Identify and control hazards
Being able to accurately identify hazards in the workplace and then controlling those hazards with emphasis on preventing serious injury or fatality is a key element of creating a safe workplace. The resources below will help you find and control hazards and give you the tools needed to complete safety inspections.
Oregon OSHA
Visit the Oregon OSHA website to learn more about workplace hazard identification and control. Start here:
- Hazard Identification online course [English/Spanish]
- Foundation of a Safe Workplace
Online Trainings
Safety committee inspections
Safety inspections should be completed at least quarterly at most businesses. Training for inspectors is essential and should cover company procedures, workplace hazards, and methods to correct hazards.
Effective inspections include assigning inspection areas, documenting hazards, and ensuring follow-up actions. This includes addressing unsafe work practices, which are a leading cause of workplace injuries.
Online training: Identifying workplace hazards (Spanish)
Resource: What is a hazard
Finding hazards
Learn how to find and prioritize hazards.
- Hazard identification form
- Hazard mapping ecercise for safety committees
- Job hazard analysis (JHA) and personal protective equipment (PPE) assessment: Identify and control hazards (Spanish)
- Job hazard analysis form
- Job hazard analysis form - SAMPLE
- PPE hazard assessment (Spanish)
- Pre-task planning (Spanish)
- What's wrong with this photo? (WorkSafeBC)
Hazard categories and focus areas
Get an overview on hazards and see resources below that can help you identify specific hazards based on your workplace.
Chemical:
- GHS reference poster (8.5x11 / 11x17) (Spanish (8.5x11 / 11x17))
- Safety talk - Hazcom: Understanding product warning labels
- Safety talk - Hazcom: What's in a Safety Data Sheet?
- Safety talk - Target organs: What are they and why do they matter?
- Safety talk - Ways contaminants enter your body
Electrical:
Environmental:
- Environmental safety: Staying prepared in changing conditions
- Prepare your business for wildfire season
- Safety talk - Working safely in heat (Spanish)
Ergonomics:
Machinery:
Serious injuries and fatalities:
Transportation:
Unsafe work practices:
- Avoid blame and understand human error (Spanish)
- Coaching employees (Spanish)
- Safety observations for coaching and recognition (Spanish)
- Taking risks: What drives unsafe behavior (Spanish)
Worksurface and walkways:
Control hazards
Learn about the hierarchy of controls and use our hazard ID brainstorming controls sheet.
Follow-up
Follow up on hazards and use our safety tracking and resolution tool.