How to Improve Hazard Identification During Routine Work

Alberta’s OHS Code (Part 2, sections 7–9) requires employers to identify existing and potential hazards before work begins, to document the assessment, and to implement and communicate controls. Across Canada, the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) and provincial regulators expect a structured process: break work into steps, identify hazards for each step, and apply the hierarchy of controls.

Standards help define ‘good’. CSA Z1002 focuses on hazard identification, elimination where practical, and risk assessment and control. ISO 45001 (clause 6.1.2) expects an ongoing, proactive process—covering routine and non‑routine activities, changes, and emergency situations. If your process only catches big jobs and misses everyday tasks, it’s time to upgrade.

A Simple, Repeatable Hazard ID Process for Routine Work

Use this 10‑step loop. It’s lean, visual, and designed for real‑world pace.

1. Pick the task. Start with high‑frequency work where small slips add up (e.g., daily machine start‑ups, deliveries, cleaning, tool changeovers).
2. Map the steps. 3–7 steps max. If you can’t explain the task simply, it’s too complex to spot hazards quickly.
3. Scan for hazard types at each step. Use a consistent lens: mechanical/motion, gravity, electrical, thermal, pressure/energy, chemical, biological, radiation, noise/vibration, ergonomic/posture, environment/traffic/line‑of‑fire, psychosocial (fatigue, violence, stress).
4. Name the credible worst outcome. Say it plainly (“amputation,” “corrosive burn,” “vehicle strike,” “fall to lower level”).
5. Check what changed. Look for substitutions, new people, seasonal weather, maintenance status, and temporary controls that became permanent.
6. Apply the hierarchy of controls. Eliminate or substitute if possible; then engineering controls; then admin/procedures and training; last, PPE. Combine controls—don’t rely on one thin layer.
7. Verify isolation and energy states. For equipment, confirm guards are in place, interlocks function, and lockout/tagout is in use where needed. For chemicals, verify labels/SDS and storage. For vehicles, check traffic plans and line‑of‑sight.
8. Do a two‑minute pre‑task talk. One person reads the task steps aloud; others call out “what could hurt me” and “what would stop that.” Capture only what changed since last time.
9. Run the task and watch the first cycle. Supervisors or leads observe the first pass. If reality doesn’t match the plan, pause and fix before continuing.
10. Close the loop. Record what you changed, flag anything that needs engineering help, and push learning to the next crew or shift.

Tools and Techniques That Keep It Real

• One‑page Job Safety Analysis (JSA): Keep it to one page per task, updated when steps or conditions change. Use plain language and photos.
• Visual cues at point‑of‑use: Decals, floor markings, torque charts, color‑coded valves, and quick‑scan checklists mounted where the work happens.
• Short pre‑task check (60–120 seconds): A laminated card with 5 prompts—What’s different? Line‑of‑fire? Energy? PPE? Environment?
• SDS and manufacturer cues: Quick reference to safety data sheets and manuals for limits, PPE, and lockout points. QR codes help.
• First‑cycle observation: Supervisor watches the first unit/job of the shift to catch real conditions, not just the planned ones.
• Stop‑and‑fix culture: Empower workers to stop work to remove a hazard without drama. Reward the pause, not the push‑through.
• Near‑miss capture: A no‑blame, quick reporting path (QR code or app). Close the feedback loop within 48 hours so people see action.
• Change management lite: Any change to people, parts, process, plant, or programs triggers a quick hazard check before resuming routine.

Worker Cues for Dynamic Hazard ID (Teach These)

• Line‑of‑fire: Could anything hit, crush, cut, burn, or shock me if it moves or I move?
• Energy reality check: What is live, pressurized, hot, cold, sharp, heavy, or corrosive right now?
• Stability & gravity: What can fall, roll, tip, or collapse? What are my three points of contact?
• Eyes‑hands‑feet: Where are they? Where will they be next?
• Change triggers: New person, new material, new tool, new weather, new layout—pause and reassess.
• Fatigue & distraction: Am I rushing, frustrated, tired, or on autopilot? Ask for a second set of eyes.

Supervisor Habits That Raise the Floor

• Do one first‑cycle observation per crew per day. Fix at least one small thing on the spot.
• Ask two questions in every walkthrough: “What changed today?” and “What could hurt you here?”
• Celebrate removal of hazards (elimination/engineering) more than PPE compliance. Measure both.
• Hold five‑minute learning huddles after near‑misses. Share the story across shifts within 24–48 hours.
• Lockout discipline: Spot‑check LOTO steps weekly; coach on verify‑before‑touch.
• Use photos. Before/after pictures make small wins visible and repeatable.

Turn Observations into Better Controls

Paper that never talks back is wasted effort. Treat every observation, near‑miss, and pre‑task talk as data. Roll it up weekly: Which hazards show up most? Where are controls weak? Are we relying on admin and PPE more than engineering? These patterns guide where to invest.

A simple dashboard (top hazards, top fixes, overdue actions) helps supervisors steer. Tie actions to owners and dates. When people see issues close quickly, reporting shoots up—and so does your real control over risk.

Spotlight on Common Routine Tasks (and What to Check)

Equipment start‑up and changeover

Confirm guards and interlocks; verify lockout for intrusive work; clear line‑of‑fire; confirm correct tooling and torque; test run at low speed; remove troubleshooting bypasses.

