A workplace hazard is anything that has the potential to cause harm to people at work. Understanding the different types of hazards and how to identify them is the first step in protecting your workforce and complying with UK health and safety law.
Have you identified all the hazards in your workplace?
Let's assess your hazard awareness.
What is a workplace hazard?
A hazard is anything with the potential to cause harm. This includes:
- Injury — cuts, bruises, fractures, burns, electric shock
- Illness — respiratory disease, skin conditions, poisoning, infections
- Long-term health effects — hearing loss, musculoskeletal disorders, cancers
- Mental health impacts — stress, anxiety, burnout, depression
It's important to understand that a hazard is not the same as a risk:
- Hazard = the thing that could cause harm (e.g., a wet floor, a chemical, a stressful workload)
- Risk = the likelihood that the hazard will actually cause harm, and how serious that harm might be
Every workplace has hazards. The goal is not to eliminate every possible hazard (which is often impossible), but to identify them, assess the risks, and put in place adequate controls to prevent harm.
The five categories of workplace hazards
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and workplace safety professionals typically classify hazards into five main categories:
1. Physical hazards
Physical hazards are the most obvious and common type. They can cause immediate injury or harm through physical contact or exposure.
Common examples:
Slips, trips and falls:
- Wet or contaminated floors
- Uneven surfaces and damaged flooring
- Trailing cables and obstructions
- Poor lighting in walkways
- Inadequate drainage
- Inappropriate footwear
Working at height:
- Ladders and stepladders
- Scaffolding and platforms
- Roofs and fragile surfaces
- Mezzanine floors
- Window cleaning activities
- Maintenance work above ground level
Machinery and equipment:
- Moving parts and rotating equipment
- Cutting and grinding tools
- Power tools and hand tools
- Presses and guillotines
- Conveyors and lifting equipment
- Inadequate guarding
Noise and vibration:
- Loud machinery and equipment
- Power tools causing hand-arm vibration
- Whole body vibration from vehicles
- Prolonged exposure causing hearing damage
- Impact noise from industrial processes
Temperature extremes:
- Working in cold stores or refrigeration
- Hot environments (kitchens, foundries, bakeries)
- Outdoor work in extreme weather
- Inadequate heating or cooling
- Heat stress and cold stress risks
Electrical hazards:
- Damaged or defective equipment
- Inadequate earthing or protection
- Work near overhead power lines
- Wet conditions near electrical equipment
- Overloaded circuits and extension leads
Workplace transport:
- Forklifts and other industrial vehicles
- Delivery vehicles and loading bays
- Pedestrian and vehicle interaction
- Reversing vehicles
- Poor visibility and blind spots
Physical hazards cause the majority of immediate workplace injuries in the UK. HSE statistics show that slips, trips and falls account for over a third of all major workplace injuries, while manual handling causes over a quarter of all workplace injuries.
2. Chemical hazards
Chemical hazards arise from exposure to substances that can harm health. This includes obvious chemicals like solvents and acids, but also everyday products like cleaning materials.
Common examples:
Liquids and solvents:
- Cleaning products and detergents
- Paints, thinners and adhesives
- Oils, fuels and lubricants
- Acids and alkalis
- Degreasers and solvents
Gases and vapours:
- Carbon monoxide from combustion
- Welding fumes and metal vapours
- Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
- Refrigerant gases
- Confined space atmospheres
Dusts and particles:
- Wood dust from carpentry
- Silica dust from construction
- Flour dust in bakeries
- Metal dusts from grinding
- General nuisance dust
Hazardous substances:
- Asbestos in older buildings
- Lead paint and materials
- Carcinogenic substances
- Sensitisers causing allergic reactions
- Corrosive materials
Routes of exposure:
- Inhalation (breathing in)
- Skin contact and absorption
- Ingestion (swallowing)
- Eye contact
- Injection through skin punctures
Chemical hazards require assessment under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations 2002. This means you must identify what chemicals are present, assess the risks, and implement adequate control measures before exposure occurs.
3. Biological hazards
Biological hazards are living organisms or substances produced by living organisms that can cause illness or infection.
Common examples:
Bacteria and viruses:
- Legionella in water systems
- Hepatitis and blood-borne viruses (healthcare, waste)
- E. coli and salmonella (food handling)
- Respiratory infections (COVID-19, influenza)
- Tetanus from soil and animal contact
Fungi and moulds:
- Mould growth in damp buildings
- Farmer's lung from mouldy hay
- Aspergillosis from spores
- Allergic reactions to fungal spores
Biological materials:
- Human blood and bodily fluids (healthcare, first aid)
- Animal waste and carcasses (farming, veterinary)
- Sewage and wastewater (utilities, maintenance)
- Clinical and healthcare waste
- Sharps injuries causing infection risks
Specific work environments:
- Healthcare and social care settings
- Laboratories handling biological agents
- Agriculture and veterinary work
- Waste management and recycling
- Water treatment facilities
- Food processing and handling
Healthcare workers, care home staff, waste handlers, and those working with animals or in water systems face particular biological hazard risks. Many biological hazards are invisible, making proper precautions essential even when no obvious contamination is present.
