PHYSICAL HAZARD

 Physical hazards are substances or activities that threaten your physical safety. They are the
most common and are present in most workplaces at one time or another. These include unsafe
conditions that can cause injury, illness and death.
 Energy can enter our body through our skin (heat, cold, vibration, radiation, electric shock),
through our ears (noise, music, shouting), or through our eyes (light, lasers, sunlight). Exposure
to the physical hazards mentioned can cause pain and injury. If it occurs day after day, we may
develop a disease and possibly a disability.

LIGHTING
 Proper lighting is important because it makes all tasks easier. When lighting levels are low, too
high, or inconsistent (shadowy), our ability to complete tasks safely is compromised. This is
because our eyes get tired and/or sore, which can lead to headaches and work mistakes.
Furthermore, improper lighting can make it difficult to make appropriate judgements regarding
footing, placement of materials, and timing when moving materials, tools, or equipment is being
used.

Common health effects associated with poor lighting include:

 Headache and eyestrain
 Neck, back, and shoulder strain (when straining to see items because of poor lighting)
 Falling, tripping, slipping
 Dropping materials or tools

PREVENTION
 Lighting levels should be suitable and should match the workplace and the work tasks being
performed. Proper lighting can enhance task performance, improve the appearance of an area, or
have positive psychological effects on occupants.

RADIATION
 Radiation is energy spreading out from a source. Radiation does not need a medium to travel.
Excessive exposure to UV radiation is associated with skin cancer, sunburn, accelerated skin
aging, and eye disease.

Radiation is divided into two categories:

1. Ionizing radiation
2. Non-ionizing radiation

Ionizing Radiation
Ionizing radiation is given off by x-ray machines and radioactive materials. Some amount of background
ionