Background
A sound understanding of the fundamentals of occupational health and safety is crucial for maintaining a productive and secure work environment. In this back to basics post, we highlight the various basic types of environmental hazards that can cause occupational disease, impaired health, or discomfort in workers.
Types
- Chemical hazards arise from excessive airborne concentrations of mists, vapors, gases, or solids in the form of dusts or fumes. These materials can be inhaled or absorbed through the skin, causing irritation or toxicity. These
- Physical hazards include excessive levels of non-ionizing radiation, ionizing radiation, noise, vibration, and extremes of temperature and pressure. These factors can cause immediate or long-term responses, depending on the intensity and duration of exposure.
- Ergonomic hazards result from improperly designed tools, work areas, or work procedures. Poorly designed equipment and tasks can lead to accidents or illnesses in the occupational environment. To prevent ergonomic hazards, engineering and biomechanical principles must be applied to design tools and jobs that fit the worker.
- Biological hazards refer to living organisms or their properties that can cause adverse responses in humans. Occupational biohazards can be part of the total environment (e.g., mold, plants, pollen) or associated with a particular occupation (e.g., Herpes B Virus among lab animal workers). The population at risk for occupational biohazards is estimated to be several hundred million workers worldwide.
Identifying Chemical Hazards
The majority of occupational health hazards arise from inhaling chemical agents (vapors, gases, dusts, fumes) or skin contact with these materials. The risk for disease or injury depends on the chemicals toxicity, dose, and duration of exposure. The first step in recognizing these hazards is to evaluate each chemical’s Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS). The MSDS is prepared by the manufacturer and contains vital health, safety, and toxicological data for the safe handling, storage, and disposal of the chemical. MSDSs are required under the OSHA Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) to ensure proper communication of chemical hazards to employees.
A key section of the MSDS is the hazard identification section. This section identifies the hazards of the chemical and the appropriate warning information associated with the hazards. Chemicals can produce various effects on the body, such as irritation to the respiratory tract, skin dermatitis, or chemical asphyxia, depending on their properties. It is crucial to classify substances according to the major reaction they produce, such as asphyxiants, systemic toxins, pneumoconiosis-producing agents, carcinogens, irritant gases, and others, to effectively manage workplace health and safety.
An additional consideration is that many industrial materials are relatively inert and nontoxic under normal conditions but may decompose to form highly toxic by-products when heated or machined. These hazardous products and by-products must also be included in a company’s hazard communication program. The stability and reactivity section of the MSDS provides Information on the chemical’s stability, reactivity, and potential hazardous reactions under certain conditions.
References:
- Plog BA, Quinlan PJ. Fundamentals of Industrial Hygiene. 5th ed. National Safety Council; 2002.
