FEBRUARY 15, 2023

Assignment-2
WORKPLACE HAZARDS.
STUDENTS NAME: ANUDEEP KAUR PANDHER (A00160372)
KULJEET KAUR(A00160207)
SAMIKSHA(A00158701)
COURSE CODE- HRP106-OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY
SUBMITTED TO- DR. IRAM ASIF
Introduction:

Any substance or factor that puts the health of people or the environment at risk is
considered a hazard. A risky phenomena, substance, human behaviour, or state is
thus defined as a hazard. It could result in a loss of life, harm to one's physical or
mental health, destruction of property, loss of livelihoods and services, disturbance
of the social and economic system, or environmental harm.

Workers encounter a variety of dangers every day because of the nature of their
jobs. Every employer should conduct a thorough risk assessment to identify and
reduce all potential threats to its employees. It will reduce risk and avoid possible
accidents and injuries by identifying potential dangers at work.

Safety, biological, physical, ergonomic, chemical, and workload are the six

basic categories of workplace dangers.

1. Safety Hazards:

Safety risks can impact any employee, but those who use machinery or work on
construction sites are more likely to be impacted. Slips, trips, and falls, using risky
equipment, and electrical hazards are all safety risks. Safety risks are more likely to
affect individuals who work in the utilities sector.

Moreover, many workplaces will at some point have these, as they are the most
common. They consist of dangers that could result in illness, disease, or even death.

These risks result in hazardous working circumstances. For instance, a tripping

hazard could be caused by exposed wires or a broken carpet. These can
occasionally be classified as physical dangers.

Safety Hazards consists of:

 Floor spills or tripping hazards such passageways that are blocked or cords
that cross the floor.
 Using ladders, scaffolds, roofs, or any other elevated work surface.
 Unguarded equipment, including moving parts, and equipment with
protections removed or that a worker could accidently contact.
 Frayed cords, missing ground pins, and faulty wiring are examples of
electrical risks.
  restricted areas
 risk factors associated to machinery (forklifts, lockout/tagout, boiler safety,
etc.)
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.

Threats to human health posed by biological agents include:

 Bacteria and viruses

 various bodily fluids, including blood.
 toxic plants,
 Bites by insects
 sewage, dust, and rodents are a few examples.
3. Physical Hazards:

Environmental factors known as physical hazards could harm the body even without
encountering it.

These are some examples of physical hazards:

 Ionising and non-ionizing radiation, such as electromagnetic fields,

microwaves, radio waves, etc.
 UV rays or sunlight over an extended amount of time
 Hot and cold extreme temperatures; and
 Continuously loud noise
4. Ergonomic Hazards:

People whose jobs place a burden on their bodies are subject to ergonomic risks.
Long-term injury can result from manual jobs that demand lifting or prolonged sitting.
It may take a while to discover these risks, which makes it much more difficult to spot
them. Your personnel may be at risk for damage if they use incorrectly adjusted
workstations or adopt poor posture when handling physical labour and heavy lifting.
Short-term exposure could cause "sore muscles" the day after or in the days after
exposure, however long-term exposure could cause major long-term ailments.

The following are examples of ergonomic risks:

 Incorrectly positioned seats and workstations.

 Regular lifting
 Bad posture
 Awkward gestures, particularly if they are repeated.
 Performing the same motions repeatedly.
 Having to employ excessive force all the time; and
 Vibration.
5. Chemical Hazards:

Chemical dangers are most likely to affect workers in occupations that expose
them to combustible gases, solvents, or dangerous liquids. 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 disease, skin
rashes, respiratory issues, and, in severe circumstances, death.

The following chemical dangers at work should be known to employees:

 Liquids such as cleaners, paints, acids, and solvents, especially if the

container contains chemicals.
 Fumes and vapours produced by welding or contact with chemicals.
 Propane, acetylene, carbon monoxide, and helium, among other gases.
 Solvents, gasoline, and explosive compounds are examples of flammable
substances and 
 Pesticides
6. Workload Hazards:
Workplace stressors, such as anxiety, tension, or strain, are known as work
organisation risks. These can be felt over a short period of time (stress) or
over a long period of time (strain), and they are related to problems at work
including workload, a lack of respect and/or control, etc. Psychosocial risks
are those that could negatively impact a worker's mental health or wellness.
Moreover, any employment role can encounter these risks, however owing to
 their solitary working environment, lone employees may find it difficult to raise
issues.
Here are some examples of workload hazards:

 Demanded workload.
 Violence at work.
 Speed or intensity.
 Respect
 The capacity for change, influence, or opinion.
 Social relationships and assistance.
 Sexual harassment.

Sources of workplace hazards:

Physical, chemical, and biological agents are only a few of the factors that might
provide workplace dangers. Here is a closer examination of each one of these
sources:

1. Physical agent: Hazards that result from the physical aspects of the
workplace include physical agents. They could consist of things like tools,
materials, machinery, and equipment.