Housekeeping and cleaning

Chemical labels and SDS match the product in use; ventilation on; slip potential from wet floors; storage height and stability; waste streams labeled; no mixing of incompatible chemicals.

Receiving, picking, and deliveries

Traffic plan and pedestrian routes clear; trailer creep and dock lock; pinch points on docks; loads strapped and balanced; weather and lighting checked.

Office and hybrid work

Ergonomics and posture; trip points from cords; overloaded power bars; lone‑work and after‑hours security; psychosocial stress and workload triggers.

Vehicle use and mobile equipment

Pre‑use checks; spotter rules; reversing alarms and beacons; slopes and ground conditions; seatbelts; phone policy; fatigue management.

Contractors on site

Orientation on site rules; scope‑specific hazard review; permits (hot work, confined space, energized work); supervision and interface hazards with your operations.

A 90‑Day Rollout Plan You Can Actually Finish

1. Week 1–2: Pick 10 routine tasks across departments. Build one‑page JSAs with photos. Train leads on the 10‑step loop and two‑minute pre‑task talk.
2. Week 3–4: Launch first‑cycle observations. Each supervisor does one per day and logs two improvement actions per week.
3. Week 5–6: Stand up near‑miss capture (QR or app). Promise 48‑hour close‑out notes. Share one story per week in toolbox talks.
4. Week 7–8: Engineering push. Convert the top five repeated hazards into engineered fixes (guards, barriers, interlocks, layout changes).
5. Week 9–10: Audit energy controls. Refresh LOTO points, tags, and procedures for the top five machines. Verify before touch.
6. Week 11–12: Review dashboard. Adjust targets, celebrate wins, and set the next quarter’s focus (e.g., line‑of‑fire, ergonomics, or traffic).

Common Pitfalls (and Easy Fixes)

• Oversized forms that no one reads → Shrink to one page and put it at point‑of‑use.
• Annual hazard assessments that ignore daily changes → Add a two‑minute dynamic check at the job start.
• PPE as the first and last control → Push elimination, substitution, and engineering first; prove why PPE remains.
• No feedback on reports → Close the loop within 48 hours with what was done or why not.
• Treating contractors as self‑managing → Orient, verify, and supervise interface hazards; your site, your rules.
• Complacency in low‑risk areas → Office, parking lots, and yards create serious injuries; track their patterns too.

Routine tasks don’t have to be risky. With a simple loop, clear roles, and fast feedback, you can spot hazards early and knock them down—without slowing the day. Start with ten tasks, make the first cycle visible, and celebrate elimination and engineering above everything else. That culture shift—supported by clean tools and consistent habits—is what keeps people safe on ordinary days, not just extraordinary ones. If you want a partner to build it with you, Calgary Safety Consultants can help you get there quickly and keep it running smoothly.

Routine tasks don’t have to be risky. With a simple loop, clear roles, and fast feedback, you can spot hazards early and knock them down—without slowing the day. Start with ten tasks, make the first cycle visible, and celebrate elimination and engineering above everything else. That culture shift—supported by clean tools and consistent habits—is what keeps people safe on ordinary days, not just extraordinary ones. If you want a partner to build it with you, Calgary Safety Consultants can help you get there quickly and keep it running smoothly.

Connect with us here and let us help you improve your OH&S practices. 

References

1. Alberta OHS Code, Part 2 – Hazard Assessment, Elimination and Control: https://search-ohs-laws.alberta.ca/legislation/occupational-health-and-safety-code/part-2-hazard-assessment-elimination-and-control/
2. Alberta OHS Code (PDF – Part 2 excerpt): https://open.alberta.ca/dataset/757fed78-8793-40bb-a920-6f000853172b/resource/bb5b5871-8327-4e1e-99c1-5ef308c960b8/download/4403880-part-2-hazard-assessment-elimination-and-control.pdf
3. CCOHS – Hazard Identification: https://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/hsprograms/hazard/hazard_identification.html
4. CCOHS – Risk Assessment: https://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/hsprograms/hazard/risk_assessment.html
5. CCOHS – Job Safety Analysis (JSA): https://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/hsprograms/job-haz.html
6. WorkSafeBC – Identifying hazards: https://www.worksafebc.com/en/health-safety/create-manage/managing-risk/identifying-hazards
7. WorkSafeBC – OHS Guidelines (Part 3 excerpt on first aid and hazards): https://www.worksafebc.com/en/law-policy/occupational-health-safety/searchable-ohs-regulation/ohs-guidelines/guidelines-part-03
8. CSA Z1002:12 (R2022) – Hazard identification and elimination and risk assessment and control (product page): https://www.csagroup.org/store/product/2703276/
9. Standards Council of Canada – CAN/CSA Z1002-12 + UPD2: https://scc-ccn.ca/standardsdb/standards/4026861
10. ISO 45001 – Clause 6.1.2 overview (training blog summary): https://blog.auditortrainingonline.com/blog/understanding-iso-45001-clause-6.1.2.1-hazard-id
11. ISO 45001 – Clause 6.1.2 guidance (checklist blog): https://www.iso-9001-checklist.co.uk/iso-45001/6.1.2-hazard-identification-and-assessment-of-risks-and-apportunities.htm
12. CCOHS – Lockout/Tagout and CSA Z460: https://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/hsprograms/lockout.html

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