Hazard Identification Training Tool
Manual & Resources
Table of Contents
- Overview
- Hazard Identification for Leadership
- How To Play as Owner: Basics
- Hazard Identification for Workers
- How To Play as Worker: Basics
- Hazard Identification for Leadership
- Tools
- Collect Information
- Inspect and Observe
- Involve Workers
- Investigate Incidents
- Prioritize
- How to Play as Owner: Strategy
- How to Play as Worker: Strategy
- Cost Numbers
- Scenarios
- Manufacturing
- Construction
- Healthcare
Overview
Hazard identification is a key part of any injury and illness prevention program within a business (especially small and medium sized companies). If hazards aren't identified, then they can't be mitigated properly. This tool is designed to help company leadership as well as workers practice more effectively identifying hazards.
Hazard Identification for Leadership
Although the upper management of a company may not be involved in day-to-day operations, management leadership (along with worker participation) is essential to ensuring that all hazards are identified and addressed. However, not all leaders are comfortable with the basics of hazard identification.
The OSHA Hazard Identification Training Tool (Play as Owner mode) is a game, aimed at entrepreneurs and managers, in which players practice identifying and prioritizing various workplace hazards. The game presents five generalized elements of a hazard identification program and a set of scenarios targeting different industries. Using hazard identification process fundamentals from the game, it is possible to apply safe work practices in any setting.
How To Play as Owner: Basics
Goal:
- Maximize your profit in 20 weeks.
Basics:
- Click & drag with the mouse to move around, viewing different areas within the factory.
- Click on equipment, areas and people to use your hazard identification tools to uncover hazards in the factory.
- Use the Hazard Log (tab at the bottom of the screen) to prioritize and mitigate the hazards you have found.
- Click End Week to convert your remaining hours to profit and move to the next week.
- You will receive updates in between each week detailing your activities.
- You will receive a summary of your performance after 20 weeks.
Hazard Identification for Workers
While workers are often experts in their own part of the business, they may not be comfortable with the basics of hazard identification in any area. Understanding a generic hazard identification process can be the first step on the way to a safer workplace.
The OSHA Hazard Identification Training Tool (Play as Worker mode) is a game, aimed at workers, in which players practice identifying various workplace hazards. The game presents three generalized elements of a hazard identification program. Using hazard identification process fundamentals from the game, it is possible to apply safe work practices in any setting.
How To Play as Worker: Basics
Goal:
- Find as many hazards as possible with only 10 actions.
Basics:
- Click on equipment, areas and people to use your hazard identification tool actions to uncover hazards in the factory.
- You will receive a summary of your performance after you have used 10 actions.
Tools
Hazard identification can be broken into five key elements, four categories of identification tools and the prioritization step. Use the four types of tools to continuously identify hazards in your workplace. Once you have a list of hazards, continually evaluate and prioritize that list based on severity and exposure, mitigating as many hazards as possible.
Collect Information
Review all information you may already have available to find hazards that have already been identified by others.
Examples:
- Equipment manuals
- Safety data sheets
- Inspection reports
- Insurance reports
- Past incident data
- Relevant OSHA data
- Consultation reports
OSHA Resources
Hazard Communication
SDS/MSDS (OSHA 174)
OSHA Website
Onsite Consultations
Inspect and Observe
Inspect equipment and work areas when not in operation, using common sense and drawing on the knowledge of the operators to identify potential hazards. Be sure to observe processes in action as well; doing so may uncover additional hazards that would not be otherwise obvious.
OSHA Resources
Inspection Detail Definitions
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Small Business Handbook
Involve Workers
Often, talking to your workers and listening to their feedback is the most effective way to quickly find hazards. Be sure to stay engaged with them and listen closely, as they may not always know that they are describing a hazard.
OSHA Resources
Investigate Incidents
Although our goal is zero incidents, when one happens, it is important to take that as an opportunity to learn about hazards that may have been overlooked. Investigate to find true root causes and address systemic issues.
OSHA Resources
Fatality and Catastrophe Investigation Summaries
1904.39, Reporting Fatalities and Multiple Hospitalization Incidents
Note: Anyone needing to report an emergency, fatality, or imminent life threatening situation, please contact OSHA's toll-free number immediately: 1-800-321-OSHA (6742).
Prioritize
Evaluate the hazards you have identified and mitigate the most hazardous first. Hazards can be assessed both in terms of severity (how bad is the potential outcome) and exposure (how likely is an occurrence). Typically, a combination of these two factors plays into the prioritization of mitigations. For the purpose of the Hazard Identification Training Tool game, details about mitigations and controls are not included or referenced.
