Element 3: Hazard Identification

OSHA states that "one of the 'root causes' of workplace injuries, illnesses, and incidents is the failure to identify or recognize hazards that are present, or that could have been anticipated. A critical element of any effective safety and health program is a proactive, ongoing process to identify and assess such hazards." Therefore, the third element of a safety and health program is hazard identification.

The action items related to this core element are as follows:

1. Collect existing information about workplace hazards.
2. Inspect the workplace for safety hazards.
3. Identify health hazards.
4. Conduct incident investigations.
5. Identify hazards associated with emergency and nonroutine situations.
6. Characterize the nature of identified hazards, identify interim control measures, and prioritize the hazards for control.

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