Why ABC Hazard Rating System?

The hazard rating establishes priorities for corrective action and also highlights the level of severity or seriousness of the hazards when hazards are observed and recorded during a safety survey and inspections. There are different methods in finding out what the consequence or severity of a hazard may be. Magnitude is an important characteristic for analyzing hazards since only occurrences exceeding some defined level of magnitude are considered hazardous. The level of harm is governed by

• Magnitude of the hazard

• Frequency of hazard or recurrence

• Intensity at the impact point

How does the ABC rating system work?

 The A, B, C rating method is used to rate items observed during a safety inspection. The reason for this system is to highlight the degree of severity of those hazards and to assist both the inspectors and the employer in carrying out corrective actions. The following examples can be used as guidelines. 

“A” Hazard

Any condition or practice that has potential for causing loss of life, body part and/ or extensive loss of structure, equipment or material.

Generally, this means that immediate corrective action is required. The activity should be discontinued until the hazard is corrected, 

e.g.

•  A window washer is seen working on the third-floor level without any safety belt, hanging on with one hand and leaning out to work.
• Workers are seen in a ditch, about six feet in depth, vertical sides, no shoring, sloping or other means of protection.
• Bricklayers are observed up on scaffolding, 15 ft. high, without handrails or safety belts.

 “B” Hazard

Any condition or practice with the potential for causing a serious injury, illness or property damage.

Urgent situation. Requires attention as soon as possible, e.g.

• Forklift trucks are rounding a blind corner into a loading area without stopping.
• Someone has spilt lube oil on the main floor leading to the areas where workers must gain access.
• Workers observed smoking in a flammable storage area.

“C” Hazard

Any condition or practice with a probable potential for causing a non-disabling injury or non-disruptive property damage.

These types of hazards should be eliminated without delay, but the situation is not an emergency, e.g.

• Worker using a hammer with a loose head, in use on a daily basis for odd jobs.
• Worker using a heavy file without filehandle.
• Oxygen and acetylene cylinders stored together, caps on, good ventilation, fireproof surroundings.

The important step in the protection of workers against occupational diseases and maintaining a safe workplace is defining and analyzing hazards. There is a need for Hazard Rating and HIRAC study as a routine practice in all industries. This helps in achieving two objectives; first is identifying the critical and high-risk hazards, which need to be addressed on a priority basis, and second, by applying control measures at the earliest, it reduces the risk to a level considered ALARP.

Article by Dr.Yashoda Tammineni,

MSc, Ph.D.

HSE,HOD at NIFS