Hazard identification information collection

Critical to hazard characterization is the identification of hazards and the assessment of possible worker exposure. This can be accomplished in a variety of ways. As described before, one commonly used technique is a JHA with project teams that include the worker. The information collected is used by the SSHO and the radiation control officer to develop an appropriate hazard control and protection strategy. 

Scientists skilled in epidemiology, toxicology, and related disciplines collect and evaluate all of the scientific literature containing information regarding the types of toxic effect the chemical under review has been shown to produce. Toxic effects include one or more of the many manifestations of toxicity described earlier in this book. The list of adverse health effects produced by the chemical are said to constitute its toxic hazards, and the critical review and evaluation leading to the list is the hazard identification step. A discussion of the extent to which causal associations with human disease or toxic harm have been established is an important aspect of this step. 

Hazard identification is the process of collecting and evaluating information on the effects of an agent on animal or human health and well-being. In most cases, this involves a careful assessment of the adverse effects and what is the most sensitive population. The dose-response assessment involves evaluation of the relationship between dose and adverse effect. Typically, an effort is made to determine the lowest dose or exposure at which an effect is observed. A comparison is often made between animal data and any human data that might be available. Next is exposure assessment, in which an evaluation of the likely exposure to any given population is assessed. Important parameters include the dose, duration, frequency, and route of exposure. The final step is risk characterization, in which all the above information is synthesized and a judgment made on what is an acceptable level of human exposure. In the simplest terms, risk is the product of two factors hazard and exposure (i.e. hazard x exposure = risk). In real risk assessments, all hazards may not be known and exposure is often difficult to quantify precisely. As a result, the calculated risk may not accurately reflect the real risk. The accuracy of a risk assessment is no better than the data and assumptions upon which it is based. 

The purpose of hazard identification is to evaluate the weight of evidence for adverse effects in humans based on assessment of all available data, ranging from observations in humans and animal data to an analysis of mechanisms of action and structure-activity relationships. Each source of information has its advantages and limitations, which determine the weight of that evidence collectively, the evidence permits a scientific judgement as to whether the chemical can cause adverse effects. 

In a waste disposal site evaluation, the hazard identification step will involve collecting and validating all recorded and other information on the nature and properties of the wastes actually in a site. The purpose is to determine whether a hazardous situation actually exists. Stated simply, is there a potential for harm to health and the environment when considering the materials present ... 

Three assessment phases are recognised widely. The first is hazard identification this is described as a Phase la investigation. In this, a conceptual model is developed for the site that identifies potential receptors, contaminant sources and pathways, by which contamination can reach receptors. The second phase (Phase lb) tests the conceptual model, by collecting and analysing quantitative information to support model validation. The final phase is risk assessment (Phase 2) in which the conceptual model is used to estimate and evaluate the actual or potential risks to receptors. 

XYZ Chemical has similar operations consisting primarily of pesticide and herbicide manufacturing operations in the United States, Europe, Asia, and South America. Since the operations are similar, the prioritization process (illustrated in Table 3.4) consists of cataloging all chemicals in transit (in and out of their facilities), modes of transport, qnantities, and nnmber of annual shipments. Specifically, the prioritization process is a combination of the hazards- and consequence-based prioritization processes illnstrated in Figure 3.4. If this process were expanded to a likelihood- or risk-based process, then additional factors (e.g., the number of shipment, length of shipment) may have been included in the prioritization. With this data collected, the hazards of each chemical and the potential impacts are docnmented based on the chemical physical properties and quantities in transit. With all of the information collected, the following qualitative ranking is nsed to prioritize issnes for escalation and identification of countries and operations that will need to condnct more detailed risk analyses ... 

Data collection is extremely important for hazard identification and preliminary hazard analysis. The following are some of the sources from where required data may be available. Also analysts carrying out the analysis must have a fair amount of knowledge of the functionality of the system, details of the area of concerned, system design intent, possible installation details, etc. So, an information source list is very important. 

Eor hazard identification, it is advisable to use questionnaires. In the case of more complex and complicated equipment, experts in the field of machine safety must possess more experience and the methods used must be of higher complexity. Modem technical risk analyses are based on the collection of a vast amount of data that depict the technical conditions of the equipment. The pieces of information are further processed by computers, the central units, and are then compared with the acceptable values saved on the hard disk. The measures are implemented either automatically via the feedback connections of the operating elements, or are performed by the operational staff based upon the respective data. Based on the collected data, the appropriate maintenance is carried out and its strategy is designed to ensure safe equipment operation with respect to other additional goals, such as preparedness, reliability, space reduction, and so on. 

Assessment Phase The assessment phase aims to collect data needed to identify and analyze pollution-prevention opportunities. Assessment of the facility s waste-reduction needs includes the examination of hazardous waste streams, process operations, and the identification of techniques that often promise the reduction of waste generation. Information is often derived from obsei vations made during a facihty walk-through, interviews with employees (e.g., operators, line workers), and review of site or regulatory records. One professional organization suggests the following information sources be reviewed, as available (Ref. 7) ... 

Collect Chemical Reactivity Data Process Knowledge and Documentation Process Safety Information Identification of Major Hazards... 

All recruitment and selection activities should begin with a job analysis. Job analysis allows the task requirements of a job to be precisely determined. Furthermore, job analysis allows the safety risks associated with a job to be determined, and also the identification of the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to work, both safely, and at a satisfactory performance level. It is well established that the occupation or job a person is performing substantially influences accident vulnerability (Ford and Wiggins 2012). In other words, it is vital for safety, for the specific hazards and risks associated with a job to be identified, and conducting a job analysis is an approach which can be used to collect this information. Without the essential information which job analysis provides, it is impossible to provide job applicants with a realistic safety preview for the job (see Chap. 3, Sect. 3.7.2.1), and difiicult to know what competencies a new employee needs to bring to the job, and therefore what should be measured in a selection program. 

The assets and infrastructure identification assessment can be a very time-consuming process but is necessary to adequately identify the school s infrastructure. This information is used to target efforts on those systems and assets that are necessary to best protect the students, staff, and other individuals located within the school. When this information has been collected, the assessment team should focus on the execution of an inclusive threat and hazard assessment. 

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