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
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Physical
Chemical
Biological
Psychosocial
Ergonomics
Mechanical
Classes of Hazards
Chemical
Physical
Health hazard
The potential to cause
harm to health
Biological
Psychological
Ergonomic
Occupational
Hazards
• Bacteria
• Fungi
• Insects
• Viruses
• Manual handling
• Repetitive movement
• Restrictive working area
• Noise
• Vibration
• Radiation
• Lighting
• Heat
• Cold
• Fibres
• Dusts
BIOLOGICAL
ERGONOMICAL
CHEMICAL
PSYCHOLOGICAL
PHYSICAL
• Fumes
• Gases
• Aerosols
• Mists
• Liquids
• Vapours
• Job stress
• Job monotony
• Unsociable hours
• Job organization
Physical hazards
Physical hazards




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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




Heat Stress
Heat Stroke
Cataract
eg. hot oven workers,
glass manufacturing
COLD



Hypothermia
Frostbite (freezing soft
body tissue)
eg. cold storage
workers
RADIATION
Ionising Radiation


X-ray, Gamma, Alpha &
Beta particles eg.
radiology staff, nuclear
plant, radium workers
Health effects:
 Cancer – lung, bone,
thyroid
 Congenital abnormalities
 Leukaemia
Non-Ionising Radiation

Ultra-violet light
Chemical hazards
CHEMICAL HAZARDS

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Solvents
Dusts (sand, asbestos, cotton)
Paints
Pharmaceuticals
Pesticides
Metal fumes
Acids & Alkali
which may be
present in the
working
environment as
gases, vapours,
mists/aerosols,
fumes, dusts, liquids
or solids.
SOLVENTS





Neuropathy (n-hexane,TCE)
Dermatitis
Kidney damage
Liver damage/toxic jaundice –hepatitis
Anaemia, leukaemia -benzene
DUST

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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

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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
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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
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Flammable substances - fire
Flammable gases - explosion
Electricity overload, inadequate insulation electrocution
Thank you
The End