Understanding Workplace Hazards: What You Need to Know

Suppose you want to ensure that your team is able to safely work within any environment and that your projects are not interrupted by accidents and injuries more often than they need to be. In that case, it’s important for you to be fully aware of health and safety risks. Here, we’re going to look at the question of “what is a safety hazard,” looking at examples of risks in the workplace, as well as steps that can be taken to mitigate them.

 

Aside from answering questions like “What hazards should you be aware of,” we will take the opportunity to explain what constitutes a hazard in the workplace. Furthermore, we will go over how to identify a hazard so that, beyond the types and examples covered here, you’re able to address new threats as they appear in your workplace.

 

What constitutes a hazard in the workplace?

First of all, what is a hazard in the workplace? There are several different types, each of which we’re going to cover in more detail, but basically, they occur when the environment that your team works in poses a threat of injury, illness, or death to those working or spending time in them.

 

Hazards and risks in the workplace can arise from all manner of sources, including equipment, unsafe work processes, dangerous materials, the environment itself, and the actions and behaviour of the people on the site. In the following information, we’re going to address a range of different workplace hazards, as well as what you can do to identify and protect against them.

 

6 types of hazards and safety risks

In order to help you better understand the nature of workplace hazards, we’re going to identify six typical workplace hazards and risks. Most hazards fall into these six core types in one way or another. We’re also going to look at 5 examples of risks in the workplace that correspond with each type so that you can have a better idea of what they might entail.

Workplace safety hazard

A workplace safety hazard, also often just known as a work safety hazard, environmental hazard, or similar terms, is the most common type of risk. These are the ones that make an otherwise safe work environment into a potentially hazardous one. These typically include some of the most preventable hazards.

Examples of workplace safety hazards include the following:

• Spills can cause the flooring in areas of the workplace to become slippery, leading to an increased risk of slips, trips, and falls.
• Obstacles in the way of walkways and common traffic areas, from boxes to cords and poorly placed equipment, create tripping hazards.
• Improper machinery usage, including employees using machines recklessly, or approaching machines without the necessary caution.
• Electrical hazards, such as frayed cords, improper wiring, or live wires, can represent a serious risk of electrocution
• Heights, which can present a serious risk of injury via falling if they are not addressed with safety measures in place, such as harnesses and rails

Physical hazard

Physical hazards are often confused with workplace safety hazards. While there is some crossover between them, physical hazards typically account for factors caused by the specific environment itself. To address physical hazards, steps should be taken to adapt to the environment and make it more suitable for the workers within it.

Examples of hazards of this nature include the following:

• Weather hazards, such as rain, wind, snow, and other factors that can either lead to accidents or increase the risk of becoming ill without the right protection.
• Noise hazards are a significant concern in industries that use loud machinery, such as construction and manufacturing, which can cause damage to a worker’s hearing
• Lighting hazards typically involve issues with visibility in workplaces with poor or low lighting, which can lead to falls and other accidents, but can also include the threat of direct sunlight exposure
• Temperature hazards include working in both extreme hot and cold conditions, leading to risks such as frostbite, exposure, dehydration, and sunstroke
• Radiation exposure is a significant risk in some work environments and can lead to long-term illnesses if not mitigated with radiation detection and protective equipment

Chemical hazard

Chemical hazards typically account for when workers come into contact with potentially hazardous chemicals, including those who manufacture, transport, or otherwise handle chemical goods. The level of hazard is, in part, dictated by the specific chemicals being handled.

Examples of hazards of this nature include the following:

• Liquid chemicals can present a risk when spilled, including acids and solvents.
• Vapours, fumes, and other particulates, some of which can irritate on contact with the skin, others which might present a risk when inhaled, such as asbestos, fibreglass, or solvents.
• Gaseous chemicals, such as carbon monoxide, chlorine, nitrogen dioxide, and phosgene.
• Flammable chemicals can include gasoline and solvents, with kerosene, acetone, and benzene being some of the most common.
• Pesticides, which are often applied to crops, can irritate the skin and eyes, affect the nervous system, and can be carcinogenic.

