Why is hazard reporting important? 

• First, it can help to prevent injuries and illnesses. When hazards are identified and addressed, personnel are less likely to be injured.  
• Second, hazard reporting can help to improve the overall safety of the workplace. By identifying and addressing hazards, employers can create a safer environment for all.  

• Third, hazard reporting can help to protect the company from liability. If an employee is injured due to a hazard which was not reported, the company may be held liable. 

The process for reporting hazards will vary depending on the workplace. However, there are some general steps personnel can follow to report hazards. 

1. Identify the hazard. The first step is to identify the hazard. This may involve looking for obvious hazards, such as slippery floors or sharp objects. It may also involve looking for less obvious hazards, such as exposure to toxic chemicals or ergonomic problems. 
2. Describe the hazard. Once the hazard has been identified, it is important to describe it in detail. This includes describing the nature of the hazard, the location of the hazard, and the potential consequences of the hazard. 
3. Report the hazard. Once the hazard has been described, it is important to report it to the relevant person. This may be a supervisor, a safety manager, or another designated person. 

Once a hazard is reported, the appropriate person will investigate the hazard and take steps to address it. This commonly involves correcting the hazard, providing training to workers, or implementing new safety procedures. 

Tips for hazard reporting: 

• Be as specific as possible when describing the hazard. 
• Provide as much information as possible about the hazard, including its location, the potential consequences, and any other relevant details. 
• Report the hazard to the appropriate person. This may be your supervisor, a safety manager, or another designated person. 

• If you are not comfortable reporting the hazard to your supervisor, you can report it to a union representative or another trusted person. 

The iProtectU health and safety software provides: 

• An inspection and Audit App which allows for safety inspection of the workplace and associated report 
• eLearning on hazard reporting 

• Scheduling functionality for managers to send eLearning, risk assessments and documents out to all staff via the software with tracks completion and compliance 
• Risk assessment templates covering a wide range of hazards 
• Management system to document control the policy on hazard reporting 
• Method Statement module for the creation of work activity working instructions 
• Legal register that provides legislation guidance on hazard reporting 

• Incident investigation module that tracks incidents involving hazards both with an app and via desktop 
• Hazard observation app where staff can report and record any concerns regarding hazards to the organisation 
• Asset management App ensuring assets are recorded in the software