4. Ergonomic hazards
Ergonomic hazards occur when the type of work, body positions, and working conditions put strain on your body. These often develop gradually and can cause serious long-term musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs).
Common examples:
Manual handling:
- Lifting, lowering and carrying heavy loads
- Repetitive lifting activities
- Awkward postures while handling
- Pushing and pulling trolleys or equipment
- Handling bulky or unstable loads
- Team handling requiring coordination
Repetitive movements:
- Assembly line work
- Packing and sorting activities
- Computer keyboard and mouse use
- Using power tools repeatedly
- Repetitive bending or reaching
- Production line work
Poor workstation design:
- Desk and chair height mismatch
- Screen position causing neck strain
- Inadequate back support
- Reaching for equipment repeatedly
- Poor lighting causing eye strain
- Cramped working positions
Prolonged static postures:
- Standing for long periods
- Sitting without adequate breaks
- Working with arms raised
- Bent or twisted positions
- Kneeling or squatting
- Driving for extended periods
Workplace layout:
- Insufficient space to move freely
- Poor storage requiring excessive reaching
- Equipment positioned at wrong height
- Cramped working areas
- Inadequate rest facilities
Supermarket fined £500,000 after checkout operator develops serious RSI
A checkout operator developed severe repetitive strain injury (RSI) after years of scanning items without adequate controls or rotation of tasks. The condition became so severe she could no longer work.
- ✗No assessment of repetitive work risks
- ✗Inadequate breaks and task rotation
- ✗Checkout design required awkward postures
- ✗High-speed scanning targets encouraged poor technique
- ✗No training on safe working methods
- ✗Employee concerns about discomfort ignored
- ✗Failure to investigate early symptoms
HSE prosecution resulted in a £500,000 fine. The company also faced substantial civil compensation. The employee's career was ended by a preventable injury. Early intervention and proper ergonomic assessment could have avoided this entirely.
Ergonomic hazards develop slowly but can cause devastating long-term injuries. Regular assessment, employee consultation, job rotation, and early intervention when discomfort is reported are essential preventive measures.
5. Psychosocial hazards
Psychosocial hazards are aspects of work that can cause psychological or social harm, including stress, anxiety, burnout and other mental health conditions.
Common examples:
Work demands:
- Excessive workload or time pressure
- Unrealistic deadlines and targets
- Insufficient resources to do the job
- Conflicting demands and priorities
- Long or unsocial working hours
- Emotionally demanding work
Lack of control:
- No input into how work is done
- Inability to influence decisions
- Lack of control over work pace
- No say in scheduling or breaks
- Micromanagement and excessive monitoring
Poor workplace relationships:
- Bullying and harassment
- Conflict with colleagues or managers
- Poor communication
- Lack of support from management
- Isolation and lone working
- Discrimination and unfair treatment
Role clarity:
- Unclear job expectations
- Conflicting role requirements
- Responsibility without authority
- Frequent organizational changes
- Job insecurity
- Under-use of skills and abilities
Violence and aggression:
- Verbal abuse from public or clients
- Physical violence threats
- Aggressive customer behaviour
- Dealing with distressed individuals
- Working in high-risk environments
- Lone working in public-facing roles
The HSE's Management Standards for work-related stress identify six key areas: demands, control, support, relationships, role, and change. Employers have the same duty to assess and control psychosocial risks as they do for physical hazards.
How to identify hazards in your workplace
Identifying hazards is the first step in risk assessment. Use a systematic approach to ensure nothing is missed.
1. Walk through your workplace
Conduct a thorough inspection of all work areas:
- Look around carefully — observe what people are doing, what equipment is used, what substances are present
- Visit at different times — hazards may vary between shifts, during busy periods, or during specific activities
- Check all areas — don't forget storage rooms, outdoor areas, vehicle parking, delivery areas
- Consider the journey — entrances, stairs, corridors, car parks
- Review facilities — kitchens, toilets, changing rooms, rest areas
2. Consult your employees
Workers often have the best knowledge of day-to-day hazards:
- Ask direct questions — "What causes problems?" "What worries you?" "What nearly caused an accident?"
- Review past concerns — have people mentioned issues that weren't addressed?