Biological hazard

Whereas chemical hazards address the various risks of working with chemicals, biological hazards are more related to the safety of working with people, animals, bodily fluids, plant materials, and biological materials in general, which can be more common in settings like healthcare and waste management.

Examples of hazards of this nature include the following:

• Communicable diseases, including viruses and bacteria, some of which are spread by sneezing and coughing.
• Blood and other bodily fluids, including waste fluids and matter, can expose workers to contamination, including diseases carried through such bodily fluids.
• Animal droppings can represent a significant respiratory risk, including bird droppings which can affect all manner of workers in outdoor spaces.
• Many plants and insects have poisonous qualities, which can affect workers through contact with the skin, stinging, or biting, and should be prevented.
• Fungi and mould affect many work environments, including construction and demolition sites, and typically are a risk when inhaled

Ergonomic hazard

These hazards typically happen as a result of an individual’s physical motion, positioning, and movements. These are some of the most common hazards, as they can affect everyone, from construction workers to office workers who spend the day sitting in front of a desk.

Examples of hazards of this nature include the following:

• Sitting represents a significant health risk, as it can affect the health of the joints and back, leading to problems with inflammation, for example.
• Lifting is an ergonomic risk most often associated with logistics and storage, as improper lifting form or lifting without the aid of harnesses or lifting equipment can result in musculoskeletal injury.
• Posture hazards, such as stooping over, standing for too long, or otherwise, can result in long-term pain, inflammation, and the like.
• Repetitive strain injury is a very common ergonomic hazard, often caused by repetitive motions carried out over a long period of time
• Vibrations are also an ergonomic hazard, as working with vibrating equipment for a long period of time can cause damage to parts of the body that feel those vibrations

Work organisation hazard

Also known as psychosocial hazards, these are the work hazards that arise from people working together in an environment, as well as mental health hazards.

What is an example of a hazard related to work organisation? Here are a few:

• Stress as a result of workload demands, high workplace intensity, or poor worker support
• Workplace violence or harassment, including bullying and discrimination
• Sexual harassment or violence
• A lack of the necessary support for workers, including reporting procedures
• A lack of control over one’s well-being as a result of work demands

Now that you have an idea of the types of hazards and examples of each, you should hopefully be able to start addressing how to identify hazards, and what actions you can take to prevent or mitigate them in the future.

 

How to identify hazards in the workplace

Now that we have taken a look at the six typical workplace hazards and risks associated with each workplace, you should be able to recognise many as they arise. However, there are also specific steps that you can take to identify hazards in the workplace:

 

• Collect information about hazards, which can include previously recorded hazards, accidents, and injuries, speak to workers affected by them, or look at examples of hazards to see which apply to your workplace.
• Conduct an inspection of the workplace, making a note of potential work hazards, and recording all elements that could pose a potential risk.
• Investigate previous incidents of accidents and injuries to see if there are any hazards that might have been contributed that were not previously accounted for.
• Consider any potential hazards that might not arise as part of daily work in the environment, but may become more prevalent during emergency situations, such as fires, chemical spills, and natural disasters

Stay on top of health and safety hazards in the workplace with the right tools

Now that we have taken a closer look at the nature of the health and safety hazards in the workplace, as well as the 6 types of hazards that you should be ready to address, it’s time to put together the appropriate safety plan. There is a wide range of types of safety provisions you can put in place, and tools like Intasite can help you do it more effectively and comprehensively.

 

By using an online induction system, it allows sites to communicate hazards before their visitors arrive, ensuring individuals are informed about potential dangers and know what to expect. Digital safety briefings included as part of the Intasite system, can be used to further enable instant communication of any new hazards that may have emerged recently, keeping everyone up-to-date and well-prepared.

 

Video content is also the most effective method for communicating an induction to your visitors. Combining visual effects and auditory elements makes it the perfect solution for engaging with your audience and immediately capturing their attention, making the delivery of critical safety messages more impactful. Find out how Intasite can help create your tailored induction video.