Define Safety Hazard

Safety hazards are present on every job. Workers are exposed to a wide variety of conditions that can cause illness or injury, even death. The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and other federal, state and city regulatory agencies exist for the safety of the worker.

Definition

• A hazard, according to OSHA, is anything with the potential to cause personal injury or illness. In addition to injuring humans, a hazard poses potential of damage to property or the environment.

  While different agencies list safety hazards in different ways, commonly category classifications include--personal safety, chemical hazards, biological situations, ergonomic issues and physical environment.

Personal Safety Hazards

• Safety hazards to the worker, or other persons, best defines personal safety hazards.
  Depending on the type of work environment, these hazard risks include a worker being crushed by machinery, cuts from sharp tools or materials, burns from sparks or fires, injuries from tripping and injury or death caused by a fall from a high work area. OSHA has specific regulations for most jobs, as well as a General Duty Clause for workers not covered under a specific job classification.

Chemical Dangers

• Chemicals with the risk of causing injuries or illness include anything from a household cleaner to a toxic chemical used or manufactured at a workplace. Training and proper labeling help reduce chemical hazards. All chemicals should have Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) on the work site. The informational sheets tell workers of the potential dangers and what to do in the case of exposure to or injury caused by that chemical. The U.S. Chemical Safety Board provides information about chemicals, as well as offering MSDS sheets that are missing from the workplace files.

Biological Exposures

• Exposure to biological safety hazards poses risks to workers in a variety of workplaces, from manufacturing to hospitals or schools. Biological exposures stem from touching contaminated surfaces or persons or are simply carried in the air. Some of the hazards include blood-borne pathogens, bacteria, viruses and exposure to certain plants and animals. The Centers for Disease Control exists to determine biological hazards and health risk outbreaks, inform the public of health hazards and provides resources help keep workers and the public safer.

Repetitive and Improper Bodily Movements

• Safety and health injuries are caused by excessive bending, improper lifting, reaching too high or too far and repetitive movements during work procedures. Common injuries to the body in these situations include muscle strain, carpel tunnel disease and damage to the back, arms, or legs.

Physical Potential Hazards

• A physical hazard is an environmental factor that can hurt a body without physical contact. Some of these types of hazards range from radiation or magnetic exposure to heat and noise extremes. Stress also contributes to safety issues.

Workplace Violence

• The safety hazard of workplace violence results from anger, hostility or aggression. These potential risks come from within the workplace or from an intruder.