Occupational Hazards | 6 danger categories (2023)

Biological hazards include viruses, bacteria, insects, animals, etc. that can cause adverse health effects. These health effects can range from skin and respiratory irritation to infection transmission.

Some biological hazards include:

Bloodborne diseases, including HIV, hepatitis B and C, and malaria

Bloodborne diseases are viruses or bacteria that can be spread through contact with infected blood or bodily fluids. Those most at risk for blood-borne diseases are those who work in health care, such as doctors, nurses, and dentists. But many other professions may also be at risk, such as cleaners, garbage collectors, sweepers, park attendants, and tattoo artists. Simply put, anyone who comes across sharp and pointy objects at work is at risk. Incidents that pose a risk of transmission of blood-borne diseases can have serious psychological and health effects. Ourcan help you take steps to reduce the risk of injury in your workplace.

bacteria, mold and fungus

Improperly managed work environments can make your work environment the ideal breeding ground for bacteria, mold and fungus, like: B. Legionella bacteria do. Exposure to bacteria, mold, and fungus can cause serious health effects, including:legionelosisand respiratory diseases and can aggravate allergies. Some of the highest risk workplaces include spa pools, textiles, printing and paper manufacturing, but any wet work environment can be at risk.

Flour, milk powder or grain powder

Exposure to organic dusts can cause serious health effects such as respiratory irritation and occupational asthma. People at risk include people who work in food production and preparation, for example in a bakery.

Other organic powders

Deterioration of construction materials and agricultural, building and construction activities can expose workers to a variety of organic dusts, fungi and bacteria, including clay dust and straw. Exposure to these can cause aggravation of allergies, respiratory and skin irritation, among other health effects.

Exposure to animals and plants.

For example, people who work in agriculture or horticulture, in zoos, or as dog handlers are at risk of encountering bacteria, fungi, viruses, and mites from animals and nearby vegetation. If not properly controlled, this exposure can lead to a number of health effects, including allergic conditions such as farmer's lung.

Chemical hazards are dangerous substances that can cause harm. They can be very dangerous, but they are not always immediately apparent in the workplace. For example, when you consider who might be at risk, you may not immediately think of hairdressers, florists, cleaners, servers, bartenders, or manicurists.

Examples of substances that represent a chemical hazard are:

cleaning chemicals

Cleaning chemicals are used in almost all workplaces to maintain good hygiene standards. Incorrect use of cleaning chemicals can have serious consequences, including allergic reactions, asthma and respiratory irritation, dermatitis, and burns to the skin or eyes.

Hair dyes, shampoos, conditioners and henna products

These are all substances that we use safely at home without regard to the risks. However, henna hair dyes, shampoos, conditioners, and products, along with other substances commonly found in hair and beauty salons, can have serious health effects if proper precautions are not taken.For more information on the dangers of hairdressing, check out our article:Barber's Guide to COSHH in the Salon.

nail glue, nail polish remover, primer and artificial nails etc.

Improper use and storage of these materials can result in a number of serious health and safety hazards. For example, skin and respiratory tract irritation, headaches, dizziness, nausea, occupational asthma, cancer, and fire hazards.

welding fumes

Welding work involves many hazards., including exposure to invisible gaseous vapors. These vapors include ozone, nitrogen oxides, chromium and nickel oxides, and carbon monoxide. Exposure to these gases can cause serious health effects including pneumonia, occupational asthma, cancer, metal fume fever, and respiratory irritation. If not properly controlled, the fumes can affect the welder and anyone working nearby.

Physical hazards are environmental factors that can harm an employee without necessarily touching them.

Examples of physical hazards are:

electricity

Contact with live parts can cause serious injury or death, including electric shock, burns, explosions, and falls from a height. The risk is increased in wet conditions, where equipment and the worker's environment may also be affected.

feuer

Every workplace is at risk of fire. However, some workplaces are more at risk, either due to activities/types of work or staff/residents. For example,asylum,schools,Hotels, hot work organizations, food manufacturers and restaurants. Fires can be devastating to both the organization and the people involved, causing serious injuries such as burns, suffocation, and death. A risk assessment is an essential precaution in fire safety measures; ourfree templatewill help you create one for your installation.

narrow spaces

Working in the tightest spacespresents significant risks to employees. They can be particularly dangerous due to reduced oxygen levels and the possible build-up of gases, which can lead to fires, explosions, suffocation and unconsciousness. Other risks include collapse and flooding. Examples of people at risk are those who work in mines, cold rooms, tunnels, shafts, ship holds, air ducts, and shafts.