The following are a few typical examples of physical agents in the

workplace:

 Slips, trips, and falls: These dangers are brought on by slick flooring,
uneven ground, or workplace obstructions. They can cause a wide range
of wounds, from small cuts and bruises to more severe wounds like
fracture and head damage.
 Electrical and fire safety: Electrical risks might include things like damaged
electrical equipment, exposed cables, and faulty wiring. Electrical shock,
burns, and fires can all result from these dangers. Factors like overloaded
electrical sockets, combustible objects, and broken fire safety equipment
can all result in fire hazards.
 Vibration and noise: Vibration and noise are dangers that can cause
hearing loss and other health issues. High levels of vibration can result in
 disorders like vibration white finger and carpal tunnel syndrome, whilst
high levels of noise can permanently harm your hearing.
 Temperature: Working in extremely hot or cold conditions can result in
heat stroke, hypothermia, frostbite, and heat exhaustion.
2. Chemical agent: Biologically harmful compounds include chemical agents.
They can exist as solids, vapours, gases, or liquids.

Chemical agents are frequently used in the workplace, as follows:

 Hazardous materials: The term "hazardous materials" refers to substances

like dust, gases, and vapours. They may result in skin rashes, breathing
issues, and other medical issues.
 Toxic substances: Examples of these include mercury, lead, and asbestos.
Skin irritation, respiratory issues, and even cancer can all be brought on by
exposure to these toxins.
3. Biological agent: Biological agents are substances or living organisms that
can spread disease or illness.

Biological agents are often present in the workplace, for instance:

 Bacteria and viruses: Exposure to bacteria and viruses can result in

illnesses or respiratory infections like COVID-19.
 Fungi: Contact with fungi might result in respiratory troubles and other
health problems.
 Animals and insects: Exposure to insects and rodents can result in the
hantavirus and leptospirosis infections.

Types of injuries caused by workplace hazards are as follows:

1. Slips, Trips and Falls:

As numerous reporting procedures exist, data might change based on the

province, nation, and profession. However, when considering the most common
injuries, a few industrial accidents seem to constantly be towards the top.

Overexertion, physiological response, and slips, trips, and falls are cited by the
National Safety Council (NSC) as the top three major causes of work-related
injuries. According to the NSC, they are to blame for an astounding 84% of all
workplace injuries that are not fatal.

Falls are more prevalent for those who work at heights, and stumbling and slipping
are more likely to happen when there are greasy, oily, icy, or snowy surfaces,
congested areas, or uneven surfaces to walk on.

2. Repetitive stress and overexertion stress:

According to Statistics Canada statistics from 2013, sprains and strains accounted
up 49% of the most serious occupational injuries and were the most frequently
experienced ailments. Many sectors are extremely concerned about
musculoskeletal diseases (MSIs), from office employees who run the danger of
acquiring carpal tunnel syndrome to those using large machinery on construction
sites.

3. Being stuck by or caught in moving machinery:

According to the WSIB's Statistical Report by the Numbers from 2016, these
occurrences, which are most frequent in the construction industry, were
responsible for 13% of workplace deaths in Ontario over the previous 10 years.
The risks include being ran over, squashed between two things, or struck by
debris that construction equipment is moving.

4. Vehicle- related accidents:

While accurate Canadian numbers are more difficult to come by, NIOSH reports
that motor vehicles are the #1 or second largest cause of mortality in every major
industrial category in the United States. In 2018, 1,276 U.S. employees who were
driving or riding in a moving vehicle on a public road killed in a work-related
collision, accounting for 24% of all job deaths. The transportation and logistics
industries account for 38% of all fatalities, second by the construction sector (12
per cent) and these incidents do not just afflict people in the transportation
industry; 57% of employees who died in 2018 just weren't working as motor
vehicle operators.

5. Fire and explosion related injury:

According to Thomas Marchese, a worker's compensation attorney, while
explosions and flames account for only 3% of occupational injuries, they have the
highest mortality rate among workplace mishaps. Marchese defines four types of
injuries most usually associated with flames and explosions: principal blasts,
which affect body's cells or ears and lungs as a consequence of pressure;
secondary blasts, which take place when flying objects strike nearby workers;
higher education blasts, which are greater explosions that can lift a worker off the
floor; and Permian blasts, which include crush injury problems or exposure to toxic
substances.

Methods for systematically examining workplace hazards and risk are:

Hazards identification: Hazard identification is a step in determining if a given

scenario, material, or thing has the possibility of causing harm. The word risk
assessment is frequently used to denote the entire process:

 Determine the risks and risk factors that may cause injury (hazard
identification).
 Analyse and assess the danger associated with that threat (risk analysis,
and risk evaluation).
 Identify the dangers and danger elements that could result in harm (hazard
identification).

Methods:

Elimination: The process of eliminating a danger from the workplace is known

as elimination. It is the most successful method of risk management since the
hazard is no long existent. It is the recommended method of hazard control and
should be employed whenever possible.

