Understanding hazards
Key learning points
1. What are common hazards?
2. What can you do about common hazards?
Notes:
What are common hazards?
• mechanical
• physical
• chemical
• biological
•
• organisational.
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Mechanical hazards
Some examples of mechanical hazards are unguarded machines, plant machinery and
A person may be harmed as a result of
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Mechanical hazards can also be categorised according to the type of injury caused:
• crushing
• shearing
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• entanglement
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• impact
• stabbing and puncture
• friction and abrasion
•
Notes:
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Physical hazards
Physical hazards are substances or conditions that may harm a person’s physical
The most common types of injuries include:
• tripping
• slipping
Did you know…?
Notes:
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Chemical hazards
Chemicals are considered a hazard due to their intrinsic properties to cause harm to
manufactured for commercial or home use. Examples of these chemical hazards are
Chemical hazards can be presented by substances that are:
•
example, fumes from soldering and
route and the speed of entry into the body.
Chemicals can harm a person’s
health by entering the body by:
•
• ingestion through the mouth
• inhalation to the lungs.
Once a chemical hazard has entered the body, examples of harmful effects are:
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• diseases of the respiratory system
• cancer and birth defects
• asphyxiation
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• blood poisoning.
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Biological hazards
by organisms.
Examples of biological hazards include:
• pathogenic bacteria
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• ...fungi
• ...parasites.
exposure.
Other examples of work activities that can bring people into contact with
biological hazards are:
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could be contaminated
Examples of common occupational infections that
can arise from these activities include:
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•
Notes:
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and are often unnoticed until an accident occurs.
Environmental hazards include:
• noise
• poor lighting
• unreasonable temperatures
• dust.
Notes:
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Organisational hazards
deadlines.
Studies have shown that the following work dimensions may have the potential to
be stressful:
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• organisational structures.
Notes:
What can you do about common hazards?
hazards.
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depends a lot on your occupation. If your
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ambulance staff, police
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Physical attacks and verbal abuse
problem too, as it can damage an employee’s health through anxiety and stress.
psychological
symptoms that can lead to physical symptoms.
Notes:
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Psychological symptoms can include:
• insomnia •
• stress • agoraphobia
• anxiety •
• irritability • guilt.
Encourage members of your team to:
•
you
the outcome and details of the
location and nature of the incident.
Did you know…?
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• ceilings
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• domestic appliances.
Zealand and some EU member states such as Germany, a licence is needed for some
Notes:
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Actions an organisation can take to prevent, reduce and monitor asbestos
exposure include:
•
exposure limits
Actions that workers can take to prevent, reduce and monitor asbestos exposure
include:
Did you know…?
fully controlled ([Link]).
Notes:
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Bullying
someone.
Examples of bullying behaviour include:
• shouting at staff
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deadlines
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Symptoms of bullying include:
• anxiety
• headaches
• nausea
• ulcers
• sleeplessness
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• high blood pressure
• tearfulness
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are being bullied.
Notes:
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Chemicals and harmful substances
bacteria classed as biological hazard
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• Organic peroxides
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• Respiratory tract irritation
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• Respiratory sensitisation
• Germ cell mutagenicity
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Chemicals can come into contact with your bare skin and eyes
as ingestion.
You can breathe in chemicals
Breathing in harmful gases and dusts, such as asbestos, means they can stay in the
Remember:
• some substances are more harmful than
others
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are seen.
Notes:
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Did you know…?
related occupations.
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substances
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measures
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Encourage your team members:
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are being used
•
Did you know…?
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• upper limb disorders (ULDs)
• back injuries
• eye strain
members.
Make sure that your team members:
Notes:
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• storage bins
• silos
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• tunnels.
hazards:
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• asphyxiation from dust, grain or other contaminant.
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area:
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the need to enter
Did you know…?
trying to rescue their colleagues.
Notes:
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Drugs and alcohol
The causes of substance misuse may include the following:
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harassment
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alcohol or drugs
Notes:
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The following behaviours in the workplace may indicate the existence of a
problem:
• absenteeism
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• tendency to become confused
• poor performance of duties
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• irritability or aggression
• misconduct.
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• it can lead to a range of social, psychological and medical problems, including
dependence
•
Did you know…?
illicit drug in 2013.
Notes:
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Electricity
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atmospheres, such as in car paint spraying booths.
precautions.
Did you know…?
In 2013, 94 people died in electrical accidents in Bangalore, India. Many
Notes:
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•
Did you know…?
