Module 2: Health Hazards

Occupational Health Hazards

- refers to any agent or activity in the workplace posing a potential hazard to the
health of workers. Some examples of these are organism, chemical, condition or
circumstances that may cause illness to workers.
Classification of health hazards
- biological
- chemical
- physical
- ergonomic
- psychosocial
Biological Hazards
- biological substances that pose threat to the health of workers
- also called biohazards
Types of Biological Hazards
- bacteria
- fungi
- virus
- protozoa
- macro organism
Health Effects
- skin irritation
- allergies
- infections
- cancer
- infectious respiratory disease
Occupational Exposure
- agricultural work
- health care and hospital work
- research laboratories
 - building maintenance
- sewage and compost facilities
- industrial waste disposal
- poor sanitation
- handling of pathological waste
- poor personal hygiene
Control Measures
Engineering Controls
- improvement of ventilation
- isolation of contamination source
- installation of negative pressure
- separate ventilation and air conditioning system
- use of ultra violet lamps
- installing physical barriers
Administrative Controls
- adhere strictly to the practice of personal hygiene
- training
- disinfection practices
- physical distancing
- coughing and sneezing etiquette
- housekeeping practices
- hygiene facilities
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
- masks
- face shields
- eye shields
- protective clothing
- gloves
Chemical Hazards
- arise from excessive airborne concentration of
- vapors
- mists
- fumes
- gases
- dusts and particulates
Vapors
- are gases formed when liquids evaporates
- are associated with solvents, adhesives and alcohols
Some Examples are:
- hydrocarbons
- ketones
- esters
- ether
- alcohols
Occupational Exposure
- degreasing of metals
- printing
- dry cleaning
- painting
- laboratory works
Mists
- are dispersion of liquid particulates suspended in the air
- are associated with acids, chlorine, formaldehyde, phenols
Some Examples are;
- hydrochloric acids
- sulfuric acids
- nitric acids
- phosphoric acids
Occupational Exposure
 - inhalation
- ingestion
- dermal contact
Fumes
- are volatilized solids that condense upon contact with air where very
small solid particles are created when hot vapor reacts with air to form an
oxide.
- are associated with molten metals.
Some Examples are:
- lead
- tin
- chromium
- zinc
- iron
Occupational Exposure
- soldering
- welding
- hotworks
- mining
- working with asphalt
Gases
- are substances in the gaseous state at room temperature and pressure,
usually do not have warning odors at dangerous concentration.
Occupational Exposure
- incomplete combustion
- waste water treatment plant
- refrigeration and fertilizer plants
Dusts and Particulates
- are suspended solid particles in the air.
- are classified into
 - total dust
- respirable dust

Occupational Exposure
- silica dusts
- metal dusts
- asbestos dusts
- wood dusts

Health Effects
- Immediate health effects
- skin irritation
- burns
- eye irritation
- poisoning
- Longer terms effects
- organ damage
- cancer
- weakening of immune system
- developing allergies or asthma
- reproductive problems and birth defects
- mental and physical development of children
Control Measures
- maintain indoor air quality
- store chemicals in proper and secure place
- read and follow all directions when using chemical products
- be guided by the Safety Data Sheets (SDS)
- be guided by the labels through Generally Harmonized System (GHS)
Safety Data Sheets (SDS)
- is a summary of the important health, safety and toxicological
information on the chemical or the mixture ingredients.
- is composed of 16 sections
1. Identification of the chemicals
2. Composition/ Information on Ingredients
3. Hazards Identification
4. First-aid measures
5. Fire-fighting measures
6. Accidental Release measures
7. Handling and Storage
8. Personal Protection
9. Physical and Chemical Properties
10. Stability and Reactivity
11. Toxicological Information
12. Ecological Information
13. Disposal Considerations
14. Transport Information
15. Regulatory Information
16. Other Information
Globally Harmonized System (GHS)
- is a comprehensive classification and labelling of chemicals.
- an international standard for
- classifying chemicals and communicating its hazards
- establishing a comprehensive national chemical safety
program
- defining and classifying hazards and communicating
information on labels and
- safety data sheets
- Hazard pictograms
- are used for labelling of containers and transporting of
dangerous goods.
- has two key elements
- Hazard Classification
- Physical hazards
 - Health hazards
- environmental hazards
- Hazard communication
- product identifier
- signal word
- hazard statement
- precautionary statement
- supplier information
- pictogram
- Benefits of GHS
- Enhance the protection of humans and environment
- Facilitate international trade in chemicals
- Reduce the need for testing and evaluation of chemicals
- Assist countries and international organizations to ensure
the sound management of chemicals

Physical Hazards
- are agents, factors or circumstances that can cause harm with or without
contact.
Types of Physical Hazards
- noise
- vibration
- illumination
- extreme pressure
- extreme temperature
- radiation

Noise
- is an unwanted, excessive sound.
- is a form of energy measured in decibel (dBA)

Recommended limits of noise levels for the number of hours

exposed
Number of Hours Exposed Sound Level dBA
8 85 – 90
6 92
4 95
3 97
2 100
1.5 102
1 105
0.5 110

Occupational Exposure
- is a common hazard and is present in almost all workplaces
like manufacturing, ship building, food and drink
manufacturing, mining and quarrying, metal working,
 woodworking, construction, etc.

