skills/wsh-risk-assessment/references/Appendix C Activity-to-Hazard Mapping Library.txt

# Appendix C: Activity-to-Hazard Mapping Library

## Purpose

This appendix provides examples of common activities and their associated hazards. It is intended to support systematic hazard identification by prompting consideration of reasonably foreseeable hazards that may arise during planning, preparation, operation, maintenance, transport, storage, emergency response, decommissioning, and disposal activities.

The hazards listed are illustrative and not exhaustive. They should be supplemented by activity-specific considerations, site conditions, equipment characteristics, environmental factors, and the competency of personnel involved.

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# Chemical Activities

## Chemical Weighing

Typical Hazards:

* Inhalation of airborne powders or particulates
* Chemical splashes during transfer
* Skin exposure to hazardous substances
* Eye exposure to hazardous substances
* Cross-contamination between chemicals
* Static discharge and ignition of combustible powders
* Ergonomic strain from repetitive tasks or awkward postures

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## Chemical Dispensing

Typical Hazards:

* Chemical splashes
* Vapour or aerosol release
* Container breakage or leakage
* Exposure to corrosive substances
* Exposure to toxic substances
* Transfer of incompatible chemicals
* Manual handling injuries

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## Chemical Mixing

Typical Hazards:

* Exothermic reactions
* Runaway reactions
* Pressure build-up
* Toxic gas or vapour generation
* Fire
* Explosion
* Chemical splashes and spills

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## Distillation

Typical Hazards:

* Ignition of flammable vapours
* Overheating of equipment or materials
* Glassware failure
* Pressure build-up
* Exposure to hot surfaces or liquids
* Chemical exposure from leaks or spills

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## Chemical Waste Collection

Typical Hazards:

* Mixing of incompatible wastes
* Chemical splashes
* Vapour release
* Container overfilling
* Mislabelling or incorrect segregation
* Environmental contamination
* Exposure during waste transfer

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## Compressed Gas Cylinder Handling

Typical Hazards:

* Cylinder toppling or falling
* Regulator failure
* High-pressure gas release
* Oxygen displacement and asphyxiation
* Fire involving flammable gases
* Manual handling injuries
* Impact from unsecured cylinders

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## Liquid Nitrogen Handling

Typical Hazards:

* Cryogenic burns
* Frostbite
* Oxygen deficiency due to gas displacement
* Pressure build-up in sealed systems
* Cold embrittlement of materials
* Splash injuries
* Condensation and oxygen enrichment hazards

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# Biological Activities

## Pipetting Biological Samples

Typical Hazards:

* Aerosol generation
* Exposure to biological agents
* Cross-contamination
* Repetitive strain injuries
* Skin exposure to biological materials
* Exposure through accidental splashes

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## Vortex Mixing

Typical Hazards:

* Aerosol generation
* Exposure to infectious or hazardous biological materials
* Sample leakage
* Cross-contamination
* Ergonomic strain

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## Centrifugation

Typical Hazards:

* Tube or vessel rupture
* Aerosol release
* Exposure to biological agents
* Mechanical failure
* Flying fragments
* Noise exposure
* Imbalance-related equipment damage

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## Biological Waste Handling

Typical Hazards:

* Exposure to infectious materials
* Sharps injuries
* Leakage of biological waste
* Cross-contamination
* Manual handling injuries
* Exposure during waste transport

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## Animal Handling

Typical Hazards:

* Bites
* Scratches
* Exposure to allergens
* Zoonotic disease transmission
* Manual handling injuries
* Needle-stick injuries
* Animal-related crush or impact injuries

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# Laser Activities

## Laser Alignment

Typical Hazards:

* Direct beam exposure
* Reflected beam exposure
* Skin burns
* Fire
* Exposure during bypassed or defeated interlocks
* Exposure during maintenance or adjustment activities

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## Laser Operation

Typical Hazards:

* Eye exposure to laser radiation
* Skin exposure to laser radiation
* Fire
* Electrical hazards
* Exposure to laser-generated airborne contaminants
* Exposure to reflected beams

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## Laser Maintenance

Typical Hazards:

* Exposure with protective covers removed
* Defeated or bypassed interlocks
* Electrical shock
* Unexpected energisation
* Exposure to high-power laser beams
* Exposure to stored electrical energy

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# Ionising Radiation Activities

## Radioisotope Dispensing

Typical Hazards:

* External radiation exposure
* Skin contamination
* Internal contamination through inhalation, ingestion, or absorption
* Spills and leaks
* Radioactive waste generation

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## Radioactive Waste Handling

Typical Hazards:

* Radiation exposure
* Radioactive contamination
* Improper segregation or labelling
* Environmental release
* Manual handling injuries

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## X-Ray Equipment Operation

Typical Hazards:

* Exposure to the primary beam
* Exposure to scattered radiation
* Equipment malfunction
* Electrical hazards
* Unauthorised access to controlled areas

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# Workshop Activities

## Bench Grinding

Typical Hazards:

* Flying particles
* Eye injuries
* Entanglement
* Noise exposure
* Contact with rotating wheels
* Wheel failure or fragmentation

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## Lathe Operation

Typical Hazards:

* Entanglement
* Ejection of workpieces
* Sharp swarf and metal fragments
* Contact with rotating parts
* Noise exposure
* Pinch and crush points

