What is the purpose of a hazard identification form?

A hazard identification form is used to systematically record workplace hazards before they cause harm. It documents the hazard description, location, risk rating, existing controls and recommended corrective actions. Under Australian WHS legislation, persons conducting a business or undertaking (PCBUs) must identify reasonably foreseeable hazards. A written form provides evidence that hazards have been identified and addressed.

Who should complete a hazard identification form?

Any worker can and should complete a hazard identification form when they observe a hazard. This includes employees, contractors, subcontractors and visitors. WHS regulations require employers to consult with workers on health and safety matters, and encouraging hazard reporting from all levels is a core part of that duty. Forms should be reviewed by a supervisor or WHS officer to confirm controls are adequate.

How does hazard identification differ from a risk assessment?

Hazard identification is the first step in the risk management process. It focuses on finding and recording what could cause harm. A risk assessment then evaluates each identified hazard by rating its likelihood and consequence, and determining whether existing controls are sufficient. In practice, the hazard identification form captures the hazard, and the risk assessment template analyses and prioritises the response.

Is the template free to use without MapTrack?

Yes. Download and use the hazard identification form for free. Open the file and use your browser's Print, then Save as PDF. No MapTrack account required. If you later want digital hazard reporting linked to each asset or location with notifications, corrective actions and audit trails, we would be happy to show you MapTrack.

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A hazard identification form is a structured document used to record workplace hazards, assess their risk level and document the controls needed to eliminate or reduce them. This page explains what to include, how to identify hazards and offers a free PDF-ready template you can download and use straight away. No sign-up required.

Last updated: 2026-04-17 · MapTrack

Jarrod Milford

Commercial Director

Updated 17 April 2026

How to use: Record site and workplace details, select hazard category, describe each hazard with risk rating and controls, then sign off and save as PDF (Print, Save as PDF).

✓ PDF-ready. Open and print to PDF
✓ Covers hazard description, risk rating, existing controls, recommended actions and sign-off
✓ Free to use with or without MapTrack

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What is hazard identification?

Hazard identification is the process of finding, listing and characterising things in the workplace that have the potential to cause harm. Under Australian WHS legislation, a person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) must identify reasonably foreseeable hazards that could give rise to risks to health and safety. Hazard identification is the first step in the risk management process, followed by risk assessment and risk control. A hazard identification form provides a structured way to document each hazard, its location, category, risk level and the controls in place or required.

Benefits of hazard identification

Legal compliance: meet your duty under Australian WHS Act and regulations to identify reasonably foreseeable hazards.
Proactive safety: find hazards before they cause injuries, illness or damage.
Risk reduction: documented hazards feed directly into risk assessments, ensuring controls are applied where they matter most.
Worker engagement: giving all workers a simple way to report hazards increases safety participation and builds a stronger safety culture.
Audit readiness: a completed hazard register demonstrates due diligence to regulators, auditors and insurers.
Continuous improvement: reviewing hazard reports over time reveals trends and recurring issues, allowing your organisation to target systemic fixes.

Benefits of digitising forms in MapTrack

When you move your checklists from paper to MapTrack, you get:

Field users can easily scan a QR code to complete a form on mobile. Unlimited users.
Automatically get alerts when faults are identified.
Link every form digitally as a PDF to the relevant asset, location or person.
Receive a digital PDF copy with every submission to your email.
Ability to share forms digitally.
Build conditional logic (show or hide questions based on answers).
Take pictures or attach photos. Not possible with a paper-based form.
Electronic signatures.
Edit forms later without reprinting.
Restrict permissions (who can view, complete or approve).
Build forms with AI (describe what you need and MapTrack suggests the form).
Escalate critical hazards instantly to safety managers via push notification.
Maintain an auditable safety register that satisfies WHS regulator requests.
Correlate incident trends across sites with built-in safety analytics.

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What to include in a hazard identification form

Our free hazard identification form includes:

Workplace area: site name, department or specific location where the hazard was observed.
Task or activity: the work being performed when the hazard was identified.
Hazard description: a clear, factual description of what could cause harm.
Hazard category: physical, chemical, biological, ergonomic, psychosocial or environmental.
Risk rating: high, medium or low, based on likelihood and potential consequence.
Existing controls: what measures are already in place to manage the hazard.
Recommended actions: additional controls or corrective actions needed.
Responsible person: who is accountable for implementing the recommended actions.
Due date: when the corrective action must be completed.
Status: whether the action is open, in progress or closed.

How to identify hazards

Walk the workplace and observe tasks, equipment, materials and the environment.
Talk to workers. They know the risks in their daily tasks better than anyone.
Review incident reports, near-miss records and previous hazard reports for patterns.
Check safety data sheets (SDS), manufacturer manuals and industry codes of practice for known risks.
Assess each hazard against the risk matrix (likelihood x consequence) and record the rating.
Document findings on the hazard identification form and assign actions with due dates.

In MapTrack, hazard reports are submitted on mobile and linked directly to the relevant asset, location or work area. Photos attach to each report, and high-risk hazards can trigger automatic notifications so the right people act immediately. Book a demo to see how.

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Types of workplace hazards

Understanding hazard categories helps you identify risks systematically. The main types recognised under Australian WHS frameworks are:

Physical: noise, vibration, extreme temperatures, radiation, unguarded machinery, falling objects, slippery surfaces, working at heights.
Chemical: hazardous substances, dusts, fumes, vapours, gases, solvents, acids, flammable liquids. Always check the SDS for each substance.
Biological: bacteria, viruses, mould, animal or insect bites, contaminated sharps, blood-borne pathogens.
Ergonomic: manual handling, repetitive movements, awkward postures, prolonged sitting or standing, poorly designed workstations.
Psychosocial: excessive workload, bullying, harassment, fatigue, shift work, violence, isolation. These hazards are increasingly recognised under Australian WHS codes of practice.
Environmental: poor ventilation, inadequate lighting, weather exposure, contaminated water or soil, confined spaces.

Frequently asked questions

What is the purpose of a hazard identification form?: A hazard identification form is used to systematically record workplace hazards before they cause harm. It documents the hazard description, location, risk rating, existing controls and recommended corrective actions. Under Australian WHS legislation, persons conducting a business or undertaking (PCBUs) must identify reasonably foreseeable hazards. A written form provides evidence that hazards have been identified and addressed.
Who should complete a hazard identification form?: Any worker can and should complete a hazard identification form when they observe a hazard. This includes employees, contractors, subcontractors and visitors. WHS regulations require employers to consult with workers on health and safety matters, and encouraging hazard reporting from all levels is a core part of that duty. Forms should be reviewed by a supervisor or WHS officer to confirm controls are adequate.
How does hazard identification differ from a risk assessment?: Hazard identification is the first step in the risk management process. It focuses on finding and recording what could cause harm. A risk assessment then evaluates each identified hazard by rating its likelihood and consequence, and determining whether existing controls are sufficient. In practice, the hazard identification form captures the hazard, and the risk assessment template analyses and prioritises the response.
Is the template free to use without MapTrack?: Yes. Download and use the hazard identification form for free. Open the file and use your browser's Print, then Save as PDF. No MapTrack account required. If you later want digital hazard reporting linked to each asset or location with notifications, corrective actions and audit trails, we would be happy to show you MapTrack.

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