What is a Hazard

Published on November 2016 | Categories: Documents | Downloads: 43 | Comments: 0 | Views: 432
of 6
Download PDF   Embed   Report

Comments

Content

What is a hazard?
The meaning of the word hazard can be confusing. Often dictionaries do not give specific definitions or combine it with the term "risk". For example, one dictionary defines hazard as "a danger or risk" which helps explain why many people use the terms interchangeably. There are many definitions for hazard but the more common definition when talking about workplace health and safety is: A hazard is any source of potential damage, harm or adverse health effects on something or someone under certain conditions at work. Basically, a hazard can cause harm or adverse effects (to individuals as health effects or to organizations as property or equipment losses). Sometimes a hazard is referred to as being the actual harm or the health effect it caused rather than the hazard. For example, the disease tuberculosis (TB) might be called a hazard by some but in general the TB-causing bacteria would be considered the "hazard" or "hazardous biological agent".

What are examples of a hazard?
Workplace hazards can come from a wide range of sources. General examples include any substance, material, process, practice, etc that has the ability to cause harm or adverse health effect to a person under certain conditions. See Table 1. Table 1 Examples of Hazards and Their Effects Workplace Hazard Thing Substance Material Source of Energy Condition Process Practice Example of Hazard Knife Benzene Asbestos Electricity Wet floor Welding Hard rock mining Example of Harm Caused Cut Leukemia Mesothelioma Shock, electrocution Slips, falls Metal fume fever Silicosis

As shown in Table 1, workplace hazards also include practices or conditions that release uncontrolled energy like:



an object that could fall from a height (potential or gravitational energy),

• •

a run-away chemical reaction (chemical energy), the release of compressed gas or steam (pressure; high temperature), • entanglement of hair or clothing in rotating equipment (kinetic energy), or • contact with electrodes of a battery or capacitor (electrical energy).

What is risk?
Risk is the chance or probability that a person will be harmed or experience an adverse healtheffect if exposed to a hazard. It may also apply to situations with property or equipment loss. For example: The risk of developing cancer from smoking cigarettes could be expressed as "cigarette smokers are 12 times (for example) more likely to die of lung cancer than nonsmokers". Another way of reporting risk is "a certain number ,"Y", of smokers per 100,000 smokers will likely develop lung cancer" (depending on their age and how many years they have been smoking). These risks are expressed as a probability or likelihood of developing a disease or getting injured, whereas hazards refer to the possible consequences (e.g., lung cancer, emphysema and heart disease from cigarette smoking). Factors that influence the degree of risk include:

• •

how much a person is exposed to a hazardous thing or condition, how the person is exposed (e.g., breathing in a vapour, skin contact), and • how severe are the effects under the conditions of exposure.

Risk and hazard
Risk and hazard
Introduction Risk and hazard are terms commonly used to describe aspects of the potential for harm from environmental and other agents. The meaning of these terms in epidemiological usage is somewhat different from their meaning in common parlance, and indeed different from their usage in disciplines concerned with risk management. In this section, the epidemiological definitions are presented which consider risk as a probability (without reference to the potential size of the adverse health impact), and hazard as simply an agent with potential to cause harm. The distinction with risk management terminology is explained, as well as other terms relating to exposures and measures of disease occurrence. Yet another variant of the definition of hazard is given in section 8 (health and safety).

Hazards and Risks
In this element you will learn about your responsibilities in relation to potential hazards in the salon and how you should deal with them. In some cases you will be able to deal with a hazard yourself, but in others you may need to ask the advice of a more qualified member of staff. In these instances you need to know ‘who’ to approach. You will also need to know your responsibilities for implementing the health and safety policies used in your salon – if you do not know what they are, how can you make sure you stick to them? It may be helpful to give you the definition of a hazard and a risk: Hazard = A hazard is something with potential to cause harm (something which may cause harm). Risk = A risk is the likelihood of the hazard’s potential being realised (the risk of the hazard actually happening). Almost everything may be a hazard, but it may or may not become a risk. For example, a trailing lead from a hairdryer is a hazard. If it is trailing across the passageway of a client, it has a high risk of someone tripping over it: if it is safely out of the path of the client, the risk is much less. Hairdressing products, such as hydrogen peroxide, stored in the salon are hazards and because they are toxic and flammable may present a high risk. However, if they are kept in a properly designed secure storage area and handled by trained stylists, the risk is much less than if they are left out in a busy workshop for anyone to use – or misuse. What you will learn • Responsibilities – who does what • Policies in your workplace •

Identifying risks • Reporting and dealing with hazards content provide by Heinemann

Hazard

Risks

Safety measures/ actions

Rating

Manual handling of hand tools Teach and remind volunteers of correct - knives, secateurs, loppers, Back injury lifting and carrying techniques. Rotate crowbars, weed bags, Repetitive strain tasks. mattocks, peter levers etc Lifting heavy objects incorrectly Back injury Teach and remind volunteers of correct Repetitive strain lifting technique. Rotate tasks.

Repetitive movements, Back/ limb injury Teach and remind volunteers of correct bending and awkward working Repetitive strain posture. Rotate tasks. positions Warn volunteers and remove trip hazards before commencing work. Do not leave tools on path ways. Watch where one walks, and go slowly. Mark tools with fluorescent colour. Do not work on unstable terrain. Work away from cliff edges. Wear sunglasses. Provide goggles. Wear gloves. Remove sharps from site when found and use correct sharps handling procedures. Provide insect repellent. Work away from nests. Identify people with allergies. First Aid training and procedures. Identify allergic volunteers. First Aid procedures. Have a mobile phone on-site. Wear gloves when working. Wear impervious gloves in wet weather. Wash hands when finished work. Wear dust masks when shovelling mulch. Provide sunscreen and water. Request that volunteers wear hats, sunglasses and long sleeves. Work in shade or for less time when hot. Take regular breaks.

Trip hazards

Injury

Slippery/ unstable terrain Steep terrain/ cliffs Sharp edges on twigs and branches Sharp objects and rubbish: syringes, broken glass and rusty metal Insect bites and stings Bites from snakes and injured wildlife Allergic reactions to native plants and weeds Bacteria and pathogens in mulch and soil

Slips, falls Slips, falls Eye, face injuries and scratches Cuts and punctures to skin Bites, stings, allergic reaction Bites Allergic reactions

Inhalation

UV radiation / hot weather

Sunburn, dehydration, sunstroke

Windy / wet weather Use of chemicals, herbicide

Do not work under trees when windy. Falling branches Send volunteer home if they are cold and Cold wet. Contact with skin, eyes Provide gloves. Teach correct use and storage. Wash hands after use. If contact occurs, wash skin immediately. One person is responsible for clear labelling and storage.

Working on or near roadsides

Hits from motor vehicles

Wear safety vest. Work when traffic is most quiet.

Other measures

Display the Poisons Information hotline. Display location and phone number of nearest doctor and hospital. Provide a First Aid Kit and sharps container at all volunteer work sessions. Provide all volunteers with written information sheet of potential hazards and risk measures.

Sponsor Documents

Or use your account on DocShare.tips

Hide

Forgot your password?

Or register your new account on DocShare.tips

Hide

Lost your password? Please enter your email address. You will receive a link to create a new password.

Back to log-in

Close