Risk assessments are only effective for the known hazards. This means that those unidentified hazards can still pose a risk if no personnel ever acknowledge them. The best way to address this issue is to study hazards, understand how they manifest, and evaluate their potential effects. To get you started, here are a few examples of specific sites and their most common hazards.

High-rise construction: Falling from heights

High-rise building construction often necessitates suspending personnel at significant heights. Without proper measures—like guardrails, personal harnesses, fall arrest systems, and nonslip working platforms—workers could potentially be at risk of falling. Most of the critical control measures needed in work environments like these focus on preventing and mitigating falls.

Underground coal mine: Methane Gas Explosion

The formation of coal occurs through the breakdown of organic matter, which is facilitated by bacteria and geological heat. When this happens, some of the hydrogen and carbon in the organic matter is converted into hydrocarbons, which include methane gas. The coal that is formed then acts like a sponge and absorbs the methane.

Methane poses a significant threat in coal mining because it is not only highly flammable and explosive but also difficult to detect due to being an invisible gas. Coal mines need to contain and implement strict safety measures for all possible equipment and activities that could ignite the gas.

Grain storage silo: Dust Explosion

A dust explosion happens when small dust particles become suspended in the air, forming a dust cloud that, under particular circumstances, may ignite and generate a large explosion. Fine grain dust, for example, builds up in a grain silo and becomes very combustible when combined with air. All that is left is a possible ignition source. Just like coal mines, these silos must be provided with safety control measures that prevent any ignition from happening.

Offshore oil rig: Fire or Explosion due to flammable fumes

Explosions on oil rigs may have severe consequences. There could be serious injuries or fatalities for workers in the nearby area. The harmful substances and smoke generated by the explosion have a negative impact on the nearby surroundings. Because rigs sit on top of continual fuel sources, extinguishing an oil fire once it begins is exceedingly difficult. The three most prevalent causes of this fire are malfunctions, negligence, and uncontrolled gases.

Logging site: Struck by falling trees

In the logging sector, workers often sustain injuries from falling trees. Concussions, shattered bones, and internal injuries are all examples of the types of injuries that can result from this event. To eliminate and mitigate struck-by events, team members must create an SSRA with control measures such as maintaining clear communication, creating safe work zones, and wearing adequate head protection.