needed.
2. Isolate – provide an enclosure or barrier to minimise worker exposure to the hazard. E.g., installation of closed pipe work to transfer hazardous substances, enclosure of a hazardous machine or chemical process, install exhaust ventilation systems.
3. Minimise – Personal protective equipment (PPE) is a common means of minimizing exposure risk, but it should only be used as the last line of defense if other controls are not feasible.

Step 4: Monitor and Review

When setting up controls, determine what you can do to check that the controls are effective. Periodic monitoring at appropriate intervals will ensure any gaps or ineffective controls can be proactively addressed to avoid harm. Monitoring may include examination of records of inspections, maintenance logs, registers, training records, workplace exposure and health monitoring records, and workplace observations, which can be checked during workplace inspections or audits.

 What does the Hazard Management system need to include?

The hazard management system is inherently linked to other management systems such as:

Corrective actions – to ensure actions are implemented and effective

Incident reporting – to ensure any new hazards are identified and addressed

Contractor management – to ensure contractors are aware of existing hazards

and that any new hazards they may introduce are adequately managed

Workplace exposure and workplace health monitoring – to measure

effectiveness of controls

Approval of new chemicals and new equipment – to ensure all new hazards

are identified and managed

As with any management system, the hazard management system should be

periodically reviewed in its entirety to assess its effectiveness in managing hazards.

 Hazard management is the cornerstone of health and safety management systems – the key tool for meeting employer obligations to “take all practicable steps to prevent harm or injury”. Using a systematic approach, we can identify and manage hazards so people are not harmed in the course of their work.

Hazard Management is simply the most efficient way of reporting and managing hazards, improving safety, reducing risk and getting your people back on the job safely. Swiesh’s Hazard Management is ideal for all organizations looking for a proactive solution to manage risk within the workplace. Able to include a variety of hazard types and full customization, this software ensures hazards are more easily identified, reported, and controlled, and the risk level reduced.

Swiesh Hazard Management is an online, fully hosted system for the management of workplace hazards that is designed to integrate with Incident management reporting software. Providing a reporting mechanism for all hazard types, the system allows anyone from within the business to report a hazard. From investigation, to control measures, to ongoing assessment and reporting on statistics, our hazard management software ensures the lifecycle of the hazard is documented and controlled to reduce risk.