Location hazard, equipment or substance hazard or activity hazard?

Many situations pose a range of hazards, not just one. IOSH require people who are completing their IOSH Managing Safely project to catagorise the hazards that they identify as being related to the location (part 2), equipment, substance (part 3) or activity (part 4).

It's all in how you describe what is, or could be, wrong. Here's an example using display screen equipment (DSE)

Location
The DSE reflects the window behind the operator making it difficult to clearly see the screen, which could cause eye strain, fatigue or stress. By turning the screen so that the window is not reflected in the DSE the problem is solved. It was where the DSE was placed that caused the problem.

Equipment
The DSE is an old cathode ray tube (CRT) type, with a reflective screen. The lights in the office are reflected on the DSE, which could cause eye strain, fatigue or stress. By replacing the old CRT with a modern, flat screen DSE, which is less reflective the problem is solved. It was the reflective nature of the screen that caused the problem.

Activity
Operators work at their computer workstations for prolonged periods without breaks. Looking at the DSE for these prolonged periods can cause eye strain, fatigue or stress. Introducing frequent breaks solves the problem. It was the prolonged nature of the activity that caused the problem.

Simples eh?

Good luck.

If you don't want to bank on luck to get you through your IOSH Managing Safely get in touch with Lynwood.