Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (HIRA) in maintenance works: a case study in UiTM Cawangan Pulau Pinang, Malaysia

Maintenance is a common activity across all workplaces and sectors, involving personnel at every level. Maintenance is necessary for preserving safe and healthy working conditions; however, poorly managed maintenance may pose significant health and safety hazards. This study was conducted to identify the potential hazards and evaluate the risks in maintenance works. The data were collected through one observation for each maintenance work in the workplace within a period study of six (6) months. The likelihood and severity of the hazards were used to establish the risk assessment, which was then used to determine the risk levels. A total of 35 potential hazards were identified from the 6 different types of maintenance works, with 3 (8.6%) at high risk level, 20 (57.1%) at medium risk, and the remaining 12 (34.3%) at low risk. Most of the maintenance activities were found to be safe. The high-risk level of hazard occurred during maintenance of the lift and water pipe leakage. Therefore, stricter supervision needs to be carried out on both maintenance works to ensure the safety of the workers. Employers must regularly assess and examine all the hazards for the planned safety measures to be successful. Implementing precautionary measures and increasing worker familiarity with the standard operating procedure (SOP) can help prevent an accident.