Identifying Who Can be Harmed: A Key Step in Risk Assessment

Identifying different categories of people who are exposed to each hazard is an important step in hazard identification and risk assessment. It helps to ensure that all individuals who may be at risk are properly protected.

Here are some examples of different categories of people who may be exposed to hazards:

1. Workers carrying out the task: These are the workers who are directly involved in performing the task. They are at the greatest risk of exposure to hazards.
2. Other workers nearby: These are workers who are not directly involved in the task, but who may be in the area and could be exposed to hazards.
3. Visitors/members of the public: These are individuals who are not employees and who may be visiting the workplace or in the vicinity of the workplace. They may be exposed to hazards if they are not properly protected.
4. Maintenance staff: These are workers who are responsible for maintaining and repairing equipment and machinery. They may be exposed to hazards while performing these tasks.
5. New/young workers: These are workers who are new to the workplace or who are relatively inexperienced. They may be more vulnerable to hazards due to their lack of familiarity with the work environment and processes.
6. Persons with disabilities: These are individuals who may have physical, sensory, or cognitive disabilities that may affect their ability to recognize or respond to hazards.
7. Contractors sharing the workplace: These are workers who are hired by a company to perform work on a temporary basis. They may be exposed to hazards while working in the same workplace as company employees.

It is important to consider all of these categories of people when identifying hazards and assessing the risks associated with them. This can help ensure that appropriate measures are taken to protect everyone who may be at risk.