DO

Identifying what could cause the most harm

The DO phase is about taking action to find, understand and prioritize the risks that could cause life-altering injuries or fatalities.

This step focuses on identifying high-energy hazards, evaluating their potential severity and assessing how well current controls protect workers.

The goal is to focus resources on the risks that could cause the most serious harm.

What to do

1. Identify potential high-energy hazards

Purpose: 

To identify hazards that could reasonably result in a serious injury or fatality if energy were released or controls failed.

How to use this tool:

Review information gathered during the PLAN phase and focus on one hazard at a time. Walk the work area and identify specific conditions, tasks or situations that involve high-energy exposure. Use the energy wheel as a prompt to ensure all energy types are considered, but describe hazards in clear, practical terms—not just by energy category.

Why it matters:

Serious incidents often stem from hazards that are known but not clearly defined. This tool ensures high-consequence hazards are explicitly identified so they can be assessed and managed before harm occurs.

Purpose: 

To understand how a serious incident or fatality hazard is actually managed in the field.

How to use this tool:

Select a priority hazard and assess it at a specific site or location. Review existing documentation and observe work in progress. Speak with workers, leaders, supervisors and safety professionals to understand how controls are applied in real conditions—including during non-routine or high-pressure work.

Why it matters:

Controls that look effective on paper may not work as intended in practice. This assessment establishes a realistic baseline of how risk is managed where work actually happens.

Purpose: 

To prioritize serious hazards based on how severe the potential outcome could be and how strong current controls are.

How to use this tool:

For each identified hazard, assign:

  • a severity rating (very high, high, moderate or low), and
  • a control rating (from elimination through to no controls).

Plot the hazard on the matrix and calculate its score. Hazards with higher severity and weaker controls—especially those scoring 10 or higher—should be prioritized.

Why it matters:

Not all hazards carry the same risk. This tool ensures attention and resources are directed to the hazards most likely to result in life-altering harm.

Purpose: 

To identify conditions that can increase the likelihood of control failure or exposure to serious risk.

How to use this tool:

Review each priority hazard through a human and organizational performance lens. Consider factors such as:

  • work environment and task demands
  • fatigue, time pressure or production demands
  • clarity of roles, procedures and supervision
  • organizational priorities and decision-making

Document how these factors may amplify risk.

Why it matters:

Serious incidents are rarely caused by a single failure. Understanding how human and organizational factors interact with hazards helps prevent controls from being undermined.

Purpose: 

To clearly explain which serious hazards require action and why.

How to use this tool:

Summarize findings from the previous steps in a prioritization table. For each hazard, record:

  • the hazard description
  • severity and control ratings
  • human and organizational factors
  • rationale for prioritization

Use this table to support leadership discussions and decision-making.

Why it matters:

Transparent rationale builds trust and alignment. This tool ensures that prioritization decisions are clear, defensible and focused on preventing the most serious outcomes.



Tips for success

  • Use a team approach. Involve front-line workers and supervisors to ensure all perspectives are represented.
  • Focus on what could happen, not what has. Historical injury data rarely shows where the next fatality could occur.
  • Validate in the field. Verify that listed controls actually exist and are working as intended.
  • Keep it visual. Mapping high-energy hazards helps communicate risk across the organization.
  • Use available tools. WorkSafe Saskatchewan provides templates and tools to help recognize and prioritize risks.

Outcome

By completing this stage, your organization will have:

  • A clear inventory of high-energy hazards,
  • A prioritized list of serious risks with supporting rationale,
  • Awareness of where controls are strong and where they need strengthening,
  • A foundation for focused action and investment.

What comes next

Once you’ve identified and prioritized your serious risks, move to the Check phase – verifying that your critical controls are effective and resilient.

CHECK: Analyze and verify the effectiveness of controls

Learning through collaboration

WorkSafe Saskatchewan’s serious incident and fatality prevention model was developed with support from the National Safety Council, SaskPower and numerous subject matter experts across industries. It is designed to evolve as your safety system matures.

A model is only effective if it's used. Apply the tools and

adapt the framework to fit your organization and culture.


Download the serious incident and fatality prevention model and guidebook

Need help getting started?

WorkSafe Saskatchewan’s prevention team can walk you through the model and help you get started with using these tools to better understand and manage the complex risks that are present in your workplace.

Phone: 306.787.7248
Toll free: 1.800.667.7590
Email: worksafeinquiry@wcbsask.com