Safety Management (Hazard, Harm & Risk) Copy

What is a hazard?

Essentially anything that can cause harm like electricity, chemicals and ladders among other

What is harm?

Harm is defined as death or damage to a person’s physical or mental health as a result of injury to their person. Safety laws have been designed to be applicable only when the harm to property or the environment involves a risk of harm to people.

What is a risk?

Risk is the chance that harm or injury from a particular hazard may occur.

Both the likelihood that harm can occur and its potential severity can be derived from a particular risk. From an effective risk assessment, therefore, it is possible to identify the severity of potential harm if exposed to a particular hazard as well as the frequency of its expected prevalence.

Identify the hazard

Selected examples that affect health and or safety include:

•            Biological hazards

•            Chemical hazards

•            Fire hazards

•            Radiation hazards

•            Waste hazards

•            Electrical hazards

•            Noise and vibration related hazards

•            Constantly and potentially injury resulting in repetitive movements