1.95k likes | 5.36k Views
Occupational hazards in the workplace. Faridahani Haji Isahak. Learning objectives. What is a/an Hazard Risk Exposure What are the types of occupational hazards?. Hazard. Potential of an agent to cause harm. Exposure. Contact with a Hazard is called Exposure
E N D
Occupational hazards in the workplace Faridahani Haji Isahak
Learning objectives • What is a/an • Hazard • Risk • Exposure • What are the types of occupational hazards?
Hazard • Potential of an agent to cause harm
Exposure • Contactwith a Hazard is called Exposure • Exposure is a combination of • Magnitude • Frequency • Duration
Risk • Likelihood that an agent will cause harm in the actual circumstances of exposure • RISK occurs only when there is Exposure Hazard
Health Risk =Hazard x Exposure Exposure Hazard
Health Risk • No Hazard = No Risk • Hazard, but no Exposure = No Risk Health Risk = Hazard x Exposure
HAZARDS AT WORKPLACE • Physical • Chemical • Biological • Psychosocial • Ergonomics • Mechanical
Classes of Hazards Health hazard The potential to cause harm to health Chemical Psychological Ergonomic Physical Biological
Occupational Hazards • 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
Physical hazards • Fall from heights e.g. scaffolding, high building • Slips and trips • Objects falling from cranes • Dangerous heavy machinery • Electrocution • Confined spaces
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
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
RADIATION Ionising Radiation Non-Ionising Radiation • 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
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.
SOLVENTS • Neuropathy (n-hexane,TCE) • Dermatitis • Kidney damage • Liver damage/toxic jaundice –hepatitis • Anaemia, leukaemia -benzene
DUST • Asbestosis • Sand dust(silica) – silicosis • Cotton dust – byssinosis • Vegetable/plant dust – hypersensitive pneumonitis, bronchial asthma
PAINTS • Paint contain petroleum solvents. • Paint contain Lead pigments (Pb poisoning) → anaemia, neuropathy, kidney damage
PESTICIDES • Chronic headache • Memory impairment • Skin Diseases • Cancer eg. Agricultural workers, pest sprayers
METAL FUMES • Lead, mercury e.g. welders Health Effects: • Cancer • Kidney damage • Neuropathy • Metal fume fever
GASES • Carbon monoxide, sulphur • Health Effects • Respiratory irritation • Asphyxia e.g. coal miner, sewerage, tunnel, laboratory workers
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
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
ERGONOMIC FACTORS • Working postures / chairs • Space per work shift • Working surface height • Reach / machine feeding • Space between machines • Strenous physical load
ERGONOMIC FACTORS • Lifting heavy loads/frequent bending/repetitive & monotonous work • Design of tools • Displays and instructions • Mental overload / visibilty
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
MECHANICAL HAZARDS • Outdated machines • Unsafe designs • Complex / sophiscated machinery • Poor maintenance • Slippery /wet floors Health effects: cut/crush injuries,fractures,fb eye
SAFETY/OTHER HAZARDS • Flammable substances - fire • Flammable gases - explosion • Electricity overload, inadequate insulation -electrocution
Thank you The End