How Employers Can Identify and Mitigate Workplace Hazards

Every year in Australia, around 3.5% of workers experience a work-related injury or illness. That’s about one in every 28 workers. These incidents don’t just affect individuals, they also cost the economy tens of billions of dollars annually through lost productivity, claims, time off work and organisational disruption.

A proactive approach to identifying and managing hazards is one of the most effective ways to prevent these incidents and create a safer, healthier workplace.

Understanding Workplace Hazards

Hazards can exist in any work environment, and the main categories include:

• Physical hazards: slips, trips, falls, machinery, noise and manual handling

• Environmental hazards: poor ventilation, hazardous chemicals, asbestos, air contaminants

• Psychosocial hazards: stress, bullying, conflict, excessive workload, poor support

These risks can arise from tasks, the work environment, equipment or organisational factors, making structured assessment essential.

Step 1: Identify Hazards

Employers should actively look for anything that has the potential to cause harm by:

• Conducting regular site inspections

• Talking with workers about concerns

• Reviewing injury records and near-miss reports

• Considering risks associated with new equipment or process changes

Bringing in WHS experts can also help identify less obvious or technical hazards.

Step 2: Assess the Risks

Assessing hazards involves determining:

• The likelihood of the hazard causing harm

• How severe the potential harm could be

• Who might be exposed

This helps employers prioritise which risks require immediate action.

Step 3: Control the Risks

Once risks are assessed, employers should implement strong, effective controls:

• Elimination: Completely removing the hazard where possible

• Engineering controls: Ventilation, guards, redesigning layouts, ergonomic solutions

• Administrative controls: Policies, procedures, training and supervision

• PPE: Used only as a final layer of protection

The goal is always to use the most effective control and avoid relying on PPE alone.

Step 4: Review and Improve

Work environments, staff and processes change. Employers should regularly review their controls, update procedures and continue involving workers in safety discussions.

The Benefits of Managing Hazards Well

Businesses that prioritise hazard management typically experience:

• Higher staff morale and wellbeing

• Fewer injuries and reduced compensation claims

• Better productivity and smoother operations

• Lower turnover and stronger team culture

• A positive reputation as a safe and supportive workplace

A strong safety approach is more than compliance, it’s an investment in people and business performance.

‍

‍

This is an abridgement of article posted by Altius

‍