Extreme temperatures

Exposure to frost or extreme cold can cause serious health effects including hypothermia, reduced mental alertness, chilblains, waterproofing, and reduced dexterity. People at risk include anyone who needs to work outdoors during the colder months or in cold rooms, including construction workers, rescue workers, fishermen and food manufacturers. On the other hand, extreme heat can lead to adverse health effects such as dehydration, heat exhaustion, and dizziness. Workers at risk include workers in restaurants, laundries, foundries, welders, and bakers.

These are hazards that create unsafe working conditions. Examples of security risks include:

• Dangling power cords, loose or frayed carpets and rugs, spilled liquids, ice, etc.All of this can result in a slip, trip or fall in the workplace and have physical and mental repercussions for an injured employee.
• Unprotected machines.Unguarded moving machine parts present a safety hazard as personnel can be seriously injured or killed if they accidentally come into contact with them. For example, clothing, ropes, hair, or body parts can get caught in unguarded machinery and cause bruises, fractures, loss of limbs, head injuries, and death.
• Frayed and defective strings, wires or cords.These can present a risk of electric shock, burns and fire. Exposure to electricity can also cause a fall from a height. For example, if an employee is electrocuted while using a ladder.

Ergonomic risks are the result of physical factors that can lead to musculoskeletal injuries. You can find them atallin the workplace and, if not managed properly, can have significant short- and long-term effects on the health and well-being of your employees. Musculoskeletal injuries are those that affect the musculoskeletal system, including damage to muscles, tendons, bones, joints, ligaments, nerves, and blood vessels. Types of ergonomic hazards include:

• Manual handling.Manual handling occurs any time you lift, lower, push, pull, carry, or move a load with your hands or physical force.Poor manual handling techniquescan have serious consequences unless employees aretrained accordinglyin your tasks. These include long-term damage to the musculoskeletal system and mental health of the individual.
• Use of fabric devices.Most jobs in this current technological age require the use of some type of display device. prolonged use ofpoorly designed workplacesIt can cause a number of adverse health effects, including musculoskeletal injuries, repetitive strain injuries, fatigue, and eyestrain.You can find our DSE training courses,here.
• Vibration.Prolonged use of vibrating tools can cause serious health effects including vibration white fingers, sensory nerve damage, carpal tunnel syndrome, and muscle and joint damage.For more information on the effects of vibration, see our article:Effects of vibration on the body: HAVS guide.

Ergonomic hazards can have serious disabling effects if not managed properly. Therefore, it is important that you understand how to identify ergonomic hazards at work and take steps to ensure that your employees can perform their jobs safely.

Psychosocial hazards include hazards that can adversely affect an employee's mental health or well-being and are closely related to all other hazard categories. For example:

• Health effects.The health impacts of biological, chemical, physical, safety, and ergonomic hazards can have a significant impact on a person's well-being. For example, exposure to a bloodborne virus as a result of an acute injury can result in months of stress and anxiety for the affected person and their family. Therefore, almost all of the hazards described in this article can also cause psychosocial effects.
• Bullying.Harassment is the result of conduct by a person that makes you feel intimidated, humiliated, offended or otherwise distressed and can have a serious impact on a person's health and well-being. For example,bullying at workit is surprisingly common and can pose a serious psychosocial risk. Bullying behavior can cause the bullied person to experience a variety of psychosocial symptoms, including stress, anxiety and lack of sleep, loss of appetite, and feelings of vulnerability.
• Assault and abuse in the workplace.Whether by a co-worker, client or anyone else, assault and abuse in the workplace can have a serious impact on a person's mental and physical health, leading to symptoms such as stress, anxiety and lack of sleep. Managers can actreduce sexual harassment in the workplaceand encourage employees to speak up when they witness or testify.