🚫Six types of workplace hazard Understanding workplace risk...‼️☑️

 🚫Six types of workplace hazard

Understanding workplace risk...‼️☑️

Workplace hazards are usually grouped into six major types. Knowing these categories helps supervisors and workers identify risks quickly and apply the right controls.

✅1. Safety (Accident) Hazards

These are conditions that can cause immediate injury.

Examples: Unguarded machines, moving parts, sharp edges, working at height, slips, trips, falls, poor housekeeping, vehicles like forklifts and cranes in congested areas.

✅2. Physical Hazards

Hazards from energy or environmental conditions, even without contact.

Examples: Excessive noise, vibration, extreme heat or cold, radiation, high-intensity light (arc flash, welding), high-pressure systems.

✅3. Chemical Hazards

Exposure to harmful substances in solid, liquid, or gas form.

Examples: Acids, solvents, paints, fumes, welding gases, silica dust, cleaning chemicals, vapours that can irritate, corrode, or poison the body.

✅4. Biological Hazards

Living organisms or their products that can cause disease.

Examples: Bacteria, viruses, fungi, blood and body fluids, contaminated water or food, insect or animal exposure (common in healthcare, waste handling, food and agriculture).

✅5. Ergonomic Hazards

Risks that arise from poor design of workstations, tools, or tasks, leading to strain and musculoskeletal disorders.

Examples: Repetitive tasks, awkward postures, heavy manual handling, poorly designed seating, prolonged standing or computer work without breaks.

✅6. Psychosocial (Organisational) Hazards

Factors that affect mental health, well-being, and stress

levels.

Examples: Excessive workload, long hours, shift work, job insecurity, bullying, harassment, lack of support from supervisors, poor communication.

These six hazard types often exist together in the same workplace, so a good risk assessment should look at all of them, not only visible physical dangers.

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