2.1 Policy

The Hazard Assessment and Control Program provides a standardized process to identify foreseeable hazards in the workplace, determine risk, and implement appropriate control measures to minimize the risk of incidents.

Employees and contractors should take a proactive approach to managing and reporting hazards. If new hazards are identified, workers must stop work and ensure appropriate controls are in place.

Hazard: A condition, device, substance or thing that may cause harm or injury to people, property or the environment.

Control: A type of intervention used to eliminate, manage, or mitigate a workplace hazard.

Risk: The chance or probability of injury, damage or occupational disease.

Acceptable Risk: The level of risk deemed acceptable to a group of people, usually based on industry practices, previous experience and cultural norms.

Personal Risk Tolerance: An individual's willingness to accept a given level of risk. Workers must adjust personal risk tolerances to align with Acceptable Risk.

Incident: An unplanned or unwanted event that results in or has the potential to cause damage, injury or occupational disease. 

Critical Task: Any task or job identified as having a high risk of incident.

2.2 Responsibilities 

• Ensure hazard assessments are completed.
• Review hazard assessments.
• Save and file hazard assessments.
• Keep up-to-date on regulatory requirements and industry best practices for hazard control.

• Assist workers with completing hazard assessments.
• Report hazards to management.
• Make suggestions for controls.
• Ensure risks are effectively controlled.

• Report hazards to supervision and management.
• Make suggestions for controls.
• Complete hazard assessments.

2.3 Program Overview

Employees and contractors must complete a Project Safety Assessment (PSA) before work begins. Assistance can be provided by BC Conservation Foundation management, Project Coordinators, the Safety Administrator and third-party stakeholders. 

When: At the start of all projects.

Who: Completed by workers with assistance from the Safety Administrator, Project Coordinator and third-party stakeholders.

Tool: Project Safety Assessment Template and the Project Safety Assessment Example.

Approved By The Safety Administrator or Project Coordinator.

Reviewed: 

• Before the commencement of the project.
• Annually for reoccurring projects.
• If identified as a factor related to a workplace incident.
• If new hazards are discovered during the project.

Documentation: Workers will keep a copy of the PSA throughout the project term. The PSA will also be stored electronically on the BC Conservation Foundation server.

When: Regularly during site inspections and as critical tasks are identified.

Who: Completed by the Safety Administrator and Project Coordinator with assistance from workers and supervisors.

Tool: Task Hazard Analysis form.

Reviewed:

• After an incident involving the task.
• When new critical tasks require a written practice or procedure.

Documentation: A copy of the Task Hazard Analysis will be kept electronically on the BC Conservation Foundation server.

2.4 How to Conduct a Hazard Assessment 

Determine the work tasks (e.g. removing invasive plants with hand tools or operating a boat) and then identify the inherent hazard(s) associated with each task. Table 1 provides a list of common hazards.

Table 1: Common workplace hazards

Uneven surfaces	Vehicle collision	Animal bite/scratch
Temperature extremes	Repetitive motions	Corrosive products
Projectiles or falling objects	Fall into water	Compressed gases

 

Use the Risk Matrix (Table 2) and the formula below to calculate the risk of each hazard. 

Risk = Severity (S) * Probability (P)

For example, 

The risk of sustaining a repetitive motion injury while removing invasive plants with hand tools:

Injury Severity (S) is (1) - First aid could be required

Injury Probability (P) is (3) - Highly likely

Risk = (1) * (3) = 3  - MODERATE RISK 

This initial value represents the risk before controls are implemented. See Table 3 to determine the required actions for each risk level.

Table 2: Risk Matrix to determine the level of risk associated with a hazard

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Table 3 - Top: The actions required for each hazard risk score. Bottom: Injury severity explanations and examples

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Step 3: Determine and implement controls for each hazard

Controls (figure 1) should be selected in the following order: Elimination, Substitution, Engineering, Administration, and as a last resort, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Generally, a combination of controls is used

 

After the implementation of controls, the hazard(s) risk score should be recalculated.

In the example from Step 2, an administrative control to rotate between tasks could be implemented. The probability of an injury would decrease by alternating between the high exertion removal of invasive plants and a low exertion data entry task. The revised risk score would be:

Injury Severity (S) is (1) - First aid could be required

Injury Probability (P) is now (2) - Might happen

Revised Risk =  (1) * (2) = 2 - LOW RISK

Table 3 determines that the required action of the new risk score is to complete work with no additional control measures necessary. The controls should be monitored for effectiveness.

Workers have a right to know about hazards in the workplace. Management and supervisors must inform workers of hazards and any changes to work processes. Hazard information may be communicated through orientations, toolbox talks, written materials, and course completion.

Management and supervisors should monitor the effectiveness of safety controls.