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, so ask your supervisor if you are not sure.

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: how to protect yourself

• Read it first. Your signature is a record that you reviewed the plan. Make sure you understand the hazards and controls before you sign.
• Ask about anything that is not clear. It is easier to ask now than after work starts.
• If you raised a concern, check that it is on the form. Then there is a record that you spoke up.
• If you missed the check, for example you arrived late, ask someone to go through it with you before you sign.

After you sign

Signing does not mean the plan stays the same all day. If the job or the work area changes, stop and look at the FLHA again with your crew before you keep working. Lesson 9 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