What Constitutes a Hazard in a Workplace?
A frayed wire is one example of a physical workplace hazard.
2 What Determines Initial Hazards in the Workplace?
Any practice or situation that occurs in an occupational setting and has the potential to cause bodily or mental harm or poses any other risks to the health of one or more workers constitutes as a workplace hazard. Different occupations pose different types of potential hazards to employees. According to the Ontario Ministry of Labour, there are four broadly defined categories of workplace hazard: physical, biological, chemical and ergonomic.
The Ontario Ministry of Labour reports that physical hazards constitute the majority of hazards in most workplaces. Any situation that can lead to a trip, slip or fall is a common physical hazard, such as wet floors or icy walkways. Any dangerous workplace equipment, from sharp knives to heavy machinery, are examples of physical workplace hazards. Physical hazards also include electrical hazards, such as frayed cords or poor wiring, working from heights or other situations that present a risk of falling, and noises at decibels that have the potential to cause hearing damage.
According to the Ontario Ministry of Labour, biological workplace hazards include any bodily harm or sickness that can result from coming into contact with other living organisms. Working with other people exposes employees to airborne illnesses, such as the common cold and influenza, as well as potential exposure to illness through contact with blood or other bodily fluids. Workers in pet stores, agriculture and other outdoor settings may also be exposed to biological hazards via contact with animals and their droppings, exposure to insect bites or contact with potentially infectious plants or fungi.
According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, chemical workplace hazards include exposure to any chemicals that may cause either short- or long-term bodily injury or illness. In many workplaces, solvents and other cleaning products are the only chemical hazards present. Asbestos may also present a chemical hazard in some work spaces. Exposure to gasoline, paint, smoke, carbon monoxide or any other substances that produce fumes with potentially long-term health effects are categorized as chemical workplace hazards.
The Ontario Ministry of Labour defines ergonomic workplace hazards as working conditions and workplace processes that have the potential to cause bodily injury over time. Repetitive motion injuries, including carpal tunnel syndrome and injuries sustained from repetitive lifting, are common ergonomic hazards. Chairs, desks, phones and computers that are at the wrong height or distance or otherwise improperly adjusted pose ergonomic hazards to employees. Poor lighting, which can cause strain to the eyes, is another common example of an ergonomic workplace hazard.
Ontario Ministry of Labour: What is a Hazard?
Time, Forest. "What Constitutes a Hazard in a Workplace?" Small Business - Chron.com, http://smallbusiness.chron.com/constitutes-hazard-workplace-44079.html. Accessed 21 April 2019.
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