Hazard/Risk Identification and Control Procedure
Introduction
Hazard identification and the steps taken to minimize the risks associated with identified
hazards are a critical component of working safely. A hazard/risk assessment and control plan
will provide the basis for the requirements needed to work safely. These plans require
continuous evaluation to ensure risk assessments do not change and that new hazards created
by process changes are identified.
Legislation
Section 22 of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations states:
(1) Subject to subsection (2), an occupational health and safety program required by section 13
of the Act must include:
(b) the identification of existing and potential risks to the health or safety of
workers at the place of employment and the measures, including procedures
to respond to an emergency, that will be taken to reduce, eliminate or control
those risks
Responsibilities
1. Vice-President (Administration) will:
1.1
ensure that adequate resources are available to implement appropriate measures.
1.2
ensure that the program is communicated to employees.
1.3
require compliance with the procedures.
2. Associate Vice-Presidents, Deans, Directors, Department and Unit Heads will:
2.1
ensure that the program is communicated to employees.
2.2
require compliance with the procedures.
2.3
participate in hazard identification and take action to correct unsafe conditions.
3. Supervisors will:
3.1
inform employees when processes may lead to hazardous exposure.
3.2
require compliance with the procedures.
3.3
formulate and document a hazard/risk assessment for the areas under their
supervision and control.
3.4
participate in hazard identification and take action to correct unsafe conditions.
4. Employees will:
4.1
comply with the procedure.
4.2
where required, attend training sessions.
4.3
report any conditions that could lead to unsafe conditions to their supervisor.
5. University Health and Safety Committee will:
5.1
support and promote implementation of the procedure and related education and
training.
5.2
monitor the adequacy and effectiveness of the procedures.
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6. Local Safety Committee will:
6.1
participate in formal inspections to assist in hazard identification and recommend
corrective action.
7. Health, Safety & Environment (HSE) will:
7.1
provide expertise and advice to all levels of management, employees and students
on matters pertaining to hazard identification and control.
7.2
ensure the procedure is kept current.
Procedures
A Hazard/Risk Identification and Control Plan (the Plan) must be completed by the person
performing the work and their direct report before any new or modified equipment, machinery or
work process is used or started.
The Plan must be reviewed at least annually and whenever there is a change in operations or
procedures or there has been an incident.
The direct report is required to use Hazard Control Plan form or a similar form to complete the
Plan. Prior to conducting the hazard assessment the direct report and person performing the
work shall review the types of hazards and control measures available for the work being
completed.
The steps to completing a hazard/risk and control plan are:
Step 1 – Identify potential hazards
Step 2 – Assess the risk associated with each hazard
Step 3 – Select appropriate hazard controls
Step 4 – Implement the selected controls
Step 5 – Assess the effectiveness of the selected controls
Step 1 — Identify Potential Hazards
Hazards can be identified by such means as review of the manufacturer’s manuals, inspection,
interviews with persons who work perform similar work and review of incidents in this or similar
work areas.
Common hazards in include exposure to chemicals, biological agents (bacteria, viruses, dust
and mold), equipment in motion, electricity, sharps, extreme temperatures, noise, vibration, and
violence. Other hazards may arise from work design (ergonomics), working alone, unattended
processes, unplanned loss of air, power or water, animals, fire, spills and other emergencies.
When hazardous materials will be used for the work, the following questions should be
considered:
 What are the materials and in what quantities will they be purchased and used?
 Is the work to be conducted once, or will the hazardous materials be used repeatedly?
 Are any of the workers or people that may be affected by the work pregnant, likely to
become pregnant, or sensitive to specific materials?
 Are any materials to be used toxic, corrosive, irritants or sensitizers?
 Will any carcinogens or potential carcinogens be used?
 Have flammability and environmental toxicity been considered?
 What are the potential routes of exposure (inhalation, absorption, ingestion, injection)?
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Step 2 — Assess the Risks Associated with each Hazard
Risk assessment is important in the analysis and evaluation of risks associated with hazards.
Risk assessment helps the persons involved determine appropriate ways to eliminate or control
a hazard.
Some risks associated with common hazards include:
 In the case of equipment: unintended contact with moving or dangerous parts; electrical
shock; electrical fire; emission of harmful airborne material during use or maintenance; spills
and leaks; sharps and burns.
 Animals pose a risk of physical injury and illness from improper restraint and hygiene
controls.
 In the case of work design: most commonly musculoskeletal injury from such factors as
lifting, awkward or repetitive movement and vibration. There may also be a risk of hearing
damage.
Risk is assessed by considering the probability of an event in combination with the severity of
harm the event would cause to the University community, the public and the environment if it
occurred.
Probability factors are ranked in the following descending order of importance:
Frequent – Probable – Occasional – Remote – Improbable
Severity factors are ranked in the following descending order of importance:
Catastrophic – Critical – Marginal – Negligible
Risk can be given a rating using the following matrix:
Frequency
Number of persons
performing task
Number of times task is performed by each person
Few times per Many times per
Less than daily
day
day
Few
1
1
2
Moderate
1
2
3
Many
2
3
3
Severity
0
2
4
6
No injury or illness
Minor injury or illness without lost time
A lost time injury or illness without permanent disability
Permanent disability, loss of life or body part
Probability
-1
0
+1
Low probability of loss
Moderate probability of loss
High probability of loss
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Risk
10 to 7 = High
6 to 4 = Moderate
3 to 0 = Low
Example:
Working from height –no fall protection provided
Frequency – Few people performing task, 6 times per day
Rating = 2
Severity – Fall can cause permanent disability or loss of life
Rating = 6
Probability – High probability of loss due to no fall protection available
Rating = 1
Total Risk = 2 + 6 + 1 = 9 = HIGH RISK
Working from height – Fall protection provided and required
Frequency – Few people performing task, 6 times per day
Rating = 2
Severity – Fall restraint prevents fall from occurring, worker may be able to slip on same
level
Rating = 2
Probability – Moderate probability of loss due to protective equipment
Rating = 0
Total Risk = 2 + 2 + 0 = 4 = MODERATE RISK
By implementing Fall Protection requirements into the job task, the risk of the task has
been decreased by 50%.
