Understanding your FLHA · Lesson 8 of 11
What am I agreeing to when I sign an FLHA?
When you sign an FLHA, or Field Level Hazard Assessment, you are confirming that you reviewed the plan and understand the hazards and controls for your work. What your signature means depends on your site's form. Your supervisor can tell you what it means on your site.
FLHA · Their form so far
Why every worker is asked to sign
Your employer and the site want a record that each person on the crew reviewed the plan. The form shows who took part in the check before work started.
If something goes wrong later, the form can help show what the crew found, what they planned, and who took part.
Before you sign: things that can help
- Reading it first. Your signature is a record that you reviewed the plan. It helps to understand the hazards and controls before you sign.
- Asking about anything that is not clear. It is easier to ask now than after work starts.
- Checking that a concern you raised is on the form. Then there is a record that you spoke up.
- Going through it with someone if you missed the check, for example if you arrived late.
Signing is not the last step
Signing does not mean every control is already done. It means you understand the plan. It helps to keep three moments apart:
- Before you sign: understanding the task, the hazards and the controls, and asking about anything unclear.
- Before work starts: checking that the controls are in place. Lesson 9 explains this.
- During work: looking at the FLHA again when something changes. Lesson 10 explains this.
Here is an example.
Ali is on your crew. He is new. This is his first week.
It is 7 in the morning. The crew fills in the FLHA together.
Now it is time to sign. The supervisor gives the form to Ali.
Ali reads the form before he signs.
The form says: "Have the water cleaned up before moving the boxes in."
Ali has a question. Who will clean up the water? The form does not say.
Ali asks the supervisor.
The supervisor gives the job to one worker. He writes that person's name on the form.
Now Ali understands the plan. He signs the form.
It is OK to ask questions, even in your first week.
The signature is not the goal. Understanding the plan is.
Two ways to sign
Signing because everyone else did
Why: Your signature is a record that you reviewed the plan. Without reading, you may not know about the water in room 3.
Reading the form, asking questions, then signing
Why: You know the plan before work starts, and your question may help the whole crew.
On your next FLHA
Before you sign, try saying the plan in your own words: what we are doing, what could hurt someone, and what we will do about it. If that is hard, it is a good time to ask.
This is general information. It does not replace employer procedures, site rules, or regulations.