Identifying hazards – The talented South African wicket keeper Mark Boucher got injured when a bail flew up and hit him in the eye during a warm-up match in Somerset in 2012. The freak incident meant the end of his career. Identifying hazards is what it is all about if one wants to have maximum benefit from staff and careers.
Life is full of risk, every single day. Some thrive by taking maximum risks and others, sometimes, hardly even notice how lucky they've been. Companies are compelled by law to identify all hazards at their premises for both employees and visitors. Failure to do so can have serious implications as the South African Consumer Protection Act has the option to make people personally liable should they have failed to do their job properly.
Identifying a hazard much depends on the caliber of people that uses the place frequently. By walking around the workplace and talking to employees many hazards can already be identified. But they also have to be observed to identify possible shortcuts or deviations from procedures they tend to take. Long-term hazards to health, as well as complex risks such as psychosocial or work organisational risk factors will have to be included too, just like influence of weather conditions, maintenance operations and other variables that are beyond control.
Mark Boucher is fortunate; his illustrious career means his future is secured. But if would have worn a pair of (protective) glasses he could have still be doing what he enjoyed doing most, and continuing providing for his family.
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