OSHA Resources
How to Play as Owner: Strategy
- It is important to divide and balance your time between the three things you can spend your hours on:
- Hazard Identification
- Hazard Mitigation
- Making Profit
- Earn profit each turn based on your hours remaining ($800/hour).
- Don't forget to leave some hours each week for profit.
- Money will be deducted from profit when hazards result in incidents.
- You will lose some profit immediately (direct costs) and more over the following turns (indirect costs).
- Prevent incidents by mitigating hazards.
- Remember that hazards can return (and will have to be identified again) when their mitigations expire. Note: Hazards in the game will reappear in order to model the on-going nature of hazard identification activities. The timing of hazard recurrence in-game may not accurately reflect the complex relationship of hazards and mitigations in the real world.
- Your workers are a good source of information about hazards.
- They have a good understanding of what’s going on around them.
- Staying engaged with your workers can have additional benefits.
- If you do a good job of constantly involving employees (and listening to them by mitigating hazards), they will take on the safety culture and contribute to the process.
- Minimal management involvement can have unintended consequences.
- If you remain hands-off, the safety culture can wither, increasing the likelihood of incidents.
- If you don't mitigate any hazards, you will likely end up in debt.
- If you play well, you can end up with over $250,000. How much can you earn?
How to Play as Worker: Strategy
- It is important to balance your actions between the three types of hazard identification actions:
- Collect Information
- Reading manuals and safety data sheets
- Inspect and Observe
- Doing both visual inspections and process observations
- Involve Workers
- Talking to co-workers who know the ins-and-outs of each part of the process
- Collect Information
- Balance your actions between the different pieces of equipment, workers and the area itself.
- You should be able to easily identify at least 10 hazards. How many can you find?
Cost Numbers
Potential Cost Savings and Incident Cost numbers used in this game are based on the information in OSHA's $afety Pays etool.
Direct injury costs include:
- Workers' compensation benefits paid for all compensable injuries and illnesses; and
- A workers' compensation claims-handling and administrative fee (applicable in certain jurisdictions).
Indirect injury costs include:
- Any wages paid to injured workers for absences not covered by workers' compensation;
- The wage costs related to time lost through work stoppage associated with the worker injury;
- The overtime costs necessitated by the injury;
- Administrative time spent by supervisors, safety personnel, and clerical workers after an injury;
- Training costs for a replacement worker;
- Lost productivity related to work rescheduling, new employee learning curves, and accommodation of injured employees; and
- Clean-up, repair, and replacement costs of damaged material, machinery, and property.
Additional real-world injury costs not used in this hazard identification product include:
- The costs of OSHA fines and any associated legal action;
- Third-party liability and legal costs;
- Worker pain and suffering; and
- Loss of goodwill from bad publicity.
Scenarios
OSHA's Hazard Identification Training Tool game contains multiple scenarios in which to practice using the hazard identification process outlined above. Below are descriptions and explanations for each currently available scenario. Additionally, OSHA resources specific to each scenario can be found below.
Manufacturing
"You are the head of Amalgamated Polyscientific Enterprises International, a company that manufactures parts for next-generation hovercrafts..."
The manufacturing scenario is intended to cover an abstracted generic manufacturing process similar to an auto-parts plant. Materials come in through the receiving dock, cycle through storage, shearing, stamping, and finishing before leaving through the shipping dock.
Below are some resources relevant specifically to the Manufacturing Scenario.
OSHA Resources
EQUIPMENT
CRANES
Crane, Derrick, and Hoist Safety
Overhead Cranes
Materials Handling and Storage
DEGREASER
Methylene Chloride
Solvents
Confined Spaces
Atmospheric Testing in Confined Spaces Fact Sheet
Permit-Required Confined Spaces QuickCard
ELEVATED CONVEYOR
Safeguarding Equipment and Protecting Employees
Cargo Handling Gear and Equipment
Materials Handling and Storage
Personal Protective Equipment
FORKLIFT
Standup Forklift Under-ride Hazards
Daily Checklist for Powered Industrial Trucks
Motor Vehicle Safety QuickCard
Motor Vehicle Safe Driving Practices QuickCard
PACKING STATION
Back Disorders and Injuries
PAINT BOOTH
A Control Matrix For Spray Painting
Criteria for Design and Construction of Spray Booths
Control Technology for Autobody Repair and Painting...
