What three sequential actions must be applied to legally manage workplace hazards?

• A. Identify, correct, and control the risks.
• B. Identify, assess, and control the risks.
• C. Identify, correct, and monitor the risks.
• D. Assess, identify, and control the risks.

Answer: (B)

To legally manage workplace hazards, you follow a risk-management sequence: first identify hazards, then assess the risks they pose, and finally implement controls to reduce those risks. Identifying hazards first is essential because you can’t protect workers from dangers you haven’t named. Assessing risk involves looking at how likely the harm is and how severe it could be, which guides you to where controls are most needed. Finally, you put in place controls in line with the safety hierarchy to eliminate or minimize the risk.

Options that try to jump to correcting hazards before understanding their risk miss the necessary evaluation step, and using monitor instead of a formal assessment doesn’t establish what needs controlling. Reversing the order to assess before identifying isn’t feasible because you can’t assess something that isn’t known.