1. Methods of elimination control include:

2. Purchasing noise-free equipment
3. When possible, use a reach pole for window washing to avoid working from
heights.
4. eliminating and safely dispose of things that are no longer in use and are
stored in the work.
5. Driving should be avoided under severe winter weather conditions.
 Substitution: Substitution is the act of replacing something with something
else... in this situation, a hazard is replaced with something less harmful. To
evaluate if an alternative is an acceptable replacement, the dangers and risks
connected with it must be properly analysed. Care must be taken to ensure that
the new hazard is genuinely lower, and that one hazard is not substituted with
one that is equally or more dangerous.

Substitution controls include the following:

 Using water-based paints instead of solvent-based paint.

 To decrease dust formation, use a bigger granule form of a product
rather than a fine powder.
 Using electric motors instead of diesel motors to reduce diesel pollution
emissions.

Engineering Control: Engineering controls are means for removing hazards at

their source before they come into touch with the worker. To reduce the risk,
engineering controls can be included into the design of a facility, piece of
equipment, or process. Engineering controls are a dependable approach to
manage worker exposures if they are properly built, operated, and maintained.
Engineering controls include the following:

 Isolation entails physically removing personnel from the hazard or using

barriers to do so.
 Enclosures are used to place a substance or process in a closed system
(e.g., enclosed machines, booths, etc.)
 Guarding and shielding refers to the use of guards around moving elements
of equipment.
 Ventilation is the removal or reduction of airborne products via the use of
local exhaust or general dilution ventilation.

Administrative control: Administrative controls entail designing procedures to

guarantee that work is done in a way that minimizes risk. Developing or altering
policies, establishing, or enhancing education and training and developing or
improving procedures and work practices are some examples.
Administrative controls are graded lower than elimination, replacement, and
engineering controls since they do not always eliminate or decrease workplace
hazards. For example, administrative controls reduce workers' exposures by
scheduling reduced work durations in contaminated regions or by enforcing other
"rules". Because the threat is not truly removed or lessened, these management
strategies have significant limitations. Where feasible, controls should be utilized
in conjunction with other control mechanisms.

Administrative control methods include:

 Using workers are going or a work-rest plan to minimize an individual

worker's exposure to a chemical.
 Putting in place a basic maintenance program to maintain equipment in
good operating order.
 Scheduling maintenance and other high-risk tasks at periods when there
are few personnel present (such as evenings, weekends).
 Putting a stop on access to something like a work area.
 Limiting the task to just those who are competent or prepared to do the job.
 Using signage to alert employees to a potential hazard.

PPE: Personal protective equipment (PPE) is anything that employees wear to

assist protect them from job hazards.

The use of personal protective equipment (PPE) as the primary technique of

exposure management should be confined to instances when elimination,
replacement, engineering, or administrative controls are not feasible, or when:
Additional safeguards are necessary because current control mechanisms are
insufficient to mitigate the risk. The danger is caused by a temporary or
emergency circumstance. PPE reduces exposure to a hazard's detrimental
effects, but only if it is worn and utilized effectively.

PPE examples include:

 Protection for the lungs

  Skin security (e.g., coveralls, aprons, full body suits)
 Gloves
 Eye protection is essential (e.g., face shield, goggles)
 Footwear protection
 Hearing protection equipment (e.g., ear plugs, earmuffs)

Controlling hazards and managing risks

1. Hazard elimination: the first main step that can be used is remove the
hazard completely from the workplace and for this find the problem first and
solved it in an effective way. When designing or developing a product,
process, or working environment, it is frequently more affordable and feasible
to remove dangers. In these early stages, there is more room to include risk
control methods that are compatible with the original design and functional
requirements or to design out dangers. Get rid of unwanted chemicals, for
instance, or clear the floor of trip hazards.
2. Replace the risk with something safer: The other method should be
substituting the hazard and replace it with a safer alternative. A common
illustration is switching from solvent-based to water-based paint. This
eliminates the harmful fumes and flammable vapors that result from the
hazards and related risks is not reasonably possible. Today, there are many
items available that don't contain asbestos, such as cellulose fiber,
thermoset plastic flour, and polyurethane foams.
3. Use engineering control mechanical tool or procedure is an example of an
engineering control, which is a type of physical control measure. To decrease
fatigue, for instance, work rates can be set on a roster and machine guards,
as well as efficient ventilation systems, can be used.
4. Use Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) personal protective equipment
is gear worn to reduce exposure to several risks. Gloves, foot and eye
protection, protective hearing aids (earplugs, muffs), hard helmets,
respirators, and complete body suits are a few examples of PPE.
5. Isolate the hazard from people: Physical barriers or distance are used to
keep the harm's source away from people in this situation. For instance,
establishing a rigid work area, employing safety rails to cover exposed edges
 and floor holes, operating machines using remote controls, isolating a noisy
process from a person, and keeping chemicals in a fume cabinet.
6. Utilize administrative safeguards: Administrative controls are work
practices or processes created to reduce exposure to hazards. Establish
suitable procedures and safe work practices, such as limiting the amount of
time that employees are exposed to dangerous tasks to reduce employee
exposure, regular maintenance and housekeeping procedures, training on
hazards and proper work techniques, and the use of signs to alert people to
hazards.

References:

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