Spray Finishing Using Flammable and Combustible Materials
ROLLER, PUNCH PRESS, STAMPING
Hearing Conservation
Lockout/Tagout: Control of Hazardous Energy
Hand Hygiene QuickCard
Personal Protective Equipment
Safeguarding Equipment and Protecting Employees...
Job Hazard Analysis Guide
ROLLER CONVEYOR
Safeguarding Equipment and Protecting Employees...
Cargo Handling Gear and Equipment
Materials Handling and storage
Personal Protective Equipment
SHELVES
Warehousing Publication
Materials Handling and Storage
General Requirements for Storage
AREAS / PEOPLE
FINISHING
Job Hazard Analysis Guide
Lockout/Tagout: Control of Hazardous Energy
Indoor air quality
Respiratory Protection
OFFICE, LOBBY
First Aid: Best Practices Guide
Small Business Handbook
Computer Workstations
RECEIVING
Carbon Monoxide Fact Sheet
Controlling Electrical Hazards
First Aid: Best Practices Guide
Guidelines for Employers to Reduce Motor Vehicle Crashes
SHEARING, STAMPING
Job Hazard Analysis Guide
Lockout/Tagout: Control of Hazardous Energy
Safeguarding Equipment and Protecting Employees...
SHIPPING
Carbon Monoxide Fact Sheet
Motor Vehicle Safety QuickCard
Motor Vehicle Safe Driving Practices QuickCard
STORAGE
SDS/MSDS
Materials Handling and Storage
Guidelines for employers to reduce motor vehicle crashes
WORKERS
Workplace Injury, Illness and Fatality Statistics
Worker Information
OSHA Inspections
Construction
"You are a supervisor working for Four Twelve Construction, a general contractor. You are overseeing the construction of a convenience store..."
The construction scenario is intended to cover an abstracted generic construction process for small commercial buildings similar to a convenience store. Activities proceed from start to finish, and the environment is quite dynamic.
Below are some resources relevant specifically to the Construction Scenario.
OSHA Resources
EQUIPMENT
AERIAL LIFTS
Aerial Lift Safety
Aerial Lift Fact Sheet
CRANES AND RIGGING
Cranes & Derricks in Construction
Crane Safety PowerPoint (156 slides) [PPT]
Crane, Derrick and Hoist Safety
Materials Handling and Storage
Sling Guidance
FORKLIFT
Daily Checklist for Powered Industrial Trucks
Forklift eTool
Motor Vehicle Safe Driving Practices Quick Card
Motor Vehicle Safety Fact Sheet
HAND AND POWER TOOLS
Grinder Safety Checklist
Hand and Power Tools
Nail Gun Safety
Woodworking Safety - Nail/Staple Guns
LADDERS AND SCAFFOLDS
Ladder Safety
Scaffolding
Scaffolding eTool
Scaffolding Hazard Alert
Scaffolding Webpage
OVERHEAD POWER LINES
Power Line eTool
PPE
PPE Quick Card
Respiratory Protection Guide for Small Entities
Noise eTool
SAWS
Controlling Silica-Masonry Saw
Guarding eTool
TRUCKS AND VEHICULAR TRAFFIC
Loading and Unloading
Preventing Back Overs
Preventing Back Overs: Spotter
Vehicle Inspection
Unintended Movement of Body Beds
Work Zone Safety: Traffic
AREAS / PEOPLE
ACID CLEANING
HazCom
OSHA Chemical Database
Protection Against Dermal Hazards From Chemicals
Solvent Cleaning
Spray Operations
CONCRETE AND MASONRY WORK
Concrete Products
Working with Cement
ELECTRICAL
Electric Power Generation eTool
Electrical Safety
LOTO eTool
Working Safely with Electricity
EXCAVATION
Backhoe Operator: Best Practices
Dozer Operator: Best Practices
Sewer Gas- H2S Fact Sheet
Sewer Gas- H2S Quick card
Trench Safety
Trenching
Trenching Fact Sheet
Trenching Poster
FALLS
Fall Prevention Fact Sheet
Fall Prevention Guidance Document
Fall Protection Website
Residential Fall Prevention
Stop Falls
GENERAL
Construction eTool
Construction Hazard Prevention Video Tools
Construction Noise
Construction Pocket Guide
Construction Quick Card
Construction Top 4 Hazards Quick Card
Construction Industry Outreach
Training Materials by Topic or Language
First Aide: Best Practice Guide
STEEL ERECTION
Steel Erection Overview
Steel Erection eTool
Steel Erection
WELDING
Welding Website
WORKING OUTDOORS
Heat Stress
Working in the Heat
Rodents, Snakes and Insects
Hand Hygiene
Healthcare
"You are the head of Sacred Heart Hospital, a mid-sized ER operating in the middle of the suburbs. Your goal is to keep the ER's budget high and ensure that your workers remain safe from day to day..."