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## Drilling

Typical Hazards:

* Contact with rotating drill bits
* Flying particles
* Entanglement
* Noise exposure
* Ejection of workpieces

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## Welding

Typical Hazards:

* Exposure to welding fumes
* Ultraviolet and infrared radiation
* Fire
* Burns
* Electrical shock
* Exposure to hot metal and surfaces

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## Cutting Operations

Typical Hazards:

* Lacerations and cuts
* Flying particles
* Noise exposure
* Manual handling injuries
* Contact with sharp edges

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# Facilities and Maintenance Activities

## Ladder Work

Typical Hazards:

* Falls from height
* Overreaching
* Falling objects
* Ladder instability
* Slips during ascent or descent

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## Roof Inspection

Typical Hazards:

* Falls from height
* Fragile or unstable surfaces
* Heat stress
* Adverse weather conditions
* Falling objects

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## Electrical Maintenance

Typical Hazards:

* Electric shock
* Arc flash
* Burns
* Unexpected energisation
* Exposure to stored electrical energy

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## Confined Space Entry

Typical Hazards:

* Oxygen deficiency
* Toxic atmospheres
* Fire and explosion
* Entrapment
* Heat stress
* Restricted access and egress

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## Hot Work

Typical Hazards:

* Fire
* Burns
* Explosion
* Exposure to fumes and gases
* Eye injuries
* Ignition of nearby combustible materials

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# Fieldwork Activities

## Environmental Sampling

Typical Hazards:

* Heat stress
* Slips, trips and falls
* Wildlife encounters
* Exposure to contaminants
* Manual handling injuries
* Adverse weather conditions

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## Coastal Sampling

Typical Hazards:

* Drowning
* Slips on wet or uneven surfaces
* Tidal changes
* Falling objects
* Heat stress
* Exposure to marine hazards

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## Roadside Survey

Typical Hazards:

* Vehicle strikes
* Noise exposure
* Heat stress
* Poor visibility
* Fatigue from prolonged fieldwork

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## Remote Fieldwork

Typical Hazards:

* Delayed emergency response
* Communication failure
* Environmental exposure
* Fatigue
* Isolation and lone working risks

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# Office Activities

## Prolonged Computer Work

Typical Hazards:

* Poor workstation ergonomics
* Eye strain
* Neck strain
* Back pain
* Repetitive strain injuries
* Sedentary work-related health effects

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## Archive Retrieval

Typical Hazards:

* Falling objects
* Manual handling injuries
* Falls from step ladders
* Dust exposure
* Restricted access or poor housekeeping

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# Event Activities

## Tentage Setup

Typical Hazards:

* Manual handling injuries
* Pinch points
* Falling objects
* Adverse weather conditions
* Structural instability
* Trips from equipment and guy lines

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## Stage Setup

Typical Hazards:

* Falls from height
* Electrical hazards
* Falling objects
* Manual handling injuries
* Structural instability

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## Crowd Events

Typical Hazards:

* Crowd surge
* Crowd crush
* Heat stress
* Emergency evacuation challenges
* Slips, trips and falls

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## Pottery Workshop

Typical Hazards:

* Repetitive hand and finger movements
* Aggravation of trigger finger or other musculoskeletal conditions
* Wrist, hand, and forearm strain
* Slip hazards from wet clay, water, or spills
* Exposure to airborne clay dust during cleaning or sanding activities
* Manual handling of materials and equipment
* Minor cuts or punctures from tools
* Exposure to kiln-related heat hazards where applicable

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## Sports Activities

Typical Hazards:

* Participant collisions
* Slips, trips and falls
* Heat stress
* Dehydration
* Musculoskeletal injuries
* Impact injuries from equipment or projectiles

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# Contractor Activities

## Demolition Work

Typical Hazards:

* Falling debris
* Dust exposure
* Noise exposure
* Structural collapse
* Exposure to hazardous materials

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## Excavation Work

Typical Hazards:

* Trench collapse
* Contact with underground services
* Falls into excavations
* Flooding or water ingress
* Mobile plant interactions

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## Lifting Operations

Typical Hazards:

* Dropped loads
* Equipment failure
* Crush injuries
* Struck-by incidents
* Load instability

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## Renovation Work

Typical Hazards:

* Dust exposure
* Noise exposure
* Chemical exposure
* Electrical hazards
* Falls from height
* Exposure to concealed hazards within existing structures

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# General Hazard Identification Prompt

When assessing any activity, consider whether the activity may involve:

* Chemical hazards
* Biological hazards
* Ionising or non-ionising radiation hazards
* Laser hazards
* Electrical hazards
* Mechanical hazards
* Pressure system hazards
* Cryogenic hazards
* Ergonomic hazards
* Psychosocial hazards
* Work at height
* Confined space hazards
* Fire and explosion hazards
* Environmental hazards
* Manual handling hazards
* Vehicle and mobile plant hazards
* Contractor-related hazards
* Lone work and remote work hazards
* Emergency response and rescue considerations

The absence of a hazard from this library does not imply that the hazard does not exist. Hazard identification should always be activity-specific and should consider the full lifecycle of the work, including preparation, operation, maintenance, abnormal conditions, foreseeable misuse, emergency situations, decommissioning, and disposal.