Episode 88 - Hazard Identification and Resolution Rate

Dr. Ayers introduces the Hazard Identification and Resolution Rate, a powerful leading indicator that measures how effectively an organization finds hazards and—more importantly—fixes them. The episode stresses that identifying hazards is only half the job; the real value comes from closing them out quickly and reliably.

This metric reveals the health of a safety culture far more accurately than injury rates.

 

1. What the Metric Measures

The Hazard Identification and Resolution Rate tracks:

A. Hazard Identification

• How many hazards workers and leaders are finding

• Whether hazards are being reported consistently

• Whether reporting is encouraged or discouraged

• Whether the organization is generating enough “eyes on risk”

B. Hazard Resolution

• How many identified hazards are actually corrected

• How quickly they are resolved

• Whether fixes are temporary or permanent

• Whether high‑risk hazards are prioritized

The metric captures both volume and follow‑through.

 

2. Why This Metric Matters

A. It predicts future incidents

Unresolved hazards are direct precursors to injuries.

B. It reveals cultural health

High identification + high resolution = strong safety culture Low identification + low resolution = fear, apathy, or disengagement

C. It exposes system weaknesses

Low resolution rates often point to:

• Poor maintenance support

• Lack of ownership

• Slow approval processes

• Understaffed teams

• Leaders who don’t follow up

D. It builds trust

When workers see hazards fixed quickly, they believe leadership cares.

 

3. How the Rate Is Calculated

Organizations may tailor the formula, but the episode frames it as two related metrics:

Hazard Identification Rate

Number of hazards identified ÷ Number of workers (or hours worked)

Hazard Resolution Rate

Number of hazards resolved ÷ Number of hazards identified

High identification + high resolution = a healthy, proactive system.

 

4. Common Pitfalls

Dr. Ayers highlights several traps:

• Focusing only on identification Finding hazards without fixing them creates frustration.

• Focusing only on resolution Fixing a few hazards looks good on paper but hides under‑reporting.

• Punishing workers for reporting hazards This kills the identification rate instantly.

• Treating all hazards equally High‑severity hazards must be resolved first.

• Using temporary fixes as “resolution” Tape and zip‑ties don’t count.

 

5. How to Improve the Metric

A. Encourage reporting

Reward workers for identifying hazards, not for staying quiet.

B. Assign ownership

Every hazard needs a responsible person and a due date.

C. Prioritize by risk

Fix high‑severity hazards first.

D. Track close‑out times

Speed matters—slow fixes increase exposure.

E. Audit the system

Verify that “resolved” hazards are actually resolved.

 

6. Leadership Takeaways

Strong safety leaders:

• Treat hazard identification as a positive behavior

• Ensure hazards are fixed quickly, not just logged

• Use the metric as a leading indicator of system health

• Build trust by closing the loop with workers

• Focus on permanent controls, not temporary patches

 

7. Practical Example (in the spirit of the episode)

A facility identifies 60 hazards in a month. Of those:

• 48 are resolved

• 12 remain open

Hazard Resolution Rate = 48 ÷ 60 = 80%

If the organization’s target is 90%, the gap signals slow follow‑through or resource constraints.