hazards

1. Job Hazards:
Dangers in the Workplace
By
Austin Sunday

2. Objectives
 By the end of this workshop, you will:
› Identify how workplace injuries or illnesses can
affect your everyday life.
› Identify common symptoms, aches/pains, illnesses
and injuries that are associated with your work.
› Identify and recognize the exposures and hazards
linked to work-related illnesses and injuries.
› Develop solutions and strategies to address these
identified hazards.

3. What is a hazard?
 A hazard is generally anything that can hurt
or make you ill.
 How can I recognize hazards at work?
› The first step to protecting yourself is being able
to recognize hazards in the work you’re
assigned and in the conditions you’re working
in.
› There are four types of hazards:
Physical hazards Biological hazards
Ergonomic hazards Chemical hazards

4. CHEMICAL & DUST
HAZARDS
(cleaning products,
pesticides, asbestos, etc.)
BIOLOGICAL
HAZARDS
(mold, insects/pests,
communicable diseases, etc.)
ERGONOMIC
HAZARDS
(repetition, lifting, awkward
postures, etc.)
WORK
ORGANIZATION
HAZARDS
Things that cause STRESS!
SAFETY HAZARDS
(slips, trips and falls, faulty
equipment, etc.)
PHYSICAL HAZARDS
(noise, temperature
extremes, radiation, etc.)

5. Physical Hazards
 Physical hazards are the most common
and will be present in most workplaces
at one time or another. They include
unsafe conditions that can cause injury,
illness and death.

6. Physical Hazards
 Examples of physical hazards include:
› Electrical hazards: frayed cords, missing ground
pins, improper wiring, unguarded machinery,
moving machinery parts
› Constant loud noise
› High exposure to sunlight/UV rays, heat or cold,
working from heights – including ladders, scaffolds,
roofs, or any raised work areas
› Working with mobile equipment such as fork lifts
› Spills on the floor or tripping hazards, such as locked
aisle or cords running across the floor

7. Biological Hazards
 Biological hazards come from working
with animals, people or infectious plant
materials.
 Work in daycare, hotel laundry and room
cleaning, labs, vet offices and nursing
homes may expose you to biological
hazards.

8. Biological Hazards
 The types of things you may be exposed
to include:
› Blood or other bodily fluid
› Fungi
› Bacteria and viruses
› Plants
› Insect bites
› Animal and bird droppings

9. Ergonomic Hazards
 Ergonomic hazards occur when the type of work,
body position and working conditions put strain
on your body.
 They are the hardest to spot since you don’t
always immediately notice strain on your body or
the harm these hazards pose.
 Short-term exposure may result in “sore muscles”
the next day or in the days following the
exposure, but long term exposure can result in
serious long-term injuries.

10. Ergonomic Hazards
 Ergonomic hazards include:
› Poor lighting
› Improperly adjusting workstations and chairs
› Frequent lifting
› Poor posture
› Awkward movements, especially if they are repetitive
› Repeating the same movements over and over
› Having to use too much force, especially if you have
to do it frequently

11. Chemical Hazards
 Chemical hazards are present when a
worker is exposed to any chemical
preparation in the workplace in any
form (solid, liquid, or gas).
 Some are safer than others, but to
some workers who are more sensitive
to chemicals, even common solutions
can cause illness, skin irritation or
breathing problems.

12. Chemical Hazards
 Beware of…
› Liquids like cleaning products, paints,
acids, solvents – especially chemicals in
an unlabelled container (!!)
› Vapours and fumes, for instance those
that come from welding or exposure to
solvents
› Gases like acetylene, propane, carbon
monoxide and helium
› Flammable materials like gasoline,
solvents and explosive chemicals

13. Chemical Hazards
 The Workplace
Hazardous Materials
Information System
(WHMIS) is designed
to make sure to you
the information you
need to evaluate any
hazards and take
action to protect
yourself.

14. Hierarchy of Controls
Requires a
physical change
to the workplace
Requires
worker to
wear
something
Elimination/Substitution
Requires
worker or
employer to do
something
Most
Effective
Least
Effective

15. CONTROLS: Engineering
CONTROL AT THE SOURCE!
Limits the hazard but doesn’t entirely remove it.
Local Exhaust
Other Examples:
Mechanical Guards
Wet Methods for Dust
Enclosures/Isolation
Dilution Ventilation
Proper
equipment Re-designed Tools
Image: by Kare_Products
Image: by Austin Sunday

16. CONTROLS: Administrative
Aimed at Reducing Employee Exposure to Hazards
but Not Removing Them!
 Changes in work procedures such as:
 Written safety policies/rules
 Schedule changes, such as:
 Lengthened or Additional Rest
Breaks
 Job Rotation
 Adjusting the Work Pace
 Training with the goal of reducing the
duration, frequency and severity of

17. CONTROLS: PPE
Personal Protective Equipment
Control of LAST RESORT!
 Special Clothing
 Eye Protection
 Hearing Protection
 Respiratory Protection
CONTROL IS AT THE WORKER!

18. Hierarchy of Controls
Requires a
physical change
to the workplace
Requires
worker to
wear
something
Elimination/Substitution
Requires
worker or
employer to do
something
Most
Effective
Least
Effective