Hazard Recognition

Improve your situational awareness

Get in the habit of regularly pausing to make a quick mental assessment of your working environment. When doing so, consider the following questions:

• Is there anything around you that poses a threat to your health and safety and if so, to what extent?
• Is the threat big enough that you should stop working?
• Is there anything you can do to safely reduce that threat in order that you can carry on working safely?

Use the SLAM technique described below.

If you see something unsafe or spot a hazard, don’t walk by – take responsibility to deal with it.

If you feel you are in any immediate danger to your health or safety STOP work immediately and inform your supervisor.

The SLAM Technique:

SLAM consists of four simple steps:

• STOP Engage your mind before your hands. Look at the task in hand
• LOOK at your workplace and find the hazards to you and your team mates. Report these immediately to your supervisor
• ASSESS the effects that the hazards have on you, the people you work with, equipment, procedures, pressures and the environment. Ask yourself if you have the knowledge, training and tools to do the task safely. Do this with your supervisor
• MANAGE If you feel unsafe stop working. Tell your supervisor and workmates. Tell your supervisor what actions you think are necessary to make the situation safe