Health Effects
- tinnitus
- noise-induced hearing loss
- effect on pregnancy
- physiological effects
- occupational stress

Control Measures
Engineering controls
- use of low-noise tools and machinery
- maintenance and lubrication
- installation of barriers between the noise source and
employee
- enclosure of the noise source
Administrative controls
- operating noisy machines during shifts when fewer
workers are exposed
- reducing the amount of time a worker spends at a
noise source
- providing quiet areas where workers can gain relief
from hazardous noise source
- restricting worker presence to a suitable distance
away from noisy equipment
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
- use of hearing protection devices such as earmuffs
and plugs

Vibration
- is a physical factor that transmits mechanical energy from the
sources of oscillation
- is expressed as the frequency-weighted vibration exposure in m/s2
- is measured using an instrument called accelerometer

Types of Vibration
- whole body vibration
- segmental body vibration

Occupational Exposure
- use of power hand tools
- driving vehicles
- driving earth moving equipment

Health Effects
- risk of musculoskeletal pain in the back, neck, shoulders and
hips
- contribute to peripheral and cardiovascular disorders
 - gastrointestinal problems
- bone damage
- motion sickness
- hand-arm vibration syndrome

Control Measures
Engineering Controls
- mechanically isolate the vibrating source
- install vibration damping seats
- purchasing new tools that vibrate less

Administrative Controls
- limiting the amount of time a worker to perform the
task
- job rotation
- frequent breaks
- good maintenance of the tools and equipment

Illumination
- is a measure of stream of light falling on surface.
- is expressed in lux or foot candle
- is measured using an instrument called lux meter

Types of workspace lighting

- general lighting
- local lighting

Recommended Illumination Levels

Type of Activity Ranges of Illuminations (Lux)
- public spaces with dark surroundings 10 – 20
- simple orientation for short temporary visits 50 – 100
- working spaces where visuals tasks are 100 – 200
ocassionally performed
- performance of visual tasks of high contrast 200 – 500
or large scale
- performance of visual tasks of medium contrast 500 – 1000
or small size
- performance of visual tasks of low contrast 1000 – 2000
or very small size
- performance of visual tasks of low contrast 2000 – 5000
or very small size over a prolonged period
- performance of very prolonged and 5000 – 10000
exacting visual tasks

Occupational Exposure
- insufficient light
- glare
 - improper contrast
- poorly distributed light
- flicker

Health Effects
- eye fatigue
- headache
- momentary blindness

Control Measures
- Engineering Controls
- installation of more sources of light
- redesign of work area
- painting of walls and ceilings with light colors
- Administrative Controls
- job rotation
- repositioning of workstations
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
- eye glasses

Extreme Temperature
- refers to too hot or too cold temperature in worksites affecting the
condition of workers in terms of comfort and productivity.
- can lead to serious illness and increased accidents among the
workers.

Occupational Exposure
- workers in foundries, boiler rooms, engine rooms, steelworks
- hot and poorly-ventilated buildings
- working in vehicles that are exposed to extreme heat

Health Effects
- heat cramps
- heat exhaustion
- heat stroke
- skin rashes
- reduced concentration
- aggravation of other medical conditions and illnesses

Control Measures
Engineering Controls
- heaters, air conditioning, air circulating fans, ventilation
- insulating or shielding sources of heat in the workplace
- reducing heat gain via windows by reflective film or
blinds
- ducting hot exhausts outside the workplace
- mechanizing some of the task
- providing air-conditioned vehicles
 Administrative Controls
- sign posting heat stress/cold stress areas
- acclimatization process
- modifying hours of work
- rest breaks

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

- appropriate clothing

Extreme Pressure
- is pressure exerted by the weight of the atmosphere.

Occupational Exposure
- working in confined spaces
- working in high altitudes
- working below sea level

Health Effects
- increased muscular fatigue
- deterioration of mental function
- hypoxia
- hypoxemia

Control Measures
Engineering Controls
- use of ventilator

Administrative Controls
- acclimatization
- intermittent exposure

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

- breathing apparatus

Radiation
- is the transmission of energy as waves or particles.

