When should a hazard assessment be performed?

When should a hazard assessment be performed?

• A. Before work begins.
• B. After an incident occurs.
• C. At the end of the fiscal year.
• D. Only when new equipment is introduced.

Answer: (C)

Hazard assessments are done before work starts to identify potential risks and put controls in place ahead of time. By assessing first, you can select safe procedures, train workers, and choose appropriate protective measures so everyone is protected before any exposure to hazards occurs. Doing it only after an incident is reactive and means hazards that existed before may go unaddressed. Waiting until the end of the fiscal year treats it as an administrative task rather than a safety step. And limiting the assessment to times when new equipment is introduced misses hazards that come from changes in processes, environment, or methods, which can arise at any time. The proactive, work-before-start approach is the one that best reduces risk for workers.

Hazard assessments are done before work starts to identify potential risks and put controls in place ahead of time. By assessing first, you can select safe procedures, train workers, and choose appropriate protective measures so everyone is protected before any exposure to hazards occurs.

Doing it only after an incident is reactive and means hazards that existed before may go unaddressed. Waiting until the end of the fiscal year treats it as an administrative task rather than a safety step. And limiting the assessment to times when new equipment is introduced misses hazards that come from changes in processes, environment, or methods, which can arise at any time. The proactive, work-before-start approach is the one that best reduces risk for workers.