Hazard mapping

Hazard mapping can be done either as a follow-on to a body mapping session or as a standalone exercise. If you do not know what body mapping is, you should consult the CSP Body Mapping guide.

What is hazard mapping? 

Hazard mapping is a tried and tested exercise that brings workers together to identify health and safety hazards in their workplace. It gets workers to collectively map their workplace and to reflect on how their work is organised and if this is putting them at risk. When workers are brought together, they are quick to identify shared problems and to propose solutions. 

Hazard mapping can be done as a standalone exercise or following a body mapping session. When done as a follow up, it helps workers link how their work is organised to the injuries and symptoms they are experiencing. 

How does it work? 

Hazard mapping is not difficult. It is a group exercise. 

It works by getting workers to draw a large map of their workplace. The map should include things like doors, windows, offices, desks and equipment. 

Workers then use different coloured pens to mark hazards on the map. Different colours represent different hazards: 

• Green represents safety hazards. Safety hazards include things that can cause immediate injury, like slippery floors, unguarded machinery or falling objects. 
• Orange represents physical hazards. Physical hazards include things like energy sources, noise, temperature, poor lighting, lack of drinking water or unsanitary facilities. 
• Red represents chemical hazards. Chemical hazards include things like dust, asbestos, liquids and gases, such as carbon monoxide. 
• Brown represents biological or communicable hazards. This can include things like mold, biological waste or used medical equipment, like needles, bandages or dressings. 
• Blue represents ergonomic hazards. Ergonomic hazards can include poor manual handling, poorly designed work equipment, repetitive actions and bad posture. 
• Black represents work organisation and psychosocial risks. This can include how work is organised and things that can lead to stress. For example, a lack of role definition and repetitive work can lead to boredom. Similarly, high caseloads and insufficient staffing levels can lead to overwork and work-related stress.       

You should encourage members to include as much information as possible about each hazard. This can include if management has a done risk assessment and what if anything is being done. 

Tips for getting the most out of the session 

We recommend asking members these questions: 

1. How is work organised and is it creating hazards? Ask members to reflect on things like the number of staff, the workload, shift times, working hours and breaks. This could also include how management communicates about work, such as changing rotas at the last minute or not consulting staff on changes. 
2. Are work processes causing or contributing to hazards? Ask members to reflect on things like how the work is done, the types of tasks they are doing, and the equipment they are using. 
3. What is management currently doing to remove, prevent or reduce the hazards? 
4. What else could management be doing to remove, prevent or reduce the hazards? 
5. If relevant, ask if the symptoms or complaints you found in a body mapping session are linked to any of these hazards? 

Get organised and create an action plan 

At the end of a hazard mapping session, you and your colleagues should have a good idea of the problems that need to be addressed. Normally, at the end of a session you will not have enough time to create an action plan. If this is the case, organise a follow-up meeting as soon as possible. You should tell your colleagues that the purpose of the meeting is to create an action plan to address the problems you uncovered.   

The plan should include agreeing collectively on what changes you want to see to remove or reduce the hazards, who you will present your demands to, how you will present them, and what follow up actions you will collectively take to put pressure on your employer if they do not act.   

To organise the planning session, we recommend you consult the CSP Problem, Information, Plan (PIP) checklist in Part 2 of the CSP Body Mapping guide. 

We also recommend consulting the CSP guide to running a workplace campaign.