Some incidents or accidents in the workplace can occur due to various risks that occur or can occur in the work environment afterwards. You must be aware of and aware of different kinds of workplace hazards that may affect you and your employees to deal with safety and health issues properly and constructively. The purpose of our article is to present the types of hazards in the workplace.
The following four categories covered the different types of workplace hazards:
- Chemical hazards
Chemical hazards appear in the workplace when you are exposed to any type of chemical preparation. Chemical hazards are frequently associated with industrial or construction workplaces. They can be found in almost every workplace. Chemical hazards exist in restaurants, retail spaces, and even offices, and they have the potential to cause serious harm to the occupants. Therefore, employers need to conduct hazardous chemical awareness training to eradicate such problems.
The following are the most common chemical hazards:
- Fumes and vapors
- Gasoline or other flammable materials
- Cleaning supplies or solvents
- Ergonomic hazards
Ergonomic hazards are typically caused by the strain placed on your body as a result of the type of work you do, your working conditions, or your body position. Ergonomic hazards are particularly dangerous because they are frequently invisible or difficult to detect. They also tend to cause long-term damage rather than short-term damage. They can include a variety of things such as:
- Frequent lifting
- Poor lighting,
- Awkward/repetitive movements
- Improperly adjusted workstations
- Safety hazards
On the list of these types of workplace hazards, safety hazards rank as the most important. Employees who work directly with machinery or on construction sites are at risk from these hazards. Moreover, these hazards can be counterchecked with the help of an occupational hygienist.
Safety hazards are hazardous working conditions that can result in injury, illness, or death. According to the National Safety Council, 34,673 people died in North American falls at home and work in 2016. The most common workplace risks are safety hazards. They are as follows:
- Anything that could lead to a spill or a trip, such as cords running across the floor or ice.
- Unguarded and moving machinery parts that a worker may come into contact with inadvertently.
- Anything that could lead to a fall, such as working from a height, such as ladders, scaffolding, roofs, or any elevated work area.
- Electrical hazards, such as frayed cords, missing ground pins, and faulty wiring
- Limited space.
- Physical hazards
Physical hazards may be the least obvious of all the hazards in your workplace. Physical hazards, despite their name, aren\’t always something you can see or touch. Workers face physical hazards when exposed to hazardous working conditions or extreme weather. Workers who are exposed to the sun for an extended period can face physical hazards that can have long-term consequences for their health. Physical hazards are any elements in the environment that can harm the body without physically touching it.
Physical dangers include the following:
- Excessive sun/ultraviolet ray exposure
- Constant loud noise
- Presence of asbestos, which could lead to serious health problems. Hence, asbestos clearance is crucial.
- Extreme temperature swings – hot and cold.