Risk Analysis & Hazard Identification Flashcards

Under the Canadian Occupational Health and Safety framework, the 'Internal Responsibility System (IRS)' requires that hazard identification is:

Answer: A shared responsibility among employers, supervisors, and workers at all levels

The IRS holds every workplace party — employer, supervisor, and worker — jointly responsible for identifying and controlling hazards.

A 'critical incident stress' following a workplace fatality can affect risk perception by:

Answer: Causing workers to underestimate future risks once initial shock fades

After initial heightened awareness fades, workers may revert to or exceed prior risk normalization, a phenomenon known as risk habituation.

Which factor most increases the likelihood that a hazard will cause an incident?

Answer: Workers are routinely exposed to the hazard without adequate controls

Routine, uncontrolled exposure to a hazard significantly raises the probability of it causing harm.

A 'management of change (MOC)' process is triggered in infrastructure projects to:

Answer: Systematically evaluate hazards introduced by modifications to equipment, processes, or procedures

MOC ensures that any planned change is reviewed for new or increased hazards before implementation, preventing unintended consequences.

In the context of IHSA coaching, 'safety climate' most directly influences hazard identification by affecting:

Answer: Workers' willingness to report hazards without fear of reprisal

A positive safety climate where reporting is encouraged and blame-free leads to more hazards being identified and corrected before incidents occur.

Which is the correct sequence in a risk management process?

Answer: Identify → Assess → Control → Monitor

The standard risk management cycle is: identify hazards, assess their risk, implement controls, then monitor effectiveness.

A safety coach notices that workers consistently bypass a machine guard because it slows production. This is best classified as:

Answer: A systemic hazard requiring a redesigned engineering control rather than a behavioral fix alone

When workers routinely bypass a control, the control itself is inadequate; an engineering solution that doesn't impede productivity must be found.