Supplementary

Guidance

Preliminary Hazard Analysis

Conduct preliminary hazard analysis

How to identify hazards in the Preliminary Hazards Analysis?

Background
A hazard is a source of potential harm or a situation with potential to cause loss, injury or illness. 1
At this stage the client will have discussed the workplace with the designer. For large or complex
workplaces a more structured approach may be necessary to be certain of establishing the breadth
of workplace hazards.
The Designing Safer Buildings and Structures guide suggests that a planned approach to ensure
no hazards are omitted can be done by considering the following:

Siting of building or structure, e.g. poor siting or lack of separation from neighbouring industry.

High consequence hazards, e.g. dangerous goods storage, high energy hazards (electricity,
temperature, pressure), and biological hazards.

Systems of work, e.g. main and ancillary work activities (maintenance, cleaning, etc).

Environmental conditions, e.g. inadequate ventilation, lighting and welfare facilities.

Incident mitigation, e.g. inadequate egress, siting of assembly areas, inadequate emergency
services access, inadequate fire protection/suppression.

The emphasis at this stage is on the breadth of hazards and not necessarily the depth which is
considered in systematic risk management. As a guide, the level of analysis should match the
level of detail known about the design.
Purpose
To identify the breadth of large or complex hazards including the clients view about what solutions
apply, e.g. appropriate Standards or Codes.
Method
A client may be using a consultant 2 at this stage of the design. The designer should seek to be
involved from the beginning of the process rather than at the final stages involving given outputs. It
will be important that a systematic hazard identification process is used.
If the client is not using a consultant and the client cannot provide the information systematically,
external assistance may be needed to complete this step.
Technique

1
2

Explanation

Hazard identification
checklists (see Hazard
Identification Prompt for
Designer General
Workplace Hazard
Guidance Note)

This is the simplest form of a systematic preliminary hazard analysis

and is suited to workplaces that are not considered hazardous. It relies
on the knowledge and the experience of the person completing the
checklist and therefore should be completed by someone who is wellinformed in the hazards associated with the workplace. When using
checklists care must be taken not to limit the scope of review.

Hazard identification
workshops (see How do you
conduct workshops

Workshops are very effective at gathering the experience and

knowledge of various people. They should be used at this stage where:

There are high consequence hazards, or

Adapted from AS/NZS 4360 Risk Management

For complex designs clients may engage an engineering consultancy.

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guidance note)

The hazards may not be immediately obvious

Knowledge about the hazard or risk controls is required from a

number of different people.

Step 1: Preparation
Before you conduct a preliminary hazard analysis you should have defined the boundaries of your
design and the scope of the analysis.
Select an appropriate hazard identification prompt list. Other checklists can be found in Codes of
Practice (e.g. Plant Safety, Manual Handling) and industry guidance material.
Step 2: Identify hazards
Create a list of potential hazards using the process below. Record the hazards on the attached
preliminary hazard analysis worksheet.

Siting of buildings or
structures

How could the workplace impact the surrounding area?

How could neighbours (e.g. hazardous industry) impact the workplace?
How could the building layout affect workplace hazards?
Can people, deliveries and vehicles safely access the workplace?

High consequence
hazards
Systems of work
(Workplace activities)

What Dangerous Goods, high energy hazards (e.g. electricity, temperature,

pressure), or biological hazards could be present in the workplace?
What are the main work activities and ancillary work activities (e.g.
maintenance, cleaning, etc)?
Review each activity against the hazard identification checklists.

Environment

How could the workplace environment introduce hazards? (e.g. hazards may
include inadequate ventilation, lighting and welfare facilities)
How could potential incidents escalate? (e.g. inadequate fire
protection/suppression.)

Incident Mitigation
How could emergency response be hindered? e.g. inadequate egress, siting
of assembly areas, inadequate emergency services access.

Step 3: Consultation
Consult various stakeholders to ensure you have adequately identified the potential hazards. In
some cases you may need to consult specialists to ensure you have adequate competency in
dealing with the hazards (see the links below).
Step 4: Further Research
Conduct any further research required to ensure you adequately understand the potential hazards.
This may include:

Researching of information from similar workplaces.

Examining company records of incidents and dangerous occurrences in the workplace (where
available).

Inspecting similar workplaces.

Consulting health and safety representatives and employees (if possible).

Reviewing industry information. Keeping up to date with information released about particular
products and processes. Contact with other workplaces using similar processes.

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Reviewing relevant Regulations and Codes of Practice.

Output
A comprehensive list of the breadth of hazards associated with the workplace in a register. At this
stage you may also list potential Australian Standards and codes used to address these hazards
and potential recommendations for the design.
Communicate the identified hazards and controls to various stakeholders.
Linkage
http://www.workcover.vic.gov.au/vwa/home.nsf/pages/service_providers

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Preliminary Hazard Analysis Worksheet

Design Brief:
Preliminary Hazard Analysis scope:

Hazard Category

Next level
breakdown

Hazards

In-scope of
Section 28?

Potential source of
control - Standards

Siting of buildings
or structures
High consequence
hazards
Systems of work
(workplace
activities)
Environment

Incident mitigation

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Industry/ workplace
performance

Is full risk
management
required?

Hazard Identification Prompts for Designers - General workplace hazards

Note: This checklist is intended to stimulate brainstorming but it is not an exhaustive list.
Depending on the workplace there may be hazard types not listed here. When identifying hazards
be pessimistic and identify all hazards, insignificant hazards can be screened out later.
This hazard prompt list is based on the principle of damaging energies. This principle assumes
that injury or damage occurs as a result of uncontrolled damaging energy acting on or within a
person.

