HANDOUT #7

Identifying Safety and Health Problems in the Workplace

Identifyinghealthandsafetyproblemscanbeaseasyasansweringbasicquestions.To
determineiftherearehealthandsafetyproblemsthatneedtobeaddressedinyour
workplace,usethesequestions:
Doyouoryourcoworkershaveinjuriesorhealthcomplaints?Ifso,whattypes?
Whohasbeenhurtorishavingsymptoms?
Whendoyouoryourcoworkersfeelthesesymptoms?
Whereintheworkplacearesafetyorhealthproblemsoccurring?
Whataretheconditionsthatarecausingproblems?

ThefollowingCautionHealthHazardsandCautionSafetyHazardstablesprovidemoreinformation.
CAUTION:HealthHazards
Commontypesofhealthhazardsintheworkplaceare:
Chemical(asbestos,solvents,chlorine)
Biological(tuberculosis,HIV,hepatitis,molds)
Physical(noise,heatandcold,radiation,vibration)
ErgonomicsorRepetitiveStrainInjuries(carpaltunnelsyndrome,backinjuries)
Psychological(stress)
Howhealthhazardsenteryourbody:
Breathing(inhalation)
Swallowing(ingestion)
Skin(absorption)
Cuts(injection)
Harmcausedbyhealthhazardsdependson:
Strength,orpotency,oftheagent.
Amountoftheagentthatispresent.
Howlongyouareexposedtotheagent.
Partofyourbodythatisexposed.
Typesofhealtheffects:
Acute:theeffectshowsuprightaway.
Chronic:problemsshowupafteralongperiodofexposureand/orlongafterthe
exposureends.
Local:onlythepartofthebodythatwasexposedisaffected.
Systemic:anagententersthebodyandaffectsotherpartsofthebody.
Cancer
Cancerisatermformanydiseasesindifferentpartsofthebody.
Carcinogensareagentsthatcausecancer.
Thereisnototallysafelevelofexposuretosomethingthatcausescancer.
Cancerfromaworkplaceexposuremaydevelop10,20ormoreyearsafterexposure.
Sensitization
Youmaybecomeallergicorsensitivetosomeagentsyouworkwith.Sensitizationcan
developovertime.
Forexample,ahealthcareworkermaydevelopaseriousallergicreactiontolatex
usedingloves.
Reproductiveeffects
Bothmenandwomencanbeaffectedbyreproductivehazardsatwork.
Reproductivehazardscausemiscarriagesandbirthdefects.
ToCAUTION:SafetyHazardstable


HANDOUT #7

CAUTION:SafetyHazards
Commontypesofsafetyhazardsintheworkplaceare:
Slips,tripsandfalls
Beingcaughtinorstruckbymovingmachineryorotherobjects
Fireandexplosions
Transportationandvehiclerelatedaccidents
Confinedspaces
Violence
Slips,TripsandFalls
Badhousekeepingandpoordrainagecanmakefloorsandotherwalkingsurfaceswet
andslippery.
Electricalwiresalongthefloorposeatrippinghazard.
Youcanfallifyouarenotprovidedwithfallprotectionequipment,guardrails,andsafe
ladders.
CaughtInorStruckByMovingMachinery/Objects
Machinerycancauseinjuriesindifferentways:
Youcangetpartsofyourbodycaughtinorstruckbyexposedmovingpartsifmachines
arenotproperlyguarded,ornotlockedoutwhenbeingrepaired.
Youcanbestruckbyflyingobjectsfrommachineswithoutprotectiveguards.
FireandExplosions
Improperlabeling,handlingorstorageofcertainmaterialscanposeariskoffireor
explosion.
Everyworkplaceshouldhaveanevacuationplanforgettingpeopleoutofabuildingin
caseoffireandanalarmoralertsystemtoquicklyinformemployeesofanemergency.
Everyworkershouldbetrainedonwhattodoincaseofanemergency.
TransportationandVehicleRelatedAccidents
Operatorsofvehiclesandequipmentcanbeinjuredorcauseinjurytopedestriansif
equipmentisunsafeorifadequatetraininghasnotbeenprovided.
Youcanbeseriouslyinjuredorkilledafterbeinghitbyavehiclewhilerepairingroadsor
doingotherworkintrafficzones.Thisdangerexistswhentrafficisnotproperlyrouted
and/oradequatebarriersarenotplacedbetweentheworkersandthetraffic.
ConfinedSpaces
Aconfinedspaceisanareawithsmallopeningsforaworkertoenterandexitandisnot
designedforregularwork.Examplesofconfinedspacesincludemanholes,sewer
digestorsandsilos.Therearemanyhazardsinconfinedspaces.
Workerscanbecomeunconsciousanddiefromalackofoxygen.
Theremaybetoomuchoxygen,orotherchemicalsthatcancatchfireorexplode.
Poisonousgasesandvapors,suchashydrogensulfideorcarbonmonoxide,mayalso
buildupinaconfinedspace.
Confinedspacescanalsoposephysicalhazards.Theycanbeveryhotorcold,veryloud,
orslipperyandwet.
Grain,sandorgravelcanburyaworker.
Violence
Violenceonthejobisagrowingproblem.
Homicidesarethesecondleadingcauseofworkplacefatalities.Workplaceviolence
includesphysicalassaultaswellasnearmisses,verbalabuseandsexualharassment.

Source:SafeJobsNow:AnAFSCMEGuidetoHealthandSafetyintheWorkplace. ToCAUTION:HealthHazardstable