Introduction to Occupational Health and Safety

Intended Outcome: After studying this unit, the student will be able to:

1. Explain the importance of health and safety.

2. Evaluate and identify different hazards and risks in the workplace.
3. Distinguish the safety and health principles.
4. Discuss the key principles of health and safety.
5. Contrast the difference between hazards and risks.
6. Discuss the principles of a safe workplace.

Occupational Health and Safety (OHS)

 is a multidisciplinary field concerned with the safety, health, and welfare of people
at work. These terms also refer to the goals of this field.
 the goal of an occupational safety and health program is to foster a safe and healthy
work environment. OSH may also protect co-workers, family members, employers,
customers, and many others who might be affected by the workplace environment.
 employers have a common law duty to take reasonable care of the safety of their
employees.
 various country enacts lawintroducing specific duties, and create government bodies
with powers to regulate workplace safety issues.
 "occupational health deals with all aspects of health and safety in the
workplace and has a strong focus on primary prevention of hazards” - World
Health Organization (WHO)
 Since 1950, the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the World Health
Organization (WHO) share same definition and revised in 1995. The definition reads:

"The main focus in occupational health is on three different objectives:
a. the maintenance and promotion of workers’ health and working capacity
b. the improvement of working environment and work to become conducive
to safety and health and
c. development of work organizations and working cultures in a direction
which supports health and safety at work and in doing so also promotes a
positive social climate and smooth operation and may enhance
productivity of the undertakings. The concept of working culture is
intended in this context to mean a reflection of the essential value
systems adopted by the undertaking concerned. Such a culture is
reflected in practice in the managerial systems, personnel policy,
principles for participation, training policies and quality management of
the undertaking."
------ Joint ILO/WHO Committee on Occupational Health
 Importance of Health and Safety
- Ensure that employees do not face unnecessary or uncontrolled risks when performing
their jobs.
- Maintains positive business performanceyields higher productivity, prevents losses,
high staff morale
- Reduce risks, ultimately lessening the likelihood of incidents –less injuries, less
paperwork, less staff absences.
- Reduces the risk of prosecution, fines, and reputational damage for companies
compliant to health and safety laws.
- Enjoy lower insurance costs.

Hazards and Risks in the Workplace

Hazard - means a situation or thing that has that can cause harm or adverse health effects
to people in the workplace. Hazards may include: noisy machinery, a moving forklift,
chemicals, electricity, working at heights or a repetitive job at your workplace.

Risk -the possibility that harm (death, injury or illness) might occur when exposed to a
hazard in your workplace.

Risk control - taking action to eliminate or minimize the health and safety risks.

HAZARD: Frequent bending to load a pallet with boxes.

RISK: A manual handling injury to the back

HAZARD: A hot tempered supervisor screaming at staff.

RISK: A mental health issue for a staff member

 HAZARD: An extension cord running across a frequently used hallway.

RISK: A trip and possible injury resulting

Understanding the difference between them helps the management of health and safety
initiatives in the workplace as Eliminating a hazard will also eliminate any risks
associated with that hazard in your workplace.

The six main categories of hazards are:

 Biological. Biological hazards include viruses, bacteria, insects, animals, etc., that can
cause adverse health impacts.
 Chemical. Chemical hazards are simply the risks involved with using a chemical. In the
workplace chemical hazards can result in both health and physical impacts, such as skin
irritation, respiratory system irritation, blindness, corrosion and explosions.
 Physical. Physical hazards are environmental factors that can harm an employee
without necessarily touching them, including heights, noise, radiation and pressure.
 Safety. These are hazards that create unsafe working conditions. For example, exposed
wires or a damaged carpet might result in a tripping hazard. These are sometimes
included under the category of physical hazards.
  Ergonomic. Ergonomic hazards are a result of physical factors that can result in
musculoskeletal injuries. For example, a poor workstation setup in an office, poor
posture and manual handling.
 Psychosocial. Psychosocial hazards include those that can have an adverse effect on
an employee’s mental health or wellbeing. For example, sexual harassment,
victimization, stress and workplace violence.

