Learning Outcome 1
Identify hazards and risks
PERFORMANCE STANDARDS
Workplace hazards and risks are identified and clearly explained.
Hazards/risks and its corresponding indicators are identified in with the company procedures.
Contingency measures are recognized and established in accordance with
Materials/ Resources
Video clips on hazards and risks
What Do You Already Know?
Let us determine how much you already know about checking conditions of tools and equipment. Take this test.
What Do You Need To Know?
Read the Information Sheet 1.1 very well then find out how much you can remember and how much you learned by doing Self-check 1.1.
HAZARDS AND RISKS
What is the difference between 'hazard' and 'risk'?
A hazard is something that can cause harm, eg electricity, chemicals, working up a ladder, noise, a keyboard, a bully at work, stress. Risk is the chance or probability that a person will be harmed or experience an adverse health effect once to a hazard. It may also apply to situations with property or equipment loss.
A risk is the chance, high or low, that any hazard will actually cause somebody harm.
For example, working alone away from your office can be a hazard. The risk of personal danger may be high. Electrical repair is a hazard. If someone accidentally turnedon the power the worker’s life will be in a 'high-risk' category.
Five Basic Workplace Hazards
There are five major types of hazards which can put both your health and your safety at risk.
1. Chemical hazards
2. Physical hazards
3. Biological hazards
4. Ergonomic hazards or job related hazards
5. Psychological hazards or stress
CHEMICAL HAZARD
If you are working with cleaning products, bleaches, paints, and other chemical agents, you need to understand what a chemical hazard is as well as how to protect yourself.
Chemical hazards include:
Ø liquids such a cleansers,
Ø acids, and paints
Ø vapours and fumes such as
Ø welding fumes
Ø gases such as carbon monoxide
Ø products that can catch fire or explode
PHYSICAL HAZARDS
Physical hazards include:
Machinery
Electrical power
Noise
Power and hand tools
Working and walking surfaces
Trip and fall hazards
Ladders and scaffolds
Heat and cold
ventilation
BIOLOGICAL HAZARDS
Why be careful around ticks, mouse droppings, bird poop and wild animals? Because you might get sick from working around certain animals, including people. Biological hazards include bacteria, viruses, insects, plants, birds, animals, and humans. The risks run from skin irritation and allergies to infections.
Dangers can come from:
• unclean restrooms
• mold and fungus
• bacteria
• insect stings
• animal bites
• poorly stored medical waste
ERGONOMIC HAZARDS
If your job is poorly designed, you can develop long term health problems. These problems can arise from simple things, like working for long periods in an awkward position or having to make the same motions over and over again.
Problems can come from:
lghting
chairs
lifting
repeated movements
computer screens
PSYCHOLOGICAL HAZARDS
Those that are basically causing stress to a worker. This kind of hazard troubles an individual very much to an extent that his general well-being is affected Stress can lead to long-term health problems. Headaches, anxiety, and impatience are early signs of stress.Those that are basically causing stress to a worker. This kind of hazard troubles an individual very much to an extent that his general well-being is affected Stress can lead to long-term health problems. Headaches, anxiety, and impatience are early signs of stress.
Workplace causes of stress include
• heavy workloads
• lack of control over the pace of work
• shift work
• noise
• working by yourself
• fear of job-loss
• conflict with the employer
What are examples of a hazard?
THRESHOLD LIMIT VALUE
One of the most critical among the hazards that one may encounter is the chemical hazard. Chemical may produce reactions that may endanger ones health and life. This is the reason why the American Conference of Governmental Hygienist (ACGIH) established a threshold limit value (tlv).
TLV is the term used by the American Conference of Governmental Hygienists (ACGIH*) to express the airborne concentration of a material to which nearly all persons can be exposed day after day, without adverse health effects
How Do You Apply What You Have Learned?
Show that you learned something by doing this activity.
RESEARCH WORK
a. Make an internet research on different hazards and risks.
b. Be able to identify these different hazards.
c. Make a write-up on your research on workplace hazards and risks.
