A physical hazard is a type of occupational
hazard that involves environmental
hazards that can cause harm with or without contact.
Physical hazards include ergonomic hazards, radiation,
heat and cold stress, vibration
hazards, and noise hazards (Grant, 2013).
hazard that involves environmental
hazards that can cause harm with or without contact.
Physical hazards include ergonomic hazards, radiation,
heat and cold stress, vibration
hazards, and noise hazards (Grant, 2013).
International
Labour Organisation (ILO) (2012) stated that physical hazards are a common
source of injuries in many industries. They are perhaps unavoidable in certain
industries, such as construction
and mining,
but over time people have developed safety methods and procedures to manage the
risks of physical danger in the workplace.
Labour Organisation (ILO) (2012) stated that physical hazards are a common
source of injuries in many industries. They are perhaps unavoidable in certain
industries, such as construction
and mining,
but over time people have developed safety methods and procedures to manage the
risks of physical danger in the workplace.
Causes of physical hazards
Falls
Falls are a common cause of occupational injuries and
fatalities, especially in construction, extraction, transportation, healthcare,
and building cleaning and maintenance (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 2012).
fatalities, especially in construction, extraction, transportation, healthcare,
and building cleaning and maintenance (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 2012).
Machines
Machines are commonplace in many industries,
including manufacturing, mining, construction and agriculture, and can
be dangerous to workers. Many machines involve moving parts, sharp edges, hot
surfaces and other hazards with the potential to crush, burn, cut, shear, stab or
otherwise strike or wound workers if used unsafely (Harris and Richard,
2012).
including manufacturing, mining, construction and agriculture, and can
be dangerous to workers. Many machines involve moving parts, sharp edges, hot
surfaces and other hazards with the potential to crush, burn, cut, shear, stab or
otherwise strike or wound workers if used unsafely (Harris and Richard,
2012).
Noise
Noise also presents a fairly common
workplace hazard: occupational hearing loss is the most common work-related
injury. Noise is not the only source of occupational hearing loss; exposure to chemicals such as
aromatic solvents and metals including lead, arsenic, and mercury can also
cause hearing loss (Kardous
et al., 2015).
workplace hazard: occupational hearing loss is the most common work-related
injury. Noise is not the only source of occupational hearing loss; exposure to chemicals such as
aromatic solvents and metals including lead, arsenic, and mercury can also
cause hearing loss (Kardous
et al., 2015).
Temperature
Temperature extremes can also pose a danger to
workers. Heat stress can
cause heat stroke, exhaustion, cramps, and rashes. Heat
can also fog up safety glasses or cause
sweaty palms or dizziness, all of
which increase the risk of other injuries. Workers near hot surfaces or steam
also are at risk for burns. Dehydration may also
result from overexposure to heat. Cold stress also
poses a danger to many workers. Overexposure to cold conditions or extreme cold
can lead to hypothermia, frostbite, trench foot, etc. (National Institute of Occupational Safety and
Health, 2012).
workers. Heat stress can
cause heat stroke, exhaustion, cramps, and rashes. Heat
can also fog up safety glasses or cause
sweaty palms or dizziness, all of
which increase the risk of other injuries. Workers near hot surfaces or steam
also are at risk for burns. Dehydration may also
result from overexposure to heat. Cold stress also
poses a danger to many workers. Overexposure to cold conditions or extreme cold
can lead to hypothermia, frostbite, trench foot, etc. (National Institute of Occupational Safety and
Health, 2012).
Electricity
Electricity poses a
danger to many workers. Electrical injuries can be divided into four types:
fatal electrocution, electric shock, burns,
and falls caused by contact with electric energy (National Institute of Occupational Safety and
Health, 2012).
danger to many workers. Electrical injuries can be divided into four types:
fatal electrocution, electric shock, burns,
and falls caused by contact with electric energy (National Institute of Occupational Safety and
Health, 2012).
Biological hazards
Biological hazards, also known as biohazards, refer to biological
substances that pose a threat to the health of living organisms,
primarily that of humans. This can include samples of a microorganism, virus or toxin (from a biological source) that can affect human health.
It can also include substances harmful to other animals. The term and its associated
symbol are generally used as a warning, so that those
potentially exposed to the substances will know to take precautions (Grant,
2013)
substances that pose a threat to the health of living organisms,
primarily that of humans. This can include samples of a microorganism, virus or toxin (from a biological source) that can affect human health.
It can also include substances harmful to other animals. The term and its associated
symbol are generally used as a warning, so that those
potentially exposed to the substances will know to take precautions (Grant,
2013)
Levels of biohazard
Preston (2002) categorizes
various diseases in levels of biohazard, Level 1 being minimum risk and Level 4
being extreme risk. Laboratories and other facilities are categorized as BSL (Biosafety Level) 1-4 or
as P1 through P4 for short (Pathogen or Protection Level).
various diseases in levels of biohazard, Level 1 being minimum risk and Level 4
being extreme risk. Laboratories and other facilities are categorized as BSL (Biosafety Level) 1-4 or
as P1 through P4 for short (Pathogen or Protection Level).