The healthcare scenario is intended to cover the general operations of an emergency department in a small to mid-size hospital. Patients come in through the Waiting Area or the Ambulance Entrance and are seen in Triage. They are then moved to Trauma, Treatment or Isolation Rooms.
Below are some resources relevant specifically to the Healthcare Scenario.
OSHA Resources
CHEMICALS/CLEANING/LAUNDRY
OSHA Occupational Chemical Database
Protecting Workers Who Use Cleaning Chemicals
Cleaning Chemicals and Your Health
Guideline for Disinfection and Sterilization in Healthcare Facilities, 2008
Laundry
COMPUTER WORKSTATIONS
Computer Workstations
Computer Workstations eTool
Working Safely with Video Display Terminals
Easy Ergonomics For Desktop Computer Users
Workstation Adjustments For Comfort and Safety
Video Display Terminal Guidelines
Ergonomics at Work
Ergonomics
Evaluating Your Computer Workstation
Computer Keyboards & Video Display Terminals
ERGONOMICS
Ergonomics
Beyond Getting Started
Sonography
Patient Handling and Movement Assessments
A Back Injury Prevention Guide
Safe Patient Handling and Movement
Safe Patient Handling Training for Schools of Nursing
Safe Patient Handling and Movement Principles
Ergonomics at Work
Safe Patient Handling
Handle With Care
Ergonomics
Solutions to Control Hazards
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Laundry: Lifting/Pushing Hazards
Ergonomic Interventions by Industry
GENERAL HEALTH CARE RESOURCES
Guidelines for Environmental Infection Control in Health-Care Facilities
Worker Safety in Hospitals
Hospital eTool
Guidelines for Protecting the Safety and Health of Health Care Workers
Home Healthcare
Nursing Homes and Personal Care Facilities
Grant Materials: Health Care
Improving Patient and Worker Safety
CDC - Handwashing: Clean Hands Save Lives
CDC - Hand Hygiene in Healthcare Settings
CDC - Healthcare Workers
INFECTIOUS/BIOLOGICAL AGENTS
Biological Agents
MRSA
Preparation and Planning for Bioterrorism Emergencies
Workplace Safety and the Flu
NEEDLE STICK PREVENTION
Bloodborne Pathogens and Needlestick Prevention
Bloodborne Pathogens
Bloodborne Infectious Diseases: HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C
Preventing Needlesticks and Sharps Injuries
PPE
Latex Allergy
Potential for Sensitization and Possible Allergic Reaction To Natural Rubber Latex Gloves and Other Natural Rubber Products
Latex Allergy A Prevention Guide
Personal Protective Equipment
(Lack of) Personal Protective Equipment
CDC - PPE
Eye Protection for Infection Control
Respiratory Protection for Healthcare Workers Training Video
Recommendations for the Selection and Use of Respirators and Protective Clothing for Protection Against Biological Agents
Respirator Cleaning Procedures (Mandatory)
SLIPS, TRIPS, AND FALLS
SPECIAL SITUATIONS
Hazard of Laser Surgery Smoke
Control of Smoke From Laser/Electric Surgical Procedures
Laser Plume in Surgical Procedures
Waste Anesthetic Gases
Radiological Worker Training Guide
Ionizing Radiation
Radiation Safety
Ionizing Radiation and Diagnostic Examinations
Hazardous Drugs
Occupational Exposure to Antineoplastic Agents
Work Precautions for Handling Hazardous Drugs Highlighted by NIOSH, OSHA, Joint Commission
NIOSH List of Antineoplastic and Other Hazardous Drugs in Healthcare Settings 2012
Hazardous Drug Exposures in Health Care
WORKPLACE VIOLENCE
Guidelines for Preventing Workplace Violence for Health Care & Social Service Workers
Workplace Violence
MISCELLANEOUS
Preventing Backovers
Compressed Gas Safety Guide
Compressed Gas Safety General Safety Guidelines
Hospital Investigations: Health Hazards
Emergency Washing Facilities
Fire Safety
Healthcare Wide Hazards: Fire
Emergency Preparedness