Physical Hazard
My workplace has a physical hazard known as a danger, which can include the risk of falling due to a loss of balance, such as tripping or slipping, walking on slick surfaces or damp floors, and the risk of falling from great heights, such as stairs without guardrails (StaySafe, 2022). There is also a risk of collision and falling merchandise when moving around the workshop (IPSCSD, n.d.). Electrical hazards are another type of hazard that I would like to mention. There is a danger of electric shock from immediate contact with live parts, which can occur when touching live components with unprotected body parts, as well as from contact with energized live parts resulting from a malfunctioning situation (indirect contact) (Government of Canada, 2023).
Chemical Hazard
There is also a chemical hazard in my workplace. This includes the danger of coming into contact with highly hazardous compounds, the risk of inhaling vapors of toxic liquids, gases, dust particles, mists, and fumes, and the risk of substances that may contribute to fire and explosion due to their interaction with alkalis and acids (HSE, n.d.). There is also a danger of poisonous vapor generation when heated, as well as a risk of skin exposure to lubricants, cleaning, and degreasing solutions.
Biological Hazard
It is essential to note that biohazards, including the risk of contracting COVID-19, can occur in the workplace. This is because people in the same room interact and potentially infect one another. When a person infected with COVID-19 coughs or exhales, little droplets of saliva carrying virus particles are released. The majority of these droplets land on neighboring surfaces and items, such as desks, dining tables, and phones. A person may become infected with COVID-19 by touching particular surfaces or substances and then touching their mouth, nose, or eyes. If a person is less than one meter away from a COVID-19-infected person, the person can become infected by inhaling saliva droplets emitted when the infected person coughs or exhales.
The Most Dangerous Hazard
The most difficult danger linked with my job is biological in nature. In fact, the risk of transmission is greatest in confined places. Research published in Japan in the spring of 2020, examining 110 COVID-19 cases and their transmission routes, found that the initial patient was 18.7 times more likely to have transmitted the virus indoors than outdoors (Majra et al., 2021). This danger is highly challenging to manage due to the difficulty of wearing masks all day at work. Important factors, such as whether the room is well-ventilated, are crucial. To increase risk management, I advocate for stronger sanitary standards and more thorough cleaning of common goods.
Addressing Workplace Hazards
Thus, in my workplace, many risks can endanger health or even life. Some of them may be related to non-compliance with safety standards, which makes it possible to avoid these hazards through stricter regulation of this issue. Through the measures that organizations take, employees can work more safely. However, reducing biological risk at this stage should be the focus, as managing this hazard can be quite challenging. Workplace hazards are a crucial topic that employers must address and regulate.
References
Majra, D., Benson, J., Pitts, J., & Stebbing, J. (2021). SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) superspreader events. Journal of Infection, 82(1), 36-40.
Irish Point of Single Contact for the Services Directive. (n.d.). Health and Safety.
HSE. (n.d.). COSHH basics.
StaySafe. (2022). Workplace hazards: Types of hazard: StaySafe App.
Government of Canada (2023). Electrical Safety – Basic Information.