Damaging Energy
Biomechanical

Chemical

Electrical energy
Gravitational

Mechanical

Microbiological
Noise and vibration
Pressure
Psychosocial
Radiation
Thermal

Hazard

Hazard
High forces
Repetitive movement or sustained posture
Explosion
Fire
Toxicity
Incompatible materials
Asphyxiant
Dust
Fumes/Lack of ventilation
Electrical wiring and equipment
Fall from height
Slips/trips
Dropped objects
Structural collapse
Moving material/equipment
Mobile equipment
Cuts
Bacteria, viruses or other pathogens
Noise
High pressure
Low pressure
Violence
Stress
Radiation
Heat/Cold

Examples

Examples of risk controls

Working at height - Refer to Prevention of Falls Regulations and Code of Practice

Fall from height

Unprotected edges, inadequate

height access, ladders

Allow work to be done at ground

level, platforms, stairs, guard
railing, height access equipment.

Slips/trips

Change in levels, steps, slippery

floor surface, poor lighting

Appropriate ramps/steps,
adequate lighting, surface
finish/texture.

Dropped objects

Elevated work platforms, work near

unprotected edges.

Toe guards, barriers.

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Structural collapse

Inadequate strength, fatigue

Appropriate design limits

Fire/Explosion - Refer to Hazardous Substances and Dangerous Goods Storage and Handling
Regulations and Codes of Practice
Explosion

Fire or explosion from flammable

solids, dusts, liquids or gases
Combustible materials or liquids

Hazardous area rated electrical

equipment, controlled ignition
sources, bunding, explosion
venting.

Fire

Escalation of fire, lack of fire

prevention/suppression,
inadequate emergency egress or
assembly points.

Fire resistant materials,

reduction of combustibles,
bulk/local storage areas and
bunding, fire walls, area
separation detection and alarms,
fire suppression systems (e.g.
sprinklers), extinguishers.

Chemical - Refer to Hazardous Substances and Dangerous Goods Storage and Handling Regulations and
Codes of Practice
Toxicity

Storage, transport or handling toxic

solids, liquids or gases.

Adequate containment and

separation from persons,
bulk/local storage areas and
bunding, ventilation/extraction,
detection and alarms.

Incompatible materials

Incompatible dangerous goods

(e.g. acids/caustics) causing high
temperature or pressure or
creating toxic byproducts

Separation of incompatible
dangerous goods, bulk/local
storage areas and bunding

Asphyxiant

Asphyxiants such as carbon

monoxide or exhaust fumes
Gases that displace oxygen (e.g.
nitrogen, carbon dioxide).

Ventilation/extraction, detection
and alarms

Pressure - Refer to Plant Regulations and Code of Practice

High pressure

Release of liquids (e.g. large

tanks) or gases (tyres, gas
cylinders) under pressure from
impact, corrosion or vibration.

Reduce pressure, separation

and barriers, pressure rated
equipment pipes, hoses and
fittings, pressure relief devices.

Low pressure

Tank/silo collapse as level or

temperature drops, vacuum.

Reduce pressure differential,

pressure rating on vessels,
pressure relief devices.

Plant/Equipment - Refer to Plant Regulations and Code of Practice

Moving material/equipment

In-running nips, entanglement,

shearing, striking, etc.

Separation/guarding

Mobile equipment

Forklifts, cranes, vehicles,

deliveries

Separation of people and mobile

equipment, barriers.

Cuts

Sharp edges, broken glass.

Reduce or protect sharp edges.

Use toughened glass.

Electrical Refer to EnergySafe Victoria guidance

Electrical wiring and equipment

Overhead cables near roadways,

Underground cables, Switchrooms,
Electrical equipment, switch boxes.

Locate roads/access away from

overhead cables, fencing, signs
and restricted access.

Physical Environment A number of Regulations and Codes of Practice may apply

Noise

Noisy equipment, lack of

attenuation.

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Reduction of noise at source,

isolation, attenuating materials,
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separation of equipment from

persons.
Heat/Cold

Cool rooms, draughts from

ventilation system
Furnaces, heaters, sun

Air conditioning, ventilation, fans.

Insulation, heat guards,
separation distances from
workers, shade structures

Radiation

Sun/UV, electromagnetic, Ionising,

Infra-red, Lasers

Shade structures, UV protective

glass, separate radiation emitting
devices from persons by
separation and protective
structures.

Dust

Dust generated by equipment or

storage and handling of material.

Separation, ventilation.

Fumes/Lack of ventilation

Location of air con intake, engine

exhaust, process by-products,
burners.

Separation, ventilation.

Inclement weather

Slippery surfaces, flooding, wind,

lightning

Surface materials, drainage,

design loadings for wind,
lightning conduction.

Manual Handling Refer to Manual Handling Regulations and Code of Practice

High forces

Lifting, pushing, pulling, holding,

throwing and carrying.

Repetitive movement or sustained

posture

Packing, typing, assembling,

cleaning and sorting, using hand
tools and operating equipment

Environment

See Environment hazards above

(e.g. climatic conditions may
increase risk of injury).

Microbiological
Bacteria, viruses or other
pathogens

Legionella, blood products, waste

Dry air conditioning,

Psychosocial - Refer to Prevention of Bullying and Violence at Work guidance note

Violence

Violent customers, illegal activities

(e.g. robberies), access at night.

Stress

Can be affected by a range of

factors

Isolation, separation from

potentially violent customers,
distress alarms, lighting,
reducing isolation of areas.

Other
Are there any other hazards not
considered?

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