Title: Identifying & Correcting Hazards
Type: Lesson
To be effective, a competent person must:
Know what hazards look like
Understand why they’re dangerous
Be able to take action — right now
If you don’t recognize a hazard, you can’t protect against it.
| Hazard | Examples |
|---|---|
| Fall Hazards | Unprotected edges, holes, ladders, scaffolds |
| Struck-by | Swinging equipment, falling tools, moving vehicles |
| Caught-in/between | Trench collapses, rotating machinery, pinch points |
| Electrical | Live wires, damaged cords, wet connections |
| Hazardous Atmospheres | Confined spaces, lack of ventilation, chemical fumes |
| Unsafe Access | Broken stairs, unsecured ladders, blocked exits |
Ask yourself:
Could this hurt someone right now?
Is there a fall, fire, shock, crush, or toxic risk?
Are workers doing something that puts them at risk?
Use:
Daily walkthroughs
Crew feedback
Incident/near-miss reports
Changes in equipment or layout
Once you’ve identified a hazard:
Stop the work if needed
Warn and remove workers from danger
Apply the Hierarchy of Controls:
Eliminate the hazard
Substitute safer materials or methods
Use engineering controls (barriers, guards)
Use administrative controls (procedures, training)
Use PPE as a last resort
Document the action taken
If it’s dangerous, it doesn’t matter how often you’ve seen it.
Many injuries happen because:
Hazards are ignored due to routine
Workers are used to the risk
No one speaks up
A competent person doesn’t wait for someone else to fix the problem. If you see a hazard, you fix it, report it, or stop work. Period.
Click “Mark Complete” to continue to Lesson 5: Inspections, Documentation & Enforcement, where we’ll focus on what you’re expected to record and enforce.