Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2016L00414:body:0:p6
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2016L00414
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 12561–15702

risks is an ongoing process that is triggered when any changes affect your work activities. You should work through the steps in this Code when:

    * starting a new business or purchasing a business
    * changing work practices, procedures or the work environment
    * purchasing new or used equipment or using new substances
    * planning to improve productivity or reduce costs
    * new information about workplace risks becomes available
    * responding to workplace incidents (even if they have caused no injury)
    * responding to concerns raised by workers, health and safety representatives or others at the workplace
    * required by the WHS regulations for specific hazards
It is also important to use the risk management approach when designing and planning products, processes or places used for work, because it is often easier and more effective to eliminate hazards before they are introduced into a workplace by incorporating safety features at the design stage.

2. STEP 1 – HOW TO IDENTIFY HAZARDS

Identifying hazards in the workplace involves finding things and situations that could potentially cause harm to people. Hazards generally arise from the following aspects of work and their interaction:
    * physical work environment
    * equipment, materials and substances used
    * work tasks and how they are performed
    * work design and management
Table 1 below lists some common types of workplace hazards. Some hazards are part of the work process, such as mechanical hazards, noise or toxic properties of substances. Other hazards result from equipment or machine failures and misuse, chemical spills and structural failures.

A piece of plant, substance or a work process may have many different hazards. Each of these hazards needs to be identified. For example, a production line may have dangerous moving parts, noise, hazards associated with manual tasks and psychological hazards due to the pace of work.

Table 1 Examples of common hazards

Hazard                   Potential harm

Manual tasks             Overexertion or repetitive movement can cause muscular strain
Gravity                  Falling objects, falls, slips and trips of people can cause fractures, bruises, lacerations, dislocations, concussion, permanent injuries or death
Electricity              Potential ignition source.
                         Exposure to live electrical wires can cause shock, burns or death from electrocution
Machinery and equipment  Being hit by moving vehicles, or being caught by moving parts of machinery can cause fractures, bruises, lacerations, dislocations, permanent injuries or death
Hazardous chemicals      Chemicals (such as acids, hydrocarbons, heavy metals) and dusts (such as asbestos and silica) can cause respiratory illnesses, cancers or dermatitis
Extreme temperatures     Heat can cause burns, heat stroke or fatigue
                         Cold can cause hypothermia or frost bite
Noise                    Exposure to loud noise can cause permanent hearing damage
Radiation                Ultra violet, welding arc flashes, micro waves and lasers can cause burns, cancer or