- Encourage reporting — create a culture where hazards can be reported without blame
- Involve safety representatives — use their expertise and worker knowledge
- Hold team meetings — discuss safety concerns openly
3. Review records and documentation
Historical information reveals patterns:
- Accident and incident records — what's happened before?
- Near miss reports — what nearly caused harm?
- Sickness absence records — patterns suggesting health hazards?
- First aid records — types of minor injuries occurring?
- Maintenance reports — recurring equipment problems?
- Employee complaints — unresolved safety concerns?
4. Check manufacturer information
Equipment and substances come with hazard information:
- Safety data sheets — for all chemicals and hazardous substances
- Instruction manuals — for equipment and machinery
- Warning labels — on containers and equipment
- Installation requirements — for machinery and systems
- Maintenance schedules — when things need checking
5. Use industry guidance
Sector-specific resources help identify typical hazards:
- HSE guidance — industry-specific publications and case studies
- Trade associations — sector best practice guides
- Professional bodies — standards and recommendations
- Similar businesses — what hazards do they manage?
Hazard identification is not a one-time task. Workplaces change constantly — new equipment arrives, processes evolve, different people join. Regular reviews and ongoing vigilance are essential to catch new hazards before they cause harm.
Specific hazards by industry sector
Different workplaces face different hazard profiles. Here are typical hazards for common sectors:
Office vs Industrial Hazards
Typical Office Hazards
- •Slips and trips from cables or spillages
- •Poor workstation ergonomics
- •Display screen equipment eye strain
- •Stress from workload or deadlines
- •Fire risks from electrical equipment
- •Manual handling of supplies
- •Poor indoor air quality
Typical Industrial Hazards
- •Machinery with moving parts
- •Noise from equipment and processes
- •Chemical exposures and dust
- •Manual handling of heavy items
- •Workplace transport and forklifts
- •Working at height
- •High-risk electrical systems
Bottom line: Every workplace has hazards, but the types and severity vary significantly. Your hazard identification must reflect your actual work activities, not generic assumptions about your sector.
Retail and hospitality:
- Slips from food spillages and cleaning
- Manual handling of stock and deliveries
- Working at height using ladders for stock
- Violence and aggression from customers
- Lone working in small shops or late shifts
- Repetitive movements at checkouts
- Kitchen hazards (heat, sharp knives, slippery floors)
Healthcare and social care:
- Biological hazards from patients
- Manual handling of patients and equipment
- Sharps injuries and needlestick risks
- Violence and aggression from patients
- Stress from demanding emotional work
- Slips and trips in clinical areas
- Latex and medication allergies
Construction:
- Working at height on scaffolds and roofs
- Excavations and ground collapses
- Machinery and power tools
- Manual handling of materials
- Dust (silica, asbestos, wood)
- Noise and vibration from equipment
- Electricity and underground services
Manufacturing:
- Machinery with dangerous moving parts
- Noise from production processes
- Chemical exposures and fumes
- Manual handling and repetitive work
- Workplace transport
- Pressure systems and hot processes
- Confined spaces
Education:
- Slips and trips in corridors and stairs
- Manual handling (early years lifting children)
- Science lab chemicals and equipment
- Design and technology machinery
- Biological hazards in science
- Violence and aggression (pupil behaviour)
- Stress from workload
Warning signs you've missed hazards
Look out for indicators that hazards may be present but unidentified:
Accident and injury patterns:
- Same types of injuries occurring repeatedly
- Multiple people reporting similar problems
- Near misses that could have been serious
- Injuries dismissed as "just one of those things"
Employee complaints:
- Reports of discomfort or pain
- Concerns about specific work activities
- Requests for different equipment
- Suggestions for improvements ignored
Visible problems:
- Damage to equipment or infrastructure
- Improvised repairs or workarounds
- Safety devices bypassed or removed
- Protective equipment not being used
- Cluttered or poorly maintained areas
Absence and turnover:
- High sickness absence rates
- Particular roles with retention problems
- Exit interviews mentioning safety concerns
- Occupational health referrals
If people are getting hurt, even with minor injuries, it's a sign that hazards exist and controls are inadequate. Every accident is a failure of hazard identification or risk control. Investigate thoroughly and address the root causes.
What to do once you've identified hazards
Identifying hazards is only the beginning. You must then:
- Assess the risks — For each hazard, evaluate who might be harmed, how seriously, and how likely it is
- Implement controls — Put measures in place to eliminate hazards or reduce risks to acceptable levels
- Record your findings — Document what hazards exist and what you're doing about them
- Inform and train — Make sure everyone knows about hazards relevant to their work
- Monitor and review — Check controls are working and update as things change
The full process is explained in What is a Risk Assessment?
Common mistakes in hazard identification
1. Only looking for obvious physical hazards
Don't neglect chemical, biological, ergonomic and psychosocial hazards. These often cause more long-term harm than the obvious physical risks.