Examples of Workplace Hazards

1. Biological Hazards include:

a. Blood-borne diseases, including HIV, Hepatitis B and C, and Malaria

Blood-borne diseases are viruses or bacteria that can be transmitted through contact
with infected blood or bodily fluids. Those most at risk from blood-borne diseases are
those working in the healthcare sector, for example, doctors, nurses and dentists.
However, many other professions can be at risk, such as cleaners, waste and refuse
collectors, street cleaners, park keepers and tattoo artists. Simply put, anyone who
might encounter sharps at work is at risk. Incidents that pose a risk for blood-borne
disease transmission can have serious health and psychological impacts.
b. Bacteria, Molds and Fungi
Improperly managed work environments can make your work premises the ideal
environment for bacteria, molds and fungi to thrive, such as Legionella bacteria.
Exposure to bacteria, molds and fungi can result in severe health impacts, such
as Legionnaire’s disease and respiratory disorders, and could exacerbate
allergies. Workplaces most at risk include spa pools, textile and print industries, and
paper manufacturing, however any humid work environment can be at risk.
c. Flour, Milk Powder or Grain Dusts
Exposure to organic dusts can result in severe health impacts, including respiratory
irritation and occupational asthma. Those at risk include individuals working in food
manufacturing and preparation, such as in a bakery.
d. Other Organic Dusts
The deterioration of building materials, as well as building, construction and
agricultural activities, can expose workers to a range of organic dusts, molds and
bacteria – including clay and straw dust. Exposure to these can result in exacerbation
of allergies, respiratory and skin irritation, among other health impacts.
e. Exposure to Animals and Vegetation
For example, those working in agriculture or horticulture, people working in zoos or
as dog handlers, are at risk of encountering bacteria, fungi, viruses and mites off the
animals and vegetation they work around. If not properly controlled, this exposure
can result in a range of health impacts, including allergic diseases such as farmer’s
lung.

2. Chemical Hazards
Workers are exposed to hazardous chemicals through inhalation, absorption through
the skin, or ingestion and swallowing. Chemical health hazards can be acute (nausea,
vomiting, acid burns, asphyxiation — which happen immediately) or chronic
 (dermatitis, asthma, liver damage, cancer — which develop after prolonged
exposure).

Examples of substances that pose a chemical hazard include:

a. Cleaning Chemicals
Cleaning chemicals are used in almost every workplace to maintain good hygiene
standards. Incorrect use of cleaning chemicals can have serious impacts, including
allergic reactions, asthma and respiratory irritation, dermatitis and skin or eye burns.

A chemical hazard is simply the risks involved with using a chemical. So in the workplace
chemical hazards can be;

b. Hair dye, Shampoos, Conditioners and Henna Products

These are all substances that we safely use at home without considering the risks.
However, hair dye, shampoos, conditioners and henna products, among other
substances regularly found in hair and beauty salons, can have serious health impacts if
you don’t take the proper precautions.
c. Nail Glue, Nail Polish Remover, Primers and Artificial Nails
Incorrect use and storage of these substances can result in a range of serious health
and safety risks. For example, skin and respiratory irritation, headaches, dizziness,
sickness, occupational asthma, cancer and fire hazards.
d. Welding fumes
Welding activities pose many hazards, including exposure to invisible gaseous fumes.
These fumes include ozone, nitrogen oxides, chromium and nickel oxides, and carbon
monoxide. Exposure to these gases can cause serious health impacts, including
pneumonia, occupational asthma, cancer, metal fume fever and respiratory irritation. If
not properly controlled, the fumes can impact the welder and anyone working in the
vicinity.
e. Substances capable of causing harm includes liquid in forms such as acetone, peroxide, butane,
petrol. It can also be compressed gases such as ammonia, chlorine, methane; and solids such
lye, cement mix, asbestos.
 Physiochemical hazards - where workers, the workplace itself, and the environment
can all be damaged or harmed because of the physical nature of the chemical. These
hazards surround a chemical’s physical attributes such as flammables, explosives,
corrosives, self-reactive; and the way they are handled and stored.
3. Physical Hazards
Physical hazards are environmental factors that can harm an employee without
necessarily touching them.Examples of physical hazards include:
a. Electricity
Exposure to electrical live parts can result in serious injuries and fatalities, including
electric shocks, burns, explosions and falls from height. The risk is increased in wet
conditions, where a worker’s equipment and surroundings can also become live.
b. Fires
Every workplace is at risk of fire. However, some workplaces are at an increased risk –
either due to the work activities or types or employees. For example, care
 homes, schools, hotels, organizations that carry out hot work, food manufacturers and
restaurants. Fires can be devastating, both to the organization and to the people
impacted, they can cause serious injuries, such as burns, asphyxiation and fatalities.
c. Confined spaces
Working in confined spaces poses serious hazards to employees. They can be especially
dangerous because of the reduced oxygen levels and potential build-up of gases, which
can result in fires, explosions, asphyxiation and loss of consciousness. Further risks
include collapse and flooding. Examples of people at risk include anyone working in
mines, cold storage, tunnels, wells, ship holds, air ducts and manholes.
d. Extreme temperatures
Exposure to freezing or extreme cold conditions can result in serious health impacts,
including hypothermia, reduced mental alertness, chilblains, trench foot and reduced
dexterity. Those at risk include anyone required to work outdoors in colder months, or in
refrigerated warehouses, including construction workers, emergency response staff,
fishermen, and food manufacturers. Conversely, exposure to extreme heat can result in
health impacts such as dehydration, heat exhaustion and dizziness. Workers at risk
include restaurant staff, launderers, smelters, welders and bakers.

