| Flying particles, dust, or chemical splashes |
Identify the material, particle or splash direction, task duration, and whether the hazard can be contained or removed at source. |
Machine guards or local exhaust ventilation; safety glasses with side protection; goggles or a face shield when the risk assessment calls for added coverage. |
Choose eye and face protection suited to the specific impact or splash hazard. A face shield generally supplements, rather than replaces, suitable primary eye protection. Check fit, visibility, compatibility, and replacement needs. |
In the United States, OSHA requires employers to assess workplace hazards and select appropriate PPE. Eye and face protection should meet applicable consensus standards. |
| Excessive noise |
Measure employee noise exposure over the work shift and identify high-noise tasks, equipment, and locations. |
Quieter equipment, maintenance, acoustic controls, exposure-time controls, and properly selected earplugs or earmuffs. |
Under the U.S. OSHA general-industry rule, an 8-hour time-weighted average of 85 dBA triggers a hearing conservation program; the permissible exposure limit is 90 dBA over 8 hours. Confirm fit and communicate any required hearing tests and training. |
OSHA 29 CFR 1910.95. Applicable exposure limits and requirements can differ by jurisdiction. |
| Airborne contaminants or oxygen-deficient atmospheres |
Determine the contaminant, concentration, exposure route, oxygen level, and whether conditions may change during the task. |
Substitution, enclosure, or local exhaust ventilation; suitable respirators when engineering and work-practice controls do not adequately address exposure. |
Do not select a respirator by comfort or appearance alone. A respiratory-protection program may need hazard evaluation, medical evaluation, fit testing, training, maintenance, and appropriate cartridge or filter selection. Unknown or immediately dangerous conditions require specialized controls and procedures. |
OSHA 29 CFR 1910.134 sets U.S. requirements for respiratory protection. Respirator selection must be based on the evaluated hazard. |
| Falls from elevated work areas |
Review work height, edges, openings, access routes, fall distance, anchorage, and whether work can be done from the ground. |
Guardrails, covers, work platforms, travel restraint, or a personal fall-arrest system where appropriate. |
Prioritize collective protection where feasible. For personal fall-arrest equipment, verify compatibility, anchorage, clearance, inspection, user training, and a prompt rescue plan. Requirements and trigger heights depend on the type of work and jurisdiction. |
U.S. OSHA fall-protection rules differ between construction and general industry and include task-specific exceptions. |
| Unexpected start-up or release of stored energy |
Identify electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, chemical, thermal, and other energy sources before servicing or maintenance. |
Energy-isolating devices, lockout devices, tags, blocking or restraining equipment, and a suitable means to verify isolation. |
Use a written, equipment-specific energy-control procedure where required. Workers must isolate energy, apply controls, address stored energy, and verify isolation before work begins; a tag alone may not provide physical isolation. |
OSHA 29 CFR 1910.147 addresses control of hazardous energy for covered servicing and maintenance activities. |
| Electrical shock or arc-flash exposure |
Identify electrical sources, task conditions, approach boundaries, and arc-flash risk using qualified personnel and appropriate assessment methods. |
De-energization and lockout; insulated tools and test instruments; barriers; and task-appropriate electrical PPE when required. |
Whenever feasible, establish an electrically safe work condition. Select PPE and equipment for the assessed exposure and task; verify ratings, inspection status, and compatibility. Do not use voltage alone as a substitute for an arc-flash assessment. |
U.S. OSHA electrical-safety requirements apply; recognized electrical safety standards provide additional guidance for hazard assessment and protective equipment selection. |
| Hand cuts, punctures, or abrasions |
Assess the material being handled, edge sharpness, force, task dexterity, and any chemical, heat, or snagging hazards. |
Safer handling tools, deburring or guarding controls, and task-appropriate protective gloves. |
Choose gloves for the specific hazard and required dexterity. Cut-resistance ratings do not establish protection against punctures, chemicals, heat, or every cutting task; check glove condition and replace damaged pairs. |
Use applicable glove-testing and rating standards as a comparison aid, alongside a task-specific hazard assessment. |
| Vehicle and pedestrian interaction |
Map traffic routes, blind corners, reversing areas, loading zones, pedestrian crossings, and visibility conditions. |
Physical separation, marked walkways, barriers, mirrors, warning signals, lighting, and high-visibility clothing where appropriate. |
Prioritize separating people from moving vehicles. Match visibility garments to the work environment and keep them clean and serviceable. Select vehicle warning devices as a supplement to traffic management, not a replacement for it. |
Workplace traffic controls should reflect the site layout, vehicle type, lighting, and applicable local requirements. |
