1. Occupational hazards in the workplace
Faridahani Haji Isahak

2. Learning objectives What is a/an Hazard Risk Exposure
What are the types of occupational hazards?

3. Hazard
Potential of an agent to cause harm

4. Exposure Contact with a Hazard is called Exposure
Exposure is a combination of
Magnitude
Frequency
Duration

5. Risk
Likelihood that an agent will cause harm in the actual circumstances of exposure
RISK occurs only when there is
Exposure
Hazard

6. Health Risk = Hazard x Exposure

7. Health Risk = Hazard x Exposure
No Hazard = No Risk
Hazard, but no Exposure = No Risk
Health Risk = Hazard x Exposure

8. HAZARDS AT WORKPLACE Physical Chemical Biological Psychosocial
Ergonomics
Mechanical

9. The potential to cause harm to health
Classes of Hazards
Health hazard
The potential to cause harm to health
Chemical
Psychological
These are the five categories of hazards that are addressed in the HRA process. Can the group give an example from their own work environment for each of them?
Ergonomic
Physical
Biological

10. Occupational Hazards Fungi Insects Viruses Repetitive movement
Bacteria
Fungi
Insects
Viruses
Manual handling
Repetitive movement
Restrictive working area
Noise
Vibration
Radiation
Lighting
Heat
Cold
Fibres
Dusts
BIOLOGICAL
ERGONOMICAL
PHYSICAL
CHEMICAL
PSYCHOLOGICAL
Fumes
Gases
Aerosols
Mists
Liquids
Vapours
Job stress
Job monotony
Unsociable hours
Job organization

11. Physical hazards

12. Physical hazards Fall from heights e.g. scaffolding, high building
Slips and trips
Objects falling from cranes
Dangerous heavy machinery
Electrocution
Confined spaces

14. Physical agents

15. 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

16. EXTREME TEMPERATURES HEAT COLD Heat Stress Heat Stroke Cataract
eg. hot oven workers, glass manufacturing
Hypothermia
Frostbite (freezing soft body tissue)
eg. cold storage workers

17. RADIATION Ionising Radiation Non-Ionising Radiation Ultra-violet light
X-ray, Gamma, Alpha & Beta particles eg. radiology staff, nuclear plant, radium workers
Health effects:
Cancer – lung, bone, thyroid
Congenital abnormalities
Leukaemia
Ultra-violet light

18. Chemical hazards

19. CHEMICAL HAZARDS 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.

20. SOLVENTS Neuropathy (n-hexane,TCE) Dermatitis Kidney damage
Liver damage/toxic jaundice –hepatitis
Anaemia, leukaemia -benzene

21. DUST Asbestosis Sand dust(silica) – silicosis Cotton dust – byssinosis
Vegetable/plant dust – hypersensitive pneumonitis, bronchial asthma

23. PAINTS Paint contain petroleum solvents.
Paint contain Lead pigments (Pb poisoning) → anaemia, neuropathy, kidney damage

24. PESTICIDES Chronic headache Memory impairment Skin Diseases Cancer
eg. Agricultural workers, pest sprayers

25. METAL FUMES Lead, mercury e.g. welders Health Effects: Cancer
Kidney damage
Neuropathy
Metal fume fever

26. GASES Carbon monoxide, sulphur Health Effects
Respiratory irritation
Asphyxia
e.g. coal miner, sewerage, tunnel, laboratory workers

27. Biological hazards

28. BIOLOGICAL HAZARDS Bacteria Fungi – mold
Virus – Bird Flu, Influenza, SARS
Blood-borne pathogen - HIV, AIDS, Hepatitis
Tuberculosis
e.g. farmers, health care workers, animal handlers

29. Psychosocial hazards

30. Psychosocial hazards
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

31. ERGONOMIC FACTORS Working postures / chairs Space per work shift
Working surface height
Reach / machine feeding
Space between machines
Strenous physical load

32. ERGONOMIC FACTORS
Lifting heavy loads/frequent bending/repetitive & monotonous work
Design of tools
Displays and instructions
Mental overload / visibilty

33. 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

34. MECHANICAL HAZARDS Outdated machines Unsafe designs
Complex / sophiscated machinery
Poor maintenance
Slippery /wet floors
Health effects: cut/crush injuries,fractures,fb eye

36. SAFETY/OTHER HAZARDS Flammable substances - fire
Flammable gases - explosion
Electricity overload, inadequate insulation - electrocution

40. Thank you
The End