Industrial Safety · Field note
Hazard identification begins with the work
Understand how the job will actually happen today, not only how the task sheet says it should.
A task description tells you what should happen. Watching and discussing the job helps you see what could change, where someone could be exposed and which controls matter in practice.
Start with the conditions
Before work begins, look at the area and ask the people doing the task what has changed. Nearby activities, weather, access, equipment condition, materials and time pressure can all alter the risk picture.
Break the work into steps. For each one ask: what could cause harm, who could be exposed, how could exposure occur, and what would prevent or limit it? OSHA’s job hazard analysis resources describe this same step-by-step approach [1]. Pay particular attention to energy sources and to the interfaces between people, equipment and surroundings.
Look for exposure paths
Be specific about how a person could encounter the hazard: caught between moving parts, struck by a falling object, exposed to a substance or affected by an uncontrolled release of energy. Walk the route the job will take. Check line of fire, access and egress, stored energy, lifting paths, vehicle movements and simultaneous operations.
Use operators' and maintainers' knowledge. They often notice subtle changes that a form cannot capture.
Choose controls that work in the field
Consider whether the hazard can be eliminated first. If not, look for substitution, isolation or engineering controls. Administrative steps and personal protective equipment can help, but depend more on people noticing and acting correctly every time. See the hierarchy of controls.
Agree who will put each control in place, how it will be checked and what should happen if a condition changes. A control that exists only on paper may not protect the crew.
“What has changed since this job was last done, and what would make us stop and reassess?”
Keep the assessment alive
Revisit the assessment when the job, conditions, equipment or crew change, and whenever a control is missing or ineffective [2]. Encourage people to pause work when the plan no longer fits what they see.
The most useful hazard identification usually happens at the work location, with the people doing the job, minutes before it starts. The form should record that conversation, not replace it.
General educational material, not legal advice, a site-specific risk assessment or a work authorisation. Confirm current requirements in your jurisdiction and follow site procedures and competent advice.
References
- OSHA. Resources on Job Hazard AnalysisUnited States
- HSE. Introduction to managing health and safetyUnited Kingdom
All sources opened and checked on 30 October 2026. Requirements and guidance change; always consult the current version.
Downloads & tools
PDFPre-task review sheetv1.1 · A4 · free downloadTOOLShift StarterA guided pre-shift check that turns your crew’s answers into a printable shift brief.Editorial status: source-checked field note. No independent external technical review is claimed. Spotted an error? See corrections.