Working near electricity
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Using electrically-powered equipment
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use, and it’s in good condition
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supply
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and electrical supply
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Working on electrical equipment, machinery or installation
• is thoroughly planned
• is carried out by competent people only
•
Case study
died.
Notes:
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• oxygen
• fuel
• heat
coal, sugar and grain.
in cylinders.
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• collapse of buildings.
Notes:
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Did you know…?
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Getting in and getting out
doing exactly that!
opening itself and on the other side.
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• are they suitable for their users?
• are they safe under foot?
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change?
inspections.
Notes:
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Safety signs
Safety signs play an important part in communicating safety and health information to
Red signs
Blue signs
Yellow or amber signs
Green signs
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Heights
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using it at all.
Case study
Did you know…?
In Europe, falls from height are the main cause of fatal accidents in the
construction industry.
• it’s properly planned and organised
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of a fall.
Did you know…?
resulting from falls.
Case study
on the site.
Notes:
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not only because of the nature of the materials, but also because they
Encourage members of your team to
Welfare facilities
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•
• storage for clothing and changing areas, if appropriate
• rest and eating areas
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condition. Encourage your team members to use these facilities.
Notes:
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Lighting
reasonably practicable.
• too little or too much light
•
entrance or near steps
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can see properly.
Notes:
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Manual handling
Did you know…?
The following factors affect the risk of injury from manual handling:
• the weight of the load
• the size and shape of the load
• your posture during manual handling
• the distance you have to lift the load
• how you move while handling something
• how often you have to lift or move something
• the working environment
• the capability of the person in physical strength, height and reach.
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T
L
factor?
Did you know…?
Notes:
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noise that may cause temporary or permanent
for a short period.
Did you know…?
occupational health concern for more than 25 years.
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Encourage your team members to:
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•
Notes:
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Plant and machinery
crushing.
mechanical hazards.
• Mechanical hazards
entanglement in machinery and
• Non-mechanical hazards
and noise.
Where you don’t need access to the danger
zone under normal operation:
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Where you do need access to the danger zone under normal operation:
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• automatic guard
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that it remains in good condition and that all safety features, including guards and stop
controls, are operational.
• suitable for its purpose
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• inspected
• operated by trained users.
Notes:
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Radiation
Ionising radiations
Exposure to ionising radiation can lead to
conditions such as:
• dermatitis
•
• cell damage
• cancer
• cataracts
• changes to blood.
Non-ionising radiations
Exposure to non-ionising radiation can cause:
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• cancer
• cataracts
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• arc eye.
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Duty holders are required to:
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Notes:
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Slips and trips
also be the initial cause of a range of other types of accident, such as falls from height.
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other substances end up on the
but the moist surface created by
cleaning can also create slip and
trip hazards
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or trip
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• understand and recognise their causes
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•
Did you know…?
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• get things right from the start
• where possible, provide designated walking routes
• specify and provide appropriate footwear at work
spillages, and report them to you
• make sure lighting is checked as part of regular inspections
replaced or repaired promptly.
• keep work areas tidy and free from obstructions
signs or barriers.
Did you know…?
Notes:
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Stress
Work factors that create stress can include:
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• fear of failure
• bullying
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Non-work factors that create stress can include:
• family life
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• birth of a child
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• physiological effects: increased blood pressure, tiredness, stomach ulcers,
• emotional effects: increased tension, anxiety, depression, frustration and loss of
• behavioural effects: anorexia, binge eating, misuse of alcohol or other drugs,
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• demands
• control
• support
organisation, line management and colleagues?
• relationship
• role
• change
in the organisation?
and sources of stress.
Did you know…?
([Link]).
Notes:
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Case study
be offered to the employee if needed.
Staff and management report that the relaxation of rules helped to clarify their roles
Notes:
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clothing. Where this is impractical because of hot or cold processes, all reasonable steps
should be at least 16 degrees Celsius.
the temperature should be at least 13
members to discuss any concerns about
Notes:
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systems
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• tipping
• cleaning
• maintenance and repair
• stability
• other hazards
Notes:
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Case study
Did you know…?
([Link]).
Notes:
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Hand-arm vibration
Whole-body vibration
Did you know…?
([Link]).
•
tools?
•
machinery?
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for more than about 15 minutes per day or some
rotary and other action tools for more than about
one hour per day?
shipyards?
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Notes:
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Getting it right
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Notes:
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Summary
1. Common hazards are...
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