The word hazard has many definitions. Some use the term interchangeably with risk or danger. However, in terms of workplace health, a hazard is the source of potential harm, adverse health effects, or damage on someone or something. Workplace hazards come from different sources. For example, they could be caused by a substance, process, material, or practice. Some things are naturally hazardous while others are hazardous if used carelessly. Experts have visited several work sites and perform safety audits. During these escapades, they have identified some common health hazards at workplaces. These hazards can be classified as being acute or chronic. Acute hazards are obvious, and the impact is immediate whereas chronic hazards are less apparent but have a long term impact. Here is a breakdown of seven of the common health hazards you should watch out for.
Safety Hazards
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 14% of the fatalities that took place in 2014 were related to lower level falls. The statistics also noted that a violation of the OSHA standards on scaffolding and ladders were, in most cases, to blame for these violations.
The other reason for hazards related to working at height is a lack of knowledge. Many employers do not know that they are required to provide their workers with fall protection. Additionally, the protective gear is not worn properly. Employers should also spot the areas where fall protection should be worn. They are also required to train their employees on fall protection.
Other common safety hazards include; unguarded machinery, being exposed to loud noises, trips, slips, and falls, and vibrations. Also, not having equipment properly labelled can attract thieves onto your premises and cause a whole other set of problems – if you think you need to get some asset tags for your workspace to help deter any prying hands, you may wish to check this site out.
Chemical Hazards
Chemical Hazards
Chemicals are expensive, and some employers do not know when they will be using the chemical in the future. However, this sort of ignorance could lead to hazards. The reason is that chemicals will be stocked for a long period and when they are used again, they could be lethal. For instance, if either is stored for long, it becomes explosive peroxide. According to OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standard, facilities need to maintain an inventory of all their products. This includes noting down the expiry date of chemicals, using the chemicals before that date, and exposing them properly after the expiry date.
Another chemical hazard involves transferring chemicals. Though it might seem harmless to transfer chemicals to other containers, these containers need to be appropriately labeled according to the Hazcom Standard. Gas is also something that needs labelling appropriately, for example in gas bottles (see Storemasta to learn more about storage options), so that it’s known how long to contain it for in order to avoid damage.
Biological Hazards
If you work with people, animals, or infectious plants, you are highly susceptible to biological hazards. Those who mostly work with people, for example, in hospitals or schools, are most susceptible to biological hazards. Some of the most common examples of these types of hazards include:
- Plants
- Bacteria
- Viruses
- Fungi
- Mold
These hazards could be reduced by being cautious with how we contact other people. For example, in hospitals, the use of gloves and other protective facial masks is recommended when treating patients with infectious diseases. Therefore, these hazards are caused by ignorance when it comes to applying safety measures.
Ergonomic Hazards
These hazards are commonplace in environments where the employees perform manual work. These working conditions strain the body of the employees. Since the strain on a worker’s body is difficult to identify, these hazards go unnoticed. Short-term exposure to these sort of hazards may include sore muscles while long time exposure may lead to chronic illnesses. Some common examples of these hazards include:
- Poor posture
- Performing the same movements repeatedly leading to strain injury
- Frequent lifting
Like biological hazards, ergonomic hazards are all about how you conduct yourself while working. Maintaining the right posture and taking short breaks when doing some repetitive work are some of the measures that can prevent these hazards.
Work Organisation Hazards
These hazards are linked to workplace conditions like the workload assigned to a worker. The most common types of these hazards include:
- Workplace violence
- Workload demands
- Intensity of work
The best way to guard against these sort of hazards is through knowing your rights and upholding them. For example, it is wrong for your employer to burden you with work. You should work for a certain amount of time, after which, you are entitled to overtime. Furthermore, workers are entitled to take breaks from work and also to a certain leave period. It is also wrong for employers to harass, abuse, or discriminate against employees. Knowing your rights as an employee is the best defense against work organization hazards.
Physical Hazards
These are risks employees face that harm their bodies indirectly. The most common types of these hazards include:
- Too much sunlight exposure
- Extreme temperatures
- Radiation
- Exposure to asbestos
Like most of the other hazards, physical risks can only be prevented through safety measures. Employees should not be exposed to too much sunlight without sunscreen. They should also not be exposed to extreme temperatures and radiation. A Thresthold NV Asbestos Inspection is also recommended to prevent workers from getting asbestosis.
Poor Housekeeping
Clutter blocking emergency exits, fire exits, or aisles presents another hazard in the form of poor housekeeping. Clutter, standing water, and leaks are the major contributors to falls, slips, and trips. To avoid such hazards, workers should clean up these spills instead of waiting on the cleanup crew. However, if the cleaning requires specialized training, they should report the issues to their supervisors.
Storage is another area of concern with regards to poor housekeeping. Employers should use appropriate areas to keep their supplies. For example, some employers use electrical rooms to store supplies. This could easily block electrical installations or cause an inconvenience in situations where lights went out or something went wrong.
Health hazards occur all the time. Sometimes you do not have control over them, other times, there are measures you can take to prevent them. Employers are obligated to ensure their workers do not face any harm while working. If workers come to harm while at work, their employers violate the OSHA terms on workplace conditions unless the employees were harmed owing to their negligence.
I’m a 20-something stay-at-home mother and wife. I have an amazing husband, a beautiful daughter, two loving dogs, and a lazy cat. I wouldn’t change my life for anything! I love to read, listen to music, cook and blog!
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