Generic Hazard Checklist

This generic hazard checklist can be used to help identify hazards and hazard sources in any industry. Of course, every industry has unique hazards that will not be on this list. Some of the hazards on this list are unique to certain hazard scenarios others are common cause factors that will cross all subsystan boundaries. Many of the hazards are repeated in different categories. As can be seen, the generic hazard checklist has many of the same entries as the energy source checklist. That is because energy sources make up the vast majority of hazards. 

Note As for aU checklists, it is impossible to be aU inclusive. This list should be viewed as a starting point. As you gain more experience, you may wish to add to this list and keep it for future reference. And as the book says many times, a checklist is not a substitute for a safety analysis. What it is good for is helping you to make sure that you are including a long list of potential hazards. By definition, it is nonexhaustive. 

Acceleration/deceleration Falling objects Fragments/projectiles Impacts 

Inappropriate control system operation Inappropriate software operation Interference to control system Sneak circnit 

Distribntion feedback Electrical noise Electrical snrges Electromagnetic interference Excessive solder Gronnding 

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A succinct definition is that a hazard is a condition that can cause injury or death, damage to or loss of equipment or property, or environmental harm (Roland and Moriarty, 1990). Some typical hazards in various systems are electrical discharge or shock, fire or explosion, rapid pressure release, and extreme high or low temperature. Chapter 5 discusses the different types of hazards. Appendix B is a generic hazard checklist. 

To start the what-ifls fety checklist, consider Appendix B, Generic Hazard Checklist, and form simple questions from the listed hazards. Start with side A and then go to side B, and then look at the entire system. 

Obviously, not all the items listed in the generic hazard checklist are applicable to this system, such as electrical, explosives, or radiation. Space does not allow giving a full listing of all the possible hazards however, some of the more salient ones are shown in Table 6.5. 

The book includes appendices of useful lists to help you apply the systan safety engineering and risk assessment tools and safety management system program described in the book. Typical energy sources, generic hazard checklists, and facility safety checklists are included. The final appendix gives yon some useful website addresses for more information. 

The hazards associated with the process may noi, be in generic information, Checklists idcnlify iiazards but not the accident scenarios that lead to the hazards. 

GENERIC HAZARD EVALUATION CHECKLIST SYSTEM/PROGRAM PERFORMED BY DATE ... 

Figure6.3 Sample generic hazard evaluation checklist [source. Technical Analysis, Inc. (1989)].

Figure 6.8 Vapor degreaser generic hazard evaluation checklist.

A hazard checklist is a generic list of items known to be hazardous or that might create potentially hazardous designs or situations. The hazard checklist should not be considered complete or all-inclusive. Hazard checklists are used in FLA to assist in the identification of hazards. Hazard checklists help trigger the analyst s recognition of potential HSs, from past lessons learned. 

A common approach for conducting a formal design safety review is to methodically work through a Design Safety Checklist. Some organizations use a generic checklist, supplemented with additional checklists for specific disciplines, such as electrical or chemical systems. For each system element, reviewers address the various forms of energy present and the steps taken to control unwanted or hazardous release. 

Facilitator leads a methodical review using a generic checklist, with team members asking detailed questions to ensure thorough consideration of hazards and their control. Checkhst items and sections that are not apphcable are so noted. 

Process checklists are also used for preliminary hazard identification. They are often developed in generic form for activities such as shirting up a new process or modifying a current process. They should be followed by more detailed analyses. 

This generic checklist can help identify hazards and hazard sources in a facility. As you can see, this list is very similar to the two previous appendixes, mixing both functional areas and specific devices. Also, some of the areas overlap, just as they do in many industrial plants. Because there are a plethora of different kinds of facilities around the world and in different industries, this list is only something to help get you started on a facility hazard analysis. 

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