Which of the following is a key step in a risk-based occupational exposure assessment?

• A. Incident investigation
• B. Machinery maintenance
• C. Ergonomic assessment
• D. Hazard identification

Answer: (D)

Identifying hazards is the essential starting point in a risk-based occupational exposure assessment. Before you can evaluate how much workers might be exposed or what controls are needed, you must first know what could cause harm in the workplace—chemical agents, noise, dust, biological agents, heat, ergonomic stresses, and other potential hazards. This step defines the scope of the assessment and pinpoints where exposure needs to be measured or estimated. Once hazards are identified, you assess who could be exposed, to what extent, and by which routes, then compare those exposures to relevant limits to characterize risk and prioritize controls. While incident investigations, machinery maintenance, and ergonomic assessments are important safety activities in their own right, they either focus on learning from past events or on implementing controls, rather than establishing the hazards that drive the risk assessment.