OCCUPATIONAL

HAZARDS IN THE
WORKPLACE

Faridahani Haji Isahak

 Learning objectives
 What is a/an
 Hazard
 Risk
 Exposure

 What are the types of occupational

hazards?
Hazard
 Potential of an agent to cause harm
Exposure
 Contact with a Hazard is called
Exposure
 Exposure is a combination of

 Magnitude
 Frequency
 Duration
Risk
 Likelihood that an agent will cause harm
in the actual circumstances of exposure

 RISK occurs only when there is

Hazard Exposure
Health Risk = Hazard x
Exposure

Exposure

Hazard
Health Risk

 No Hazard = No Risk
 Hazard, but no Exposure = No
Risk

Health Risk = Hazard x

Exposure
HAZARDS AT WORKPLACE
 Physical
 Chemical
 Biological
 Psychosocial
 Ergonomics
 Mechanical
 Classes of Hazards

Health hazard
The potential to cause harm
to health
Chemical Psychological

Physical Ergonomic
Biological
 Occupational • Bacteria
• Fungi • Manual handling
Hazards • Insects • Repetitive movement
• Restrictive working area
• Viruses

• Noise
• Vibration
• Radiation
BIOLOGICAL ERGONOMICAL
• Lighting
• Heat PHYSICAL
• Cold CHEMICAL PSYCHOLOGICAL
• Fibres
• Dusts
• Fumes • Job stress
• Gases • Job monotony
• Aerosols • Unsociable hours
• Mists • Job organization
• Liquids
• Vapours
Physical hazards
Physical hazards
 Fall from heights e.g. scaffolding, high
building
 Slips and trips
 Objects falling from cranes
 Dangerous heavy machinery
 Electrocution
 Confined spaces
Physical agents
NOISE
 Noise Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL)
 Mental irritability & fatigue
 Noise can increase blood pressure
 Interference with communication can
lead to accidents eg. Carpentry, quarry,
construction workers
EXTREME TEMPERATURES

HEAT COLD
 Heat Stress  Hypothermia
 Heat Stroke  Frostbite (freezing
 Cataract soft body tissue)
 eg. hot oven  eg. cold storage
workers, glass workers
manufacturing
RADIATION

Ionising Radiation Non-Ionising Radiation

 X-ray, Gamma, Alpha &  Ultra-violet light
Beta particles eg.
radiology staff, nuclear
plant, radium workers
 Health effects:
 Cancer – lung, bone,

thyroid
 Congenital

abnormalities
 Leukaemia
Chemical hazards
CHEMICAL HAZARDS

 Solvents which may be

 present in the
Dusts (sand, asbestos, cotton)
working
 Paints environment as
 Pharmaceuticals gases, vapours,
mists/aerosols,
 Pesticides fumes, dusts, liquids
 Metal fumes or solids.
 Acids & Alkali
SOLVENTS
 Neuropathy (n-hexane,TCE)
 Dermatitis
 Kidney damage
 Liver damage/toxic jaundice –hepatitis
 Anaemia, leukaemia -benzene
DUST
 Asbestosis
 Sand dust(silica) – silicosis
 Cotton dust – byssinosis
 Vegetable/plant dust – hypersensitive
pneumonitis, bronchial asthma
PAINTS
 Paint contain petroleum solvents.
 Paint contain Lead pigments (Pb
poisoning) → anaemia, neuropathy,
kidney damage
PESTICIDES
 Chronic headache
 Memory impairment

 Skin Diseases

 Cancer

eg. Agricultural
workers, pest
sprayers
METAL FUMES
 Lead, mercury
e.g. welders

Health Effects:
 Cancer

 Kidney damage

 Neuropathy

 Metal fume fever

GASES
 Carbon monoxide, sulphur

 Health Effects
 Respiratory irritation
 Asphyxia

e.g. coal miner, sewerage, tunnel,

laboratory workers
Biological hazards
BIOLOGICAL HAZARDS

 Bacteria
 Fungi – mold
 Virus – Bird Flu, Influenza, SARS
 Blood-borne pathogen - HIV, AIDS, Hepatitis
 Tuberculosis

e.g. farmers, health care workers, animal

handlers
Psychosocial hazards
Psychosocial hazards
 Work-related stress – excessive working time,
overwork, burnout
 Bullying – emotional, verbal
 Sexual harassment
 Violence at work
 Body odour
 Health effects:
 Occupational Stress, Anxiety, Depression
 Cardiovascular Disorders, GI Disorders
 Drug abuse, smoking
ERGONOMIC FACTORS
• Working postures / chairs
• Space per work shift
• Working surface height
• Reach / machine feeding
• Space between machines
• Strenous physical load
ERGONOMIC FACTORS
 Lifting heavy loads/frequent
bending/repetitive & monotonous work

 Design of tools

 Displays and instructions

 Mental overload / visibilty

Health Effects
 Musculo-skeletal disorders
 Backache/back strain/neck strain

 Repetitive strain injuries (RSI)

 Carpel tunnel syndrome

e.g. factory workers, Health care workers,

electronic, garment workers, VDU
operators
MECHANICAL HAZARDS
 Outdated machines

 Unsafe designs

 Complex / sophiscated machinery

 Poor maintenance

 Slippery /wet floors

Health effects: cut/crush injuries,fractures,fb eye

SAFETY/OTHER HAZARDS
 Flammable substances - fire
 Flammable gases - explosion
 Electricity overload, inadequate
insulation -electrocution
Thank you
The End