Observation Hazard Reports, often called Hazard Observations, HSE Observations, or Safety Observations, are proactive, frontline safety tools used to identify hazards, unsafe conditions, unsafe acts, or positive safety behaviours before they lead to incidents.
They are one of the simplest and most effective ways for construction and infrastructure teams to improve safety culture, reduce risk, and maintain compliance onsite.
Observation Hazard Reports empower every worker (not just supervisors or safety personnel) to contribute to a safer workplace through quick, real-time reporting.
What Do Observation Hazard Reports Include?
A typical Observation Hazard Report captures the following.
Hazard or Positive Observation – Workers can report:
- Unsafe conditions (e.g., oil leak, tripping hazard)
- Unsafe acts (e.g., walking through exclusion zone)
- Environmental concerns (e.g., spill, dust)
- Equipment or plant issues (e.g., missing guard)
- Positive observations (e.g., excellent housekeeping, proper PPE use)
Location & Date – Clear identification of where and when the observation occurred.
Description of the Observation – A short explanation of what was seen.
Hazard Category – Common categories include:
- PPE
- Housekeeping
- Plant & Equipment
- Traffic Management
- Environment
- Electrical
- Manual Handling
- Chemical Management
…and more, depending on project requirements.
Risk Rating – Hazards are assigned a risk level such as:
- Low
- Medium
- High
- Very High
This helps prioritise corrective actions.
Corrective Actions – Details of what was done immediately and whether the hazard was rectified on the spot.
Follow-Up & Close-Out – Some observations require:
- Supervisor review
- Additional controls
- Escalation to an incident / NCR
- Documentation in tracking registers
Why Observation Hazard Reports Matter
Observation Hazard Reports contribute significantly to project safety by:
1. Preventing Incidents Before They Happen – Most issues identified through observations are corrected before they escalate.
2. Strengthening Safety Culture – When workers know their observations matter, they become active participants in site safety rather than just passive recipients of instructions.
3. Highlighting Trends and Systemic Issues – Aggregated data reveals patterns, for example:
- Repeated housekeeping issues in a specific area
- Frequent PPE non-compliance
- Recurring environmental risks
These insights drive targeted improvements.
4. Recognising Positive Behaviours – Positive observations reinforce good habits, boosting morale and encouraging consistent safe practices.
5. Supporting Compliance – Many clients and regulatory frameworks require structured observation programs to supplement audits, inspections, and formal reporting.
Real-World Examples of Hazard Observations
Some typical observations include:
- Housekeeping: “No proper material storage and stacking.”
- Plant & Equipment: “Ute driving without beacon on.”
- Environmental: “PASS material spill outside bunded area.”
- PPE: “Worker not wearing safety boots and gloves.”
- Electrical: “Portable generator missing earthing guard.”
- Positive Observation: “Great communication and safe practices during lifting.”
These kinds of early warnings prevent bigger issues, injuries, and delays.
Digital Observation Reporting in Glaass
At Glaass, Observation Hazard Reports are modernised through structured digital templates across Safety and Environment modules. Teams can:
- Submit observations via mobile devices
- Capture photos, attachments, and locations
- Categorise hazards and assign risk levels
- Record corrective and preventive actions
- Link observations to safety analytics
- Track open vs. closed observations
- Export logs for clients, regulators, and audits
By digitising the process, Glaass helps projects achieve complete traceability, improved responsiveness, and stronger overall safety performance, without the admin burden of paper-based systems.
