Get Workers To Take Ownership Of Your Field Level Hazard Assessment

What Is A Field Level Hazard Assessment? (FLHA meaning)

A field-level hazard assessment or FLHA form is used by workers to identify and control hazards in designated work areas. It empowers workers to minimize health and safety risks at the start through the “stop and think” process. Field level hazard assessment forms help with developing habits of task-hazard-control association and help prevent workplace incidents.

The definition of FLHA forms certainly makes sense. But now comes the fun part! How do you get buy-in from your workers? The field-level hazard assessment looks at the tasks set out for the day. Many times, these tasks are a repeat of the prior shift. Oh no! The perfect scenario for complacency and “pencil whipping” safety forms! How do you change the worker’s attitude of “just one more piece of paperwork” to “ this is a valuable safety and planning tool”? 

First, let’s look into the “Stop and Think” process. Have your workers look at the tasks on their FLHA in real-time, not in “yesterday” time. Encourage them to take the time to look at each day’s work with fresh eyes. As workers take the time to stop and think they are more likely to spot hazards and see the FLHA as a safety tool.

But why not just take a good look around? Why all this writing? Another good question and one with real science to provide the answer. Very simply, our human brains relate differently to information that we write down rather than just seeing or speaking. The BEST retention of facts comes when we write things down! 

Remind your workers of this often. The time they take to write out the FLHA is time well spent… time that gives them a unique connection to their safety throughout the work day.

Teach Your People That The FLHA Is For Job Planning, Not Compliance

One of the biggest challenges that we see, as safety professionals, on a day-to-day basis is incomplete hazard assessments. Hazards were missed, and steps were missed, which lead to injuries and incidents in the workplace.

Almost every incident that happens has a causal factor or root cause factor that includes the hazard assessment process. 

Workers miss hazards for many reasons. 

The real question is how do we get our workers to take ownership so that they can continuously get better at the process. 

Start with a  framework to teach your workforce to use the hazard assessment as their planning tool that empowers them to work through their day smoothly and safely! Your workers don't fill out the field level hazard assessment to protect the company or make the safety person happy. They are completing it because it is designed to help and protect them!

Let’s walk you through the process so you can put it into action for your team. Follow our Safety Evolution Co-founder, David Brennan as he discusses FLHA’s and the framework for successful worker buy-in.

Getting The Right Tools & PPE For The Job

Step 1 - Set up the PLAN! Understand the “big picture” 

Write out all the Task steps 

• Prepare for the day
• Getting the tools, equipment, and PPE that they need
• Performing the work (look at the worksite and task in real-time)
• End of the day clean up and close out

Step 2 - Pre-plan the Day. Set up for success, safety and efficiency.

• Look at the details of each task step
• What equipment, tools and PPE do you need for each task?

By adding this information to the “Plan” on the FLHA, there will be no time lost with unnecessary trips to the tool crib. No last-minute scrambling for PPE that is not readily available (or worse yet, not using PPE at all!! ) 

As Your Tasks Change, Come Back To Your Planning Document & Build Your New Plan

Step 3 - Identify the hazards in real-time. 

• Move through the worksite. Stop and Think! 
• What are the hazards associated with the task?
• What are the hazards associated with the worksite?
• How will we control the hazards? This comes back around to the PLAN
• Revisit the FLHA during the shift. Is the “Plan” the same? Have things changed? 
• Address new hazards that arise from change. 
• Stop and Think! What equipment and PPE do we need NOW? 
• Verify that they are on track with their plan.

The field level hazard assessment is your feedback loop to ensure work is done safely. 

Remember, by writing this down ( or adding it to an electronic form from their device)  workers optimize their connection to the plan, the tasks and the hazards! 

Get Your Supervisor To Review Your Tasks & Plan, To Make Sure You Have Not Missed Anything At Any Time In The Day.

The hazard assessment process is an area that we need to continuously monitor, track, and improve.

As a safety professional, it is your window into what is happening in the field with your workforce. 

For your supervision, it is a tool that allows them to see what their team members are doing for the day. The key is teaching supervision how to see if their teams are using the process to plan Their day. This takes a must-do action in their day and turns it into a valuable tool. 

Photos Document Worker's Progress & Their Amazing Work Throughout The Day

For those of you exploring the option of safety software, Safety evolution provides FLHA and other safety forms that allows the worker to easily complete all the steps, including risk ranking of hazards. Supervisors and safety professionals can view the tasks and hazards of the workday with one easy “click” to immediately determine that FLHAs are being completed. Check out how to Take Your Field Level Hazard Assessment Digital!

One of the many advantages of safety software, is the ability to capture both hazards and safe work with photo attachments to the FLHA. External documents can also be added and third-party contractors, clients, or safety inspectors can be “signed on” to the field level hazard assessment. 

Click the link below to book a Demo. We will show you how Safety Evolution Safety Software removes the pain of paper and gives you a solution to FLHA's today!