Did you know workers in all industries are exposed to one or more workplace hazards every day? Workplace hazards are costly, but if the right precautions are taken, they can be prevented. Below are are the four common types of hazards you should be aware of at work. Show
Physical Hazards Ergonomic Hazards Chemical
Hazards Biological Hazards The biggest threat to worker health and safety is their work environment. Please take necessary precautions to protect yourself and your employees by maintaining a safe work environment. To learn more about workplace hazards, click here. OHC believes prevention is better than the cure. OHC can handle all of these types of hazards at one of our three locations. Visit occupationalhc.com to see how we can servce you. MOBILE OFFICE LOCATION PASCAGOULA OFFICE LOCATION One of the "root causes" of workplace injuries, illnesses, and incidents is the failure to identify or recognize hazards that are present, or that could have been anticipated. A critical element of any effective safety and health program is a proactive, ongoing process to identify and assess such hazards. To identify and assess hazards, employers and workers:
Some hazards, such as housekeeping and tripping hazards, can and should be fixed as they are found. Fixing hazards on the spot emphasizes the importance of safety and health and takes advantage of a safety leadership opportunity. To learn more about fixing other hazards identified using the processes described here, see "Hazard Prevention and Control." Action item 1: Collect existing information about workplace hazards Action item 2: Inspect the workplace for safety hazards Action item 3: Identify health hazards Action item 4: Conduct incident investigations Action item 5: Identify hazards associated with emergency and nonroutine situations Action item 6: Characterize the nature of identified hazards, identify interim control measures, and prioritize the hazards for control Action item 1: Collect existing information about workplace hazardsInformation on workplace hazards may already be available to employers and workers, from both internal and external sources. How to accomplish itCollect, organize, and review information with workers to determine what types of hazards may be present and which workers may be exposed or potentially exposed. Information available in the workplace may include:
Information about hazards may be available from outside sources, such as:
Action item 2: Inspect the workplace for safety hazardsHazards can be introduced over time as workstations and processes change, equipment or tools become worn, maintenance is neglected, or housekeeping practices decline. Setting aside time to regularly inspect the workplace for hazards can help identify shortcomings so that they can be addressed before an incident occurs. How to accomplish it
Note: Many hazards can be identified using common knowledge and available tools. For example, you can easily identify and correct hazards associated with broken stair rails and frayed electrical cords. Workers can be a very useful internal resource, especially if they are trained in how to identify and assess risks. Action item 3: Identify health hazardsIdentifying workers' exposure to health hazards is typically more complex than identifying physical safety hazards. For example, gases and vapors may be invisible, often have no odor, and may not have an immediately noticeable harmful health effect. Health hazards include chemical hazards (solvents, adhesives, paints, toxic dusts, etc.), physical hazards (noise, radiation, heat, etc.), biological hazards (infectious diseases), and ergonomic risk factors (heavy lifting, repetitive motions, vibration). Reviewing workers' medical records (appropriately redacted to ensure patient/worker privacy) can be useful in identifying health hazards associated with workplace exposures. How to accomplish it
Note: Identifying and assessing health hazards may require specialized knowledge. Small businesses can obtain free and confidential occupational safety and health advice services, including help identifying and assessing workplace hazards, through OSHA's On-site Consultation Program. Action item 4: Conduct incident investigationsWorkplace incidents –including injuries, illnesses, close calls/near misses, and reports of other concerns– provide a clear indication of where hazards exist. By thoroughly investigating incidents and reports, you will identify hazards that are likely to cause future harm. The purpose of an investigation must always be to identify the root causes (and there is often more than one) of the incident or concern, in order to prevent future occurrences. How to accomplish it
Effective incident investigations do not stop at identifying a single factor that triggered an incident. They ask the questions "Why?" and "What led to the failure?" For example, if a piece of equipment fails, a good investigation asks: "Why did it fail?" "Was it maintained properly?" "Was it beyond its service life?" and "How could this failure have been prevented?" Similarly, a good incident investigation does not stop when it concludes that a worker made an error. It asks such questions as: "Was the worker provided with appropriate tools and time to do the work?" "Was the worker adequately trained?" and "Was the worker properly supervised?" Note: OSHA has special reporting requirements for work-related incidents that lead to serious injury or a fatality (29 CFR 1904.39). OSHA must be notified within 8 hours of a work-related fatality, and within 24 hours of an amputation, loss of an eye, or inpatient hospitalization. Action item 5: Identify hazards associated with emergency and nonroutine situationsEmergencies present hazards that need to be recognized and understood. Nonroutine or infrequent tasks, including maintenance and startup/shutdown activities, also present potential hazards. Plans and procedures need to be developed for responding appropriately and safely to hazards associated with foreseeable emergency scenarios and nonroutine situations. How to accomplish it
Action item 6: Characterize the nature of identified hazards, identify interim control measures, and prioritize the hazards for controlThe next step is to assess and understand the hazards identified and the types of incidents that could result from worker exposure to those hazards. This information can be used to develop interim controls and to prioritize hazards for permanent control. How to accomplish it
Note: "Risk" is the product of hazard and exposure. Thus, risk can be reduced by controlling or eliminating the hazard or by reducing workers' exposure to hazards. An assessment of risk helps employers understand hazards in the context of their own workplace and prioritize hazards for permanent control. Which of the following statements is true of the influence of the physical work environment?Which of the following statements is true of the influence of the physical work environment on individuals? It adds to the costs of an organization, especially when replacing productive workers.
Which is true about the benefits of a safety and health program OSHA quizlet?Ultimately, the benefits of a safety and health program outweigh potential costs associated with developing and maintaining it. These benefits include preventing workplace injuries, illnesses and deaths as well as better morale, improved employee retention and improvements in service quality.
Which of the following should be the first method used to reduce workplace accidents?A) enforcing job rotation B) screening job applicants C) removing physical hazards D) requiring employees to use PPE Answer: C Explanation: C) Reducing unsafe conditions by removing physical hazards is always the first line of defense against accidents.
Which of the following statements best defines the safety climate of an organization quizlet?Which of the following statements best defines the safety climate of an organization? A. It is the perception of the importance and priority an organization gives to safety.
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