Classification Of Hazards

In order to effectively manage risks, it is necessary to classify hazards identified during the safety inspections and allocate points to different hazards according to severity, frequency and possible exposure. 

Normally three factors are used for this classification exercise namely severity (how serious it is), frequency (how often it occurs) and exposure (how many people will be exposed).

Severity

Class A – (Major, catastrophic, high priority, 4 points) – an incident that causes death or permanent disability or extensive damage to property or the environment.

Class B – (Serious, medium priority, 3 points) – such incidents may cause serious injury or disease or sufficient property damage to cause disruption, but without permanent far-reaching effects.

Class C – (Minor, low priority, 2 points) – these incidents normally cause minor injury or disease, if any, and minor disruption in the workplace.

Class D – (Negligible, 1 point) – no injury or loss of property involved.

Frequency

A – Likely to happen immediately. (4 points)

B – Probably will happen in time. (3 points)

C – Possible to happen in time. (2 points)

D – Unlikely to happen. (1 point)

Exposure

The number of people likely to be exposed to the hazard:

A – More than 50. (4 points)

B – 10 – 49. (3 points)

C – 5 – 9. (2 points)

D – Fewer than 5. (1 point)

Example:

A major hazard (4 points), which is likely to become a major incident immediately (4 points) and likely to involve more than 50 people (4 points) will score a total of 16 points, the worst case scenario. 

By repeating the same exercise on other incidents the total points scored will determine the priority of the situation. 

Hazards with a high score (12 – 16 points) will take high priority, demanding immediate corrective action; while hazards with a low score (1 – 5 points) will not be treated with the same urgency.