HAZARDS

The definition of the word "hazard" is not always clear. Dictionary entries sometimes lack
detailed definitions or pair it with the word "risk." One dictionary's definition of hazard, for
instance, is "a danger or risk," which helps to explain why the phrases are sometimes used
interchangeably.

Any source that could potentially cause injury, damage, or unfavorable health impacts to
someone or something is a hazard.

A hazard is essentially the possibility of harm or a negative outcome

(For instance, to individuals as health consequences, to businesses as losses of real estate or

equipment, or to the environment)

TYPES OF HAZARDS

1. Safety Hazards

can impact any person, but those who work with machines or on construction sites are
more likely to be affected. Slips, trips, and falls, using risky equipment, and electrical hazards are
all safety risks.

2. Biological Hazards

The dangers posed by biological threats are enormous. These include being exposed to
harmful substances and illnesses brought on by dealing with infected humans, animals, or plant
materials. Biological risks can be dangerous for workers in hospitals, labs, and many other
outdoor occupations.

3. Physical Hazards

Those who labor in hazardous areas or inclement weather are subject to physical risks.
Employees who are continuously exposed to loud noise, radiation, sunlight, and UV rays may be
at danger.

4. Ergonomic Hazards
 People who work in physically demanding jobs are subject to ergonomic hazards. Manual
labor jobs that include lifting or prolonged sitting can harm the body over time. These dangers
may not be apparent at first, which makes it much more difficult to spot them. Your employees
run the danger of getting hurt if their workstations aren't properly set or if they're hunched over
while doing manual labor or heavy lifting.

5. Chemical Hazards

Employees who work in positions where they are exposed to hazardous liquids, solvents,
or flammable gases are most at risk from chemical risks. The people most likely to be impacted
include those who work in cleaning facilities, engineers, and field workers. Exposure to
dangerous substances can result in sickness, skin rashes, breathing difficulties, and, in the worst
circumstances, death.

6. Workload Hazards

Workload dangers include problems like workload, violence, or hostility that could lead
to stress or strain. Any job role can face these risks. Due to their solitary working environment,
however, lone workers may find it difficult to express their problems or become the subject of
antisocial behavior.

Workplace hazards can come from a wide range of sources. General examples include
any substance, material, process, practice, etc. that has the ability to cause harm or adverse health
effect to a person or property. See Table 1.

Table1
Examples of Hazards and Their Effects
Workplace HazardExample of Hazard Example of Harm Caused
Thing Knife Cut
Substance Benzene Leukemia
Material Mycobacterium tuberculosisTuberculosis
Source of Energy Electricity Shock, electrocution
Condition Wet floor Slips, falls
Process Welding Metal fume fever
 Practice Hard rock mining Silicosis
Behaviour Bullying Anxiety, fear, depression
Workplace hazards also include practices or conditions that release uncontrolled energy like:

 an object that could fall from a height (potential or gravitational energy),

 a run-away chemical reaction (chemical energy),
 the release of compressed gas or steam (pressure; high temperature),
 entanglement of hair or clothing in rotating equipment (kinetic energy), or
 contact with electrodes of a battery or capacitor (electrical energy).

References:

https://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/hsprograms/hazard_risk.html

https://staysafeapp.com/blog/6-types-of-workplace-hazard/