Assessing risks should be a team effort; these activities can be completed by the person
performing the work and their direct supervisor or by members selected by the
Faculty/Department performing the work. The Risk Matrix can be used to provide awareness,
determine if control measures are adequate, and to prioritize hazards and control measures.
Step 3 — Select Appropriate Hazard Controls
All hazards must be controlled either by removing the hazard or reducing its risk of harm to an
acceptable safe level, both proactively (to prevent its occurrence) and reactively (to minimize its
harmful affects in the event it does occur). Often more than one hazard control method must be
implemented. For example, chemicals require a combination of proper storage, labeling, safe
work practices, the use of PPE and emergency response equipment, procedures and training.
In selecting appropriate hazard controls the following standards apply:
 The control must comply with legislated or regulatory requirements. Some of the legislation
and regulations that specify standards for hazard control include:
o The Occupational Health and Safety Act and Regulations
o Hazardous Products Act (federal)
o Environmental Protection Act
 The control must comply with University of Regina policies, procedures and rules.
 The priority for selection of controls is:
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o

Eliminate hazards at their source (e.g. redesign the work process, substitute a safer
chemical for a hazardous chemical, use different equipment).
o If it is not practical to eliminate hazards; control the hazard to reduce the risk to
workers by using engineering controls (e.g. machine guards, noise enclosures,
ventilation to dilute the concentration of a hazardous substance).
o If it is not practical to control the hazard, protect workers from the hazard by using
tools such as administrative controls, safe work procedures, effective safety training,
proper supervision, or personal protective equipment.
Controls must be effective in reducing the risk of harm to staff, students, and the public, to
an acceptable level.
Step 4 — Implement selected controls (Formal Safety Control Plans required)
The person performing the work and their direct report are responsible to ensure that the hazard
control measures selected to control the identified hazards are present, maintained and
implemented.
Implementation includes:
 the development of written safety control plans, and/or safe work procedures,
 the provision of information to personnel of the procedures, and
 a method of ensuring proper procedures are followed.
Step 5 — Assess effectiveness of selected controls
It is also the responsibility of the person performing the work and their direct report to evaluate
the effectiveness of the hazard control selected, and to make improvements where deficiencies
are identified. The person performing the work and their direct report will assess effectiveness
of controls through regular inspections, testing and monitoring, evaluations of complaints or
concerns received and investigations into near misses or other incidents.
Common symptoms of ineffective controls include:
 Repeated non-compliance. Non-compliance may be a consequence of lack of training or
consequence, or other problems in the control that cause persons to be reluctant to
implement them, such as the creation of another hazard.
 Failure to reduce risk. For example, testing may demonstrate that there has been no
change in the measured risk after the control has been implemented. In other cases
students/staff or others may have a continued complaint.
 Near Miss/Injury. A near miss, a risk, or incident causing harm is proof positive that the
control measures are ineffective in some way.
A copy of the completed Hazard/Risk
Control Plan must be submitted to HSE.
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Hazard/Risk Control Plan
Building: __________________________________________________________________
Location: __________________________________________________________________
Faculty/Department: _________________________________________________________
Supervisor/Direct Report: _____________________________________________________
Person/Position Performing Task: _______________________________________________
Potential Hazardous Chemicals:
List of Potential Hazardous Chemicals present or likely to be present:
Item
Quantity
MSDS
MSDS
Selected Control Measures: (Storage/
available
reviewed
Labelling/Written procedures; PPE,
(√)
(√)
emergency equipment)
Number and Type of Chemical Storage Cabinets:
Separation of Incompatible Chemicals:
Hazardous Equipment:
List of Hazardous Equipment: (e.g. high pressure, extreme temperature and high voltage
equipment, ladders, mechanical equipment)
Item
Selected Control Measures: (e.g. Safeguards, Written safe
operation and maintenance procedures, PPE, emergency
equipment; training or restricted use)
Other Potential Hazards:
List of Other Potential Hazards: (e.g. noise sources above 85 dBa Lex; musculoskeletal injury
from lifting, awkward movement, repetitive motion, or vibration; working alone; unattended
processes; unplanned loss of air, power or water; unplanned Leaks)
Item
Selected Control Measures: (e.g. safeguards, written safe operation
and maintenance procedures, PPE, emergency equipment, training)
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Emergency Safety Equipment Available:
Location:
Item
Type:
Eyewash
Emergency
Shower
Spill Kit:
First Aid Kit
Fire
Extinguisher
Location signage (√)
Location:
Location:
Location:
Type:
Location:
Type:
Location:
Type:
Other:
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Available
Available Location and Type
Item
(√)
Eye
Protection
Foot
Protection
Hand
Protection
Skin
protection
Hearing
Protection
Respirator
Other:
Hazardous Waste
Describe Type, Quantity and Disposal Methods Available:
List of Safe work/operating/emergency procedures
Describe
Posted
(√)
Describe training and/or implementation measures
Safe work practices
Emergency Contact
Emergency Shut
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Describe
Posted
(√)
Describe training and/or implementation measures
Down
Equipment
operation
Equipment
maintenance
Spill
Fire/evacuation
Training
requirements
Decontamination
Comments:
This Hazard/Risk Assessment has been completed by ___________________________
(person performing the work and their direct report) on _________________ (date) and
submitted to HSE.
____________________________________________
Signature
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