Improving workplace safety means reducing or eliminating hazards in the area. In order to do that, however, you need to really understand what a hazard is. A hazard is generally defined as a source of risk, but that doesn’t always make it easy to identify them in your own facility. Looking at some examples of hazards can help you to get a better idea of where they may exist in your facility.
One of the most common types of hazards is a fall hazard. Examples of this include things like working from a ladder, working on high areas of construction sites, or working near ledges. Hazardous materials are also common hazards in the workplace. These can include things like materials that are flammable, toxic materials, and even materials that have sharp edges. The hazard that these types of materials represent include getting burned or an explosion occurring, adverse health effects, and cuts or lacerations.
Most machines in the workplace will also represent hazards. If you have a machine with a moving arm, for example, the hazard would be that the arm could come in contact with a person (or hit an object that could hurt a person) and cause a serious injury.
Some less commonly thought of hazards can include things like the behavior of employees. If they are not following proper safety policies, their actions could cause serious injury to those in the area, which is a major hazard.
Taking the time to identify all hazards in your workplace will help you to develop a proper safety standard for the area.
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Health hazards include chemical hazards (solvents, adhesives, paints, toxic dusts, etc.), physical hazards (noise, radiation, heat, etc.), biological hazards (infectious diseases), and ergonomic risk factors (heavy lifting, repetitive motions, vibration).
What are the 6 main hazards? ›
These are safety hazards, physical / environmental hazards, biological hazards (biohazards), chemical hazards, ergonomic hazards and psychosocial hazards. Take a look and think about the hazards in your own workplace.
What are 10 example of physical hazard? ›
Physical hazards include exposure to slips, trips, falls, electricity, noise, vibration, radiation, heat, cold and fire.
What are the 4 main hazards? ›
There are four types of hazards: chemical, biological, ergonomic, and physical hazards. Collect and review information about hazards and potential hazards in the workplace. Conduct initial and periodic workplace assessments to identify hazards.
What is a common hazard? ›
Some of the most common hazards at home include fire, poisoning and allergies. There may also be risks posed by your home's contents, such as falls, choking, cuts and burns.
What is an example of hazard and risk? ›
HAZARD: A hot-tempered supervisor screaming at staff. RISK: A mental health issue for a staff member. HAZARD: An extension cord running across a frequently used hallway. RISK: A trip and possible injury resulting.
What are the three 3 types of hazards? ›
Hazards are identified as part of the hazard analysis and then evaluated on their likelihood to occur and the severity at which it could cause illness or injury. All hazards are assessed and categorized into three groups: biological, chemical and physical hazards.
What are 2 types of hazards? ›
Types of Hazard
- 1) Safety hazards. Safety hazards can affect any employee, but these are more likely to affect those who work with machinery or on a construction site. ...
- 2) Biological hazards. Biological hazards are extremely dangerous. ...
- 3) Physical hazards. ...
- 4) Ergonomic hazards. ...
- 5) Chemical hazards. ...
- 6) Workload hazards.
A visor card guide for state and local law enforcement officials illustrating vehicle placarding and signage for the following nine classes of hazardous materials: 1) Explosives, 2) Gases, 3) Flammable Liquid and Combustible Liquid, 4) Flammable Solid, Spontanaeously Combustible and Dangerous When Wet 5) Oxidizer and ...
What are 3 physical hazards? ›
Types of physical hazards
- body stressing.
- confined spaces.
- electricity.
- heat.
- heights.
- noise.
- vibration.
Workplace hazards fall into six core types – safety, biological, physical, ergonomic, chemical and workload.
What is a hazard in the workplace? ›
A workplace hazard is anything that has the potential to cause harm to a person.
What are 5 example of hazard and risk in workplace? ›
What are examples of a hazard?
| Table 1 Examples of Hazards and Their Effects |
|---|
| Workplace Hazard | Example of Hazard | Example of Harm Caused |
|---|
| Source of Energy | Electricity | Shock, electrocution |
| Condition | Wet floor | Slips, falls |
| Process | Welding | Metal fume fever |
5 more rowsWorkplace hazards fall into six core types – safety, biological, physical, ergonomic, chemical and workload.
What is a Category 5 hazard? ›
GHS Category 5 covers chemicals with toxicities expected to fall in the range of oral and dermal LD50 of 2000 mg/kg -5000 mg/kg, or equivalent doses for inhalation toxicity. The basis of classification in both systems is the same: LD/LC50 values or “acute toxicity estimates” of the LD/LC50 .
What are the 5 signs of physical hazard? ›
The main factors and conditions associated with physical hazards include:
- body stressing.
- confined spaces.
- electricity.
- heat.
- heights.
- noise.
- vibration.
Each hazard is characterized by its location, intensity or magnitude, frequency and probability. Biological hazards are also defined by their infectiousness or toxicity, or other characteristics of the pathogen such as dose-response, incubation period, case fatality rate and estimation of the pathogen for transmission.
