What is the first step in assessing hazards and risks?

Identifying hazards is a crucial first step in assessing hazards and risks because it lays the groundwork for all subsequent actions and decision-making. This process involves recognizing and noting all potential dangers present in the environment, whether they are physical, chemical, biological, or related to the operational context.

By identifying hazards first, you can ascertain what specific elements may pose a threat to safety or the environment. This stage creates a clear picture of the risks that need to be evaluated and controlled. After hazards are identified, you can move forward to assess the risks associated with those hazards, apply necessary control measures, and ultimately work towards implementing effective strategies to mitigate those risks.

Without first identifying the hazards, other actions like controlling them, determining the risks, or reviewing incident reports would lack a solid foundation, making it challenging to create a targeted and efficient response plan. Therefore, identifying hazards is essential for comprehensive risk assessment and management.