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Categories of Work-Related Health Hazards

Most workplaces are associated with different kinds of risks that negatively impact employees’ lives and health in one way or another. It is recommended for all companies to have a formal risk assessment. Still, it is also the employee’s role to safeguard themselves from the hazards and minimize the likelihood of harm.

Work-related health hazards are categorized into the following classes;

Physical and safety risks: These are environmental factors that can harm employees without touching them. They include noise, pressure, exposed wires, radiation, and heights. The company has minimal control over these factors, and employees should take the upper hand in protecting themselves.

Psychological: Involve psychosocial risks that affect an employee’s wellbeing and mental health, and they greatly tamper with the ability to perform individual duties and responsibilities at the workplace. They include stress, victimization, violence at work, and sexual harassment.

Biological hazards: Refers to risks that can affect employees’ health, such as bacteria, viruses, insects, and animals. They are mainly disease-causing organisms, and employers can play a significant role in protecting employees from these risks. They include sewage, poison, harmful plants, dust, blood, and other body fluids.

Ergonomic hazards: These are risks that result from physically unsafe working conditions that can result in musculoskeletal injuries with prolonged exposure. They include poor posture, manual handling, and poor workstation setup, for example, faulty chairs at the office.

Chemical risks: Chemical hazards refers to hazardous substances that cause both physical and health impacts to employees. The impact could be explosions, blindness, skin irritation, corrosion, and respiratory system problems.

Asbestos exposure is among the most hazardous chemical substances that employees are exposed to at the workplace with deadly health effects. Asbestos causes a rare form of cancer, mesothelioma, and other respiratory problems such as asbestosis. Asbestos exposure can also lead to lung cancer. If you are at risk of asbestos exposure at the workplace, you can visit this website to get mesothelioma treatment options. You can also seek a mesothelioma lawyer’s services to assist you in filing a suit against the company or individuals who handle asbestos without adopting the safety precautions.

To avoid work-related risks, all industries should consider health and safety measures to safeguard employees from the effects of work-related hazards. Some workplaces have more dangerous exposures than others, but it is essential to keep in mind that every job has its risks, and if you are not careful, it may negatively affect you and your loved ones.

When you get hired, you should know your employer’s roles, such as providing all the safety equipment required in a workplace. If need be, the employer should also train their employees on short courses on safety at workplaces.

Employees need to be alert and stay away from situations that seem risky and could lead to an accident. Employee safety is a legal duty of employers, but employees also have their roles to play in matters regarding safety at the workplace. They should report any safety issues such as machine breakdowns and events that endanger their lives and health as soon as possible.

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