Apart from the obvious ones, workplace hazards are not always chemical agents or poisonous substances. Any object or circumstance could constitute a workplace hazard, as long as it poses a danger to workers in the vicinity.
Employers are required by law to ensure that the workplace is free from hazards. This is enshrined in the Occupational Safety Health Act’s General Duty Clause. Its most urgent injunction is the identification of serious hazards, such as those that can cause death or serious harm.
The following categories of hazards demand identification:
1.Safety hazards: These objects, conditions, or substances are likely to cause injury to workers. They could be anything that could cause slips, falls, and injury from the weight of an object. Common examples are spills; even pencils on the floor could be hazards. Heights, machinery with moving parts, and exposed electrical cords also fall under this category.
2.Biological hazards: Anything issuing from organic matter and living things can be considered a biological hazard. These hazards are common in workplaces such as farms, slaughterhouses, hospitals, or any other venue where animals and infectious materials could be present. Common examples are blood, fungi, mold, animal and human fecal matter, and other microorganisms.
3.Physical hazards: These hazards cause injury and disease and are usually associated with extreme conditions. Examples are radiation, extreme temperatures in the workplace, overexposure to the elements such as sunlight, and even outdoor pollution.
4.Ergonomic hazards: These are hazards specifically threatening to harm the musculoskeletal system of the workers. These are also associated with workplace conditions and operations. Examples are repetitive movements and poorly designed workstations.
Martin Lloyd Sanders, Ph.D., is an officer in the Commissioned Corps of the U.S. Public Health Service. He obtained his degree in zoology from the University of California, Davis in 1990 and obtained his Ph.D. from the Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases at the Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health in 1997. Learn more about Captain Martin Sanders by visiting this page.
Employers are required by law to ensure that the workplace is free from hazards. This is enshrined in the Occupational Safety Health Act’s General Duty Clause. Its most urgent injunction is the identification of serious hazards, such as those that can cause death or serious harm.
The following categories of hazards demand identification:
1.Safety hazards: These objects, conditions, or substances are likely to cause injury to workers. They could be anything that could cause slips, falls, and injury from the weight of an object. Common examples are spills; even pencils on the floor could be hazards. Heights, machinery with moving parts, and exposed electrical cords also fall under this category.
2.Biological hazards: Anything issuing from organic matter and living things can be considered a biological hazard. These hazards are common in workplaces such as farms, slaughterhouses, hospitals, or any other venue where animals and infectious materials could be present. Common examples are blood, fungi, mold, animal and human fecal matter, and other microorganisms.
3.Physical hazards: These hazards cause injury and disease and are usually associated with extreme conditions. Examples are radiation, extreme temperatures in the workplace, overexposure to the elements such as sunlight, and even outdoor pollution.
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4.Ergonomic hazards: These are hazards specifically threatening to harm the musculoskeletal system of the workers. These are also associated with workplace conditions and operations. Examples are repetitive movements and poorly designed workstations.
Martin Lloyd Sanders, Ph.D., is an officer in the Commissioned Corps of the U.S. Public Health Service. He obtained his degree in zoology from the University of California, Davis in 1990 and obtained his Ph.D. from the Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases at the Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health in 1997. Learn more about Captain Martin Sanders by visiting this page.
