K.

A NKUNA
202213252

CLASIFICATIONS OF OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY

HAZARDS 18/20 CMNAIDOO

PHYSICAL HAZARDS
EXTREME TEMPERATURES- Effects of hot temperatures at workplace include Heat stress, heat stroke, heat cramp and heat exhaustion.
Effects of cold temperatures at workplace are: Cold stress, frostbite, trench foot and immersion foot

VIBRATIONS- Prolonged use of vibrating machinery (drilling machine) can cause vascular disorder of arms and wrist bones

PRESSURE- Exposure to increased atmospheric pressure can cause aseptic bone necrosis around knee, hip and shoulder

IONIZING AND NON-IONIZING RADIATION: Non-ionizing radiation is radiation that is strong enough to vibrate atoms in a molecule, but
not strong enough to extract electrons. Examples are microwaves, visible light, and sound waves. Ionizing radiation is electromagnetic
radiation in which a single particle has sufficient energy to entirely remove an electron from its orbit, ionizing an atom or molecule. high
doses cause immediate radiation poisoning and low doses may cause cancer. 4 primary sources: cosmic radiation, solar radiation,
external terrestrial sources, and radon. 4 ways to protect ourselves against this radiation are time, distance, shielding, and containment.

NOISE- occupational noise exposure is grouped into 3 classes namely continuous noise, intermittent noise, and impact type noise.
Effects of noise exposure are humans are- Non auditory effect which causes fatigue, interference with communication, decreased
efficiency and annoyance. Auditory effects involve permanent or temporary hearing loss. Prevention of noise exposure includes-Noise
monitoring, audiometric testing, employee training, hearing protectors, and recordkeeping.

ILLUMINATION- Lighting promotes productivity, safety, health, well-being, and pleasant working conditions at an economical cost.
Illuminance measures the amount of light on a surface in lux.

MECHANICAL HAZARDS
Unshielded machinery and unsafe structures, dangerous unprotected tools in workplace pose danger to workers as they are at risk of getting
injured. Beat hand, a condition caused by subcutaneous cellulites, affects workers using hand tools or kneeling frequently, resulting from
constant bruising and tissue infection. Ignorance of these precautions leads to increased occupational accidents.

CHEMICAL HAZARDS
Chemical hazards are dependent on their: Amount, Concentration, Time of exposure, Mode of entry to the body, Age, Sex, Health status,
and Resistance of the exposed workers. The effects of chemical agents are as follows: Asphyxiation, Systemic intoxication,
Pneumoconiosis, Carcinogens, Irritation, Mutagenicity, and Teratogenicity. Solvent is the most notorious and in contact with the skin or
respiratory system that deserves attention. Exposure to organic solvents in occupational settings or industries poses a health, productivity,
and efficiency threat. The following terms are used in the classification of dangerous substances in the classification, packing and
labelling of dangerous substances regulations 1984: A. Corrosion B. Oxidizing C. Harmful D. Very toxic and toxic E. Irritant F. Highly flammable
G. Explosive. Chemical Hazards Evaluation contains: Toxicity assessment, Work activity/risk assessment evaluation, Assessment of
controls effectiveness to block routes of entry, Exposure monitoring and, Recommendations for improvement. Chemical Hazards Exposure
Monitoring includes: 1. Special instruments - infrared absorption, photoionization, Gas Chromatography 2. Detector tubes 3. Air sampling
and lab analysis 4. Professional judgment. Chemical Hazards Engineering Controls includes Substitution (use lower toxicity materials),
Local exhaust ventilation, Reduce exposure time, better procedures, Training, PPE - gloves, face shields, respirators and, Remote Operation.

BIOLOGICAL HAZARDS
Biological hazards can be transmitted to a person through a. Inhalation b. Injection c. Ingestion d. Contact with the skin.

1. Research Laboratory- Laboratory technicians and scientists working on biological specimens’ face risks from biological hazards like HIV
and Hepatitis, which can be present in blood, pus, and stool samples. 2. Health care facilities- Hospital workers in various roles, including
laundry, housekeeping, laboratory, central supply, nursing station, and dietary, are highly exposed to potential biological agents such as
bacterial infections and viral agents. The problem of biological hazard in health care delivery system is increasing because of 1.
Inadequate sanitation, disinfection and sterilization methods, 2. Increase in drug as well as chemical resistant strains of microbes, 3.
Increase of high-risk patients (HIV/AIDS and TB). 3. Agriculture: The three types of relationships in terms of disease transmission between
humans and animals are: Zoonosis, Anthropozooonosis, Zooanthroponosis. Biohazard Control Program- Employee health, laboratory
safety and health, biological safety cabinet, animal care and handling

ERGONOMIC HAZARDS
Ergonomics are interaction between humans and various environmental elements. Principles of biomechanics- 1. What is the task to be
performed (task variable), 2. Would the person be able to do the task (human variable), 3. What is the type of work environment
(environmental variable). Workspace dimension can be grouped in three basic categories: minimal, maximal, and adjustable
dimensions. Effects of non-ergonomic working conditions; Tendosynovitis, Bursitis, Carpal tunnel syndrome, Raynaud’s syndrome. To
avoid ergonomic hazards, we must consider: Sensibility and perceptibility, Kinetic ability and muscular power or strength

PSYCHOSOCIAL HAZARDS
Within the work environment emotional stress may arise from a variety of psychosocial factors, which the worker finds unsatisfactory,
frustrating, or demoralizing. Reduction of occupational stresses depends on: Improved vocational guidance, Arrangement of working
hours, Job design, and work methods, good management.