4. Safety Hazards
These are hazards that create unsafe working conditions. For example, safety hazards include:

 Trailing Power Cords, Loose or Frayed Carpets and Rugs, Spills, Ice.

These could all cause a slip, trip or fall in the workplace, and result in physical and
mental impacts on an injured employee.

 Unguarded Machinery

Unguarded moving machinery parts pose a safety hazard as employees can sustain
serious injury and fatalities if they were to accidentally come into contact with them.
For example, clothes, lanyards, hair or body parts could become entangled in
unguarded machinery and can result in bruising, broken bones, loss of limbs, head
injuries and death.

 Frayed and Faulty Cords, Wiring or Cables

These could pose a risk of electric shock, burns and fires. Exposure to live electricity
can also result in a fall from height. For example, if an employee sustained an electric
shock while using a ladder.

5.Ergonomic Hazards

Physical factors that can result in musculoskeletal injuries. Ergonomic hazards can
have severely disabling impacts if they are not managed correctly.Musculoskeletal
injuries are those that affect the musculoskeletal system, including damage to
muscles, tendons, bones, joints, ligaments, nerves, and blood vessels. Types of
ergonomic hazards include:
 a. Manual Handling. Manual handling occurs every time you lift, put down, push, pull,
carry or move a load using your hands or bodily force. Poor manual handling
techniques can have serious consequences unless employees are appropriately
trained in their duties. These include long term damage to the individual’s
musculoskeletal system and mental health.

b. Use of Display Screen Equipment. Most jobs in this current, technological age, will
require the use of some form of display screen equipment. Prolonged use of poorly
designed workstations can result in a range of ill-health effects, including
musculoskeletal injuries, repetitive strain injury, fatigue and eye strain.

c. Vibration. Long term use of vibrating tools can have serious health impacts including
vibration white finger, sensory nerve damage, carpel tunnel syndrome and muscle and
joint injuries.

6. Psychosocial Hazards
Hazards that can have an adverse effect on an employee’s mental health or wellbeing,
and are closely linked with all the other categories of hazards. For example:
a. Health impacts. Health impacts as a result of biological, chemical, physical, safety
and ergonomic hazards can have significant impacts on an individual’s wellbeing. For
example, exposure to a blood-borne virus as a result of a sharps injury can result in
months of stress and anxiety for the individual involved and their family. Therefore,
almost all of the hazards outlined in this article could also result in psychosocial
impacts.
b. Harassment. Harassment is a result of someone acting in a way that makes you feel
intimated, humiliated, offended or otherwise distressed, and can have serious impacts
on a person’s health and wellbeing. For example, bullying in the workplace is
surprisingly common and can pose a serious psychosocial hazard. Bullying behavior
can result in the bullied individual experiencing several psychosocial symptoms,
including stress, anxiety and sleep deprivation, loss of appetite and a sense of
vulnerability.
c. Workplace aggression and abuse. Whether it’s from a colleague, client or someone
else, workplace aggression and abuse can have serious effects on someone’s mental
and physical health, resulting in symptoms such as stress, anxiety and sleep
deprivation. Managers can take steps to reduce sexual harassment in the
workplace and encourage employees to speak out if they witness or experience it.

Assignment Activity:
1. Identify hazards in your homes, classify it accordingly to its categories.
2. Describe the risks associated in each identified hazard.
3. As a member of the family, how you are going to manage these identified hazards.