2. Generic checklists without proper observation
Ticking boxes on a template without actually observing your workplace misses site-specific hazards. Your hazard identification must reflect your actual situation.
3. Not involving those who do the work
Managers walking through alone will miss hazards that employees encounter daily. Consultation is not just good practice — it's legally required.
4. Forgetting non-employees
Consider contractors, visitors, delivery drivers, cleaners, members of the public. They may face different hazards or be unfamiliar with your premises.
5. Ignoring infrequent activities
Maintenance work, deep cleans, annual stocktakes, seasonal work — these infrequent activities often have different and higher hazards.
6. Identifying but not acting
Knowing about hazards but doing nothing is worse than not knowing. It demonstrates deliberate disregard for safety and offers no legal protection.
7. One-time identification
Hazard identification is ongoing. New equipment, processes, people, and changes all introduce new hazards. Regular reviews are essential.
Legal duties for hazard identification
Under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, employers must:
- Identify hazards present in the workplace
- Assess the risks those hazards present
- Implement adequate controls to prevent or minimize harm
- Record significant findings (if 5+ employees)
- Review and update when circumstances change
This is not optional. It's a fundamental legal duty that applies to all employers regardless of size or sector.
The law requires assessment by a "competent person" — someone with sufficient training, knowledge and experience. For common workplace hazards, this might be you or a trained manager. For specialist hazards (asbestos, confined spaces, chemical processes), you need appropriate expertise.
Tools and resources for hazard identification
HSE resources:
- HSE's Hazard Spotting guidance — practical approach for small businesses
- Industry-specific guidance — sector publications available from HSE
- Case studies and lessons learned — real examples from enforcement
Hazard checklists:
- Use as prompts, not as complete identification
- Adapt to your specific workplace
- Add items based on your observations
- Review and update regularly
Professional surveys:
- Workplace hazard surveys by consultants
- Specialist surveys (asbestos, legionella, fire risk)
- Ergonomic assessments for office and manual work
- Noise and vibration measurements
Frequently asked questions
A hazard is something with the potential to cause harm (e.g., a wet floor, a chemical, a sharp knife). A risk is the likelihood that the hazard will actually cause harm, combined with the severity of that harm. The same hazard presents different levels of risk depending on the circumstances. For example, a wet floor in a busy corridor is high risk, while the same wet floor in a locked storeroom is low risk.
You must identify significant hazards — those that could reasonably be expected to cause harm. You don't need to list trivial or far-fetched scenarios. Focus on real hazards present in your workplace that could foreseeably harm people. Use common sense and proportionality.
Review hazard identification at least annually, and whenever there are significant changes such as new equipment, different processes, workplace modifications, after accidents, or when new information about hazards emerges. Ongoing observation and employee consultation help catch new hazards between formal reviews.
Take immediate action to prevent harm. This might mean stopping the activity, restricting access, or implementing emergency controls. Then assess the risk properly and implement adequate long-term control measures. Serious imminent dangers may require immediate prohibition of work until risks are controlled.
Yes. Psychosocial hazards including work-related stress are workplace hazards that employers must assess and control. The HSE's Management Standards provide a framework for managing work-related stress. Employers have the same duty to protect mental health as physical health.
Absolutely. Office environments have hazards including slips and trips, poor ergonomics, display screen equipment risks, fire, stress, and manual handling. While typically lower risk than industrial environments, office hazards must still be identified, assessed and controlled.
Lone workers face specific hazards including delayed emergency response, increased violence and aggression risk, and health events without assistance. Identify additional hazards that lone working creates and implement controls such as check-in systems, communication devices, and emergency procedures.
Yes. Your duty under the Health and Safety at Work Act extends to anyone affected by your work activities, including members of the public, customers, and visitors. Consider how your work activities might affect them and implement appropriate controls.
Create a culture where reporting hazards is encouraged and acted upon. Make reporting easy (simple forms, verbal reports accepted), respond visibly to reports, never blame people for raising concerns, and thank those who identify hazards. Regular safety conversations and consultation help normalize hazard identification.
Technology can help (checklists, photo analysis, sensor data), but it cannot replace competent human observation and judgment. Software can prompt and organize, but you need someone with appropriate knowledge to identify hazards specific to your workplace and evaluate their significance.
Concerned you might be missing important hazards in your workplace? A health and safety consultant can conduct a comprehensive hazard survey, identify risks you may have overlooked, and help implement practical control measures.
Related articles:
- What is a Risk Assessment?
- Preventing Slips, Trips and Falls
- Manual Handling Regulations Explained
- COSHH Assessment Guide
- Managing Work-Related Stress
Useful tools: