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Classification of hazards - Coggle Diagram
Classification of hazards
Physical
Most common hazards that can be found in all workplace
can be broadly categorised into:
Loud noise: prolonged exposure can lead to poor hearing and noise-induced deafness
Daily permissible expose limit in 16 hours a day is 82 db, 2 hours per day is 90db.
Vibration
Prolonged exposure can lead to bone, muscle and joint damage.
Extreme temperature
Prolonged exposure to heat can cause heat stroke, prolonged exposure to freezing temps will cause hypothermia and frostbite when ice crystals form in soft tissues and damage them.
Radiation
Immediate effects of radiation poisoning are like nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, longer term effects or if the radiation exposure was extreme, leads to cataract, cancer and death.
Electricity
Electric shocks, serious burns and even death
Working at a height
Falling from height can lead to bone fracture, joint injury or death
Ergonomic
Bad body posture leads to muscle, bone, joint, tendons or soft tissue complications like strains, tears etc.
Psychosocial
Not obvious at first but if ignored, can seriously affect employee and colleagues mental wellbeing
Occupational stress like heavy workload, tight deadlines, long working hours
Abuse like verbal, physical and emotional
Personal issues like passing of loved ones, divorce and financial problems
Chemical
Acute/long-term health effects caused by chemical to exposure
Numerous manufacturing sectors, research/teaching labs high exposure to chemicals
Flammables like ethanol, acetone, benzene, if too close to fire source can ignite to cause fire, resulting in burns and fatalities
Organic solvents like ethanol, acetone and turpentine, exposure can lead to organ damage, fainting, cancer
Acid and bases like hydrochloric acid, sodium hydroxide are corrosive and can lead to chemical burns
Fumes from chemicals can irritate mucous membranes of nose, eyes, trachea, or cause poisoning from prolonged inhalation
unstable chemicals that decompose or react rapidly also can cause severe harm when they give off poisonous/flammable fumes
Biological
Organisms/material from organisms can be harmful to other life forms, particularly humans
Found in wastewater treatment facilities, research labs and hospitals
Bacteria like salmonella, staphylococcus, Escherichia coli
Viruses like norovirus, rhinovirus, Human immunodeficiency virus(HIV)
Toxins like cytotoxin, endotoxin
Terror threat
Intentional acts of violence/sabotage that aims to cause fear, harm or disruption in workplace/lab setting
Emergency response plans, risk assessments, train employees to effectively manage these situations
Like bomb threats, active shooter incidents, chemical attack, biological attack, cyberattack