Types of Radiation
- ionizing
- non-ionizing

Occupational Exposure
- nuclear power plants and their support facilities
- nuclear weapons production facilities
- industrial and manufacturing operations
- research laboratories
 - medical and dental offices

Health Effects
- temporary or permanent sterility
- cataracts
- detectable lens opacities
- skin reddening
- cancer
- genetic effects

Control Measures
Engineering Controls
- shielding
- interlock systems

Administrative Controls
- signage
- warning systems
- written operating procedures

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

- lead apron/vests
- lead thyroid collar
- lead-lined gloves
- safety googles

Ergonomic Hazards
- are physical factors that can result in musculoskeletal injuries.

Some examples
- poor workstation set-up/design
- poor posture and manual handling
- repetitive and awkward movement
- poor body positioning

Occupational Exposure
- awkward postures
- contact stress
- force
- repetition
- static postures
- vibration

Health Effects
- musculoskeletal injuries, examples are damage to muscles, tendons,
bones, joints, ligaments, nerves and blood vessels.
 Control Measures
Engineering Controls
- redesign workstations and work areas to eliminate reaching, bending
or other awkward postures
- provide adjustable tables and chairs that can be used by workers
with a range of sizes and shapes, that allow natural postures
- provide carts for transporting material and mechanical hoist to
eliminate lifting
- use tools that fit the hand, have no sharp edges and eliminate
awkward hand and wrist position

Administrative Controls
- rotate workers among different tasks
- improve work scheduling to minimize excessive overtime
- increase staffing to reduce individual workloads
- provide sufficient breaks to reduce fatigue
- assign more staff to lift heavy objects
- encourage proper body mechanics and use of safe lifting techniques
- provide workers with training on
- safe working postures
- lifting techniques
- ergonomic policies and procedures
- safe use of lifting and carrying devices

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

- knee pads
- shoulder pads
- gloves

Psychosocial Hazards
- are hazards that can have an adverse effect on an employee’s mental health or
wellbeing.

Health Effects
- depression
- anxiety disorders
- schizophrenia
- eating/sleep disorder
- addictive behaviors

Occupational Exposure
- workplace violence and harassment
- working alone
- technological change
- fatigue and hours of work
- personal factors
 - substance abuse
- age-related factors
- work-life conflict

Violence or Abuse
Engineering Controls
- controlled access
- work area design
- video surveillance
- lighting
- alarm systems
- panic buttons

Administrative Controls
- management policies and procedures
- workers trainings
- escorts to and from parking lots/bus stations
- liaison with police
- nametags

Personal Controls
- assertiveness training
- mediation
- counselling services
- ability to request support

Working Alone
- that relate to assaults, threatening actions or medical conditions that
may impact obtaining prompt assistance.

Engineering Controls
- restricted access
- workplace design
- communication devices
- lighting
- surveillance cameras

Administrative Controls
- scheduling to avoid lone worker
- workers training
- working alone policy and procedures
- adequate security

Personal Controls
- compliance with all established communication protocols

Technostress
- stress related to the introduction of new technology or the
 expectations surrounding the use of technology.

Engineering Controls
- instrument and equipment or software design with user-
friendly features

Administrative Controls
- sufficient training
- worker participation
- problem solving resources
- back-up plans in the event of failure
- change management
- realistic expectations and priorities

Personal Controls
- self-education
- time management
- open communication
- healthy lifestyles
- limit multi-tasking
- technology “time-outs”

Impacts of Aging
- are hazards related to impacts of aging on workers, such as
decreased physical strength, effects of medication, impacts on
mental processes, etc.

Administrative Controls
- management policies to prevent any age discrimination
- policies to accommodate aging workers
- training
- intergenerational communication training
- mentoring program
- flexible work arrangement
- job redesign

Personal Controls
- healthy lifestyles
- adequate sleep
- awareness of medication side effects

Shiftwork and hours of work

- are hazards related to working extended hours or working varied
shifts

Engineering Controls
- work environment design
- lighting
 - appropriate thermal environment
- secure work environment

Administrative Controls
- management policies for shift design and working hours
- limiting overtime
- training in fatigue and shift work issues
- appropriate breaks

Personal Controls
- sleep schedule and environment
- diet to accommodate shift schedule
- healthy lifestyles
- exercise
- safe commuting plan
- alertness strategies used
- taking breaks

Work-life Conflict
- stress related to trying to balance the demands of work and home
life

Administrative Controls
- policies supporting good work-life balance
- voluntary reduced hours
- phased in retirement
- telecommuting
- job sharing
- dependent care initiatives, etc.

Personal Controls
- separate work from home activities
- protect time off
- develop good social support networks
- good sleep habits