- Biohazard
Level 1: Bacteria and viruses including Bacillus subtilis, canine hepatitis, Escherichia coli, varicella (chicken
pox), as well as some cell cultures and
non-infectious bacteria. - Biohazard
Level 2: Bacteria and viruses that cause only mild
disease to humans, or are difficult to contract via aerosol in
a lab setting, such as hepatitis A, B,
and C,
some influenza
A strains, Lyme
disease, salmonella, mumps, measles, scrapie, dengue
fever, HIV.. - Biohazard
Level 3: Bacteria and viruses that can cause severe to
fatal disease in humans, but for which vaccines or other treatments exist,
such as anthrax, West Nile virus, Venezuelan equine encephalitis, SARS virus, MERS coronavirus, hantaviruses, tuberculosis, typhus, Rift Valley fever, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, yellow
fever, and malaria. - Biohazard
Level 4: Viruses that cause severe to fatal disease in
humans, and for which vaccines or other treatments are not
available, such as Bolivian hemorrhagic fever, Marburg
virus, Ebola
virus, Lassa fever virus, Crimean–Congo hemorrhagic fever,
and other hemorrhagic
diseases and rishibola.
Chemical hazard
A chemical hazard is a type of occupational
hazard caused by exposure to chemicals
in the workplace. Exposure to chemicals in the workplace can cause acute or
long-term detrimental health effects. There are many types of hazardous
chemicals, including neurotoxins, immune agents, dermatologic agents,
carcinogens, reproductive toxins, systemic toxins, and sensitizers. Long term
exposure to chemicals such as silica dust, engine exhausts, tobacco smoke,
and/or lead (among others) have been shown to increase risk of
heart
disease, stroke,
and high blood pressure. Chemical hazards come in the form of liquids
such as acids, solvents especially if they do not have a label, vapors and
fumes and flammable materials (Centre for Disease Prevention and Control,
2015).
hazard caused by exposure to chemicals
in the workplace. Exposure to chemicals in the workplace can cause acute or
long-term detrimental health effects. There are many types of hazardous
chemicals, including neurotoxins, immune agents, dermatologic agents,
carcinogens, reproductive toxins, systemic toxins, and sensitizers. Long term
exposure to chemicals such as silica dust, engine exhausts, tobacco smoke,
and/or lead (among others) have been shown to increase risk of
heart
disease, stroke,
and high blood pressure. Chemical hazards come in the form of liquids
such as acids, solvents especially if they do not have a label, vapors and
fumes and flammable materials (Centre for Disease Prevention and Control,
2015).
Ionizing radiation
Ionizing radiation is radiation
that carries enough energy
to liberate electrons
from atoms or molecules,
thereby ionizing
them. Ionizing radiation is made up of energetic subatomic
particles, ions or atoms moving at high speeds (usually greater
than 1% of the speed of light), and electromagnetic
waves on the high-energy end of the electromagnetic
spectrum. Gamma rays, X-rays,
and the higher ultraviolet
part of the electromagnetic spectrum are ionizing. Typical ionizing subatomic particles from
radioactivity include alpha particles, beta particles
and neutrons.
Almost all products of radioactive decay are ionizing because the energy of
radioactive decay is typically far higher than that required to ionize (Stallcup,
2006).
that carries enough energy
to liberate electrons
from atoms or molecules,
thereby ionizing
them. Ionizing radiation is made up of energetic subatomic
particles, ions or atoms moving at high speeds (usually greater
than 1% of the speed of light), and electromagnetic
waves on the high-energy end of the electromagnetic
spectrum. Gamma rays, X-rays,
and the higher ultraviolet
part of the electromagnetic spectrum are ionizing. Typical ionizing subatomic particles from
radioactivity include alpha particles, beta particles
and neutrons.
Almost all products of radioactive decay are ionizing because the energy of
radioactive decay is typically far higher than that required to ionize (Stallcup,
2006).
Ionizing
radiation is used in a wide variety of fields such as medicine, nuclear power,
research, manufacturing, construction, and many other areas, but presents a
health hazard if proper measures against undesired exposure aren’t followed.
Exposure to ionizing radiation causes damage to living tissue,
and can result in mutation, radiation sickness, cancer,
and death (Stallcup, 2006).
radiation is used in a wide variety of fields such as medicine, nuclear power,
research, manufacturing, construction, and many other areas, but presents a
health hazard if proper measures against undesired exposure aren’t followed.
Exposure to ionizing radiation causes damage to living tissue,
and can result in mutation, radiation sickness, cancer,
and death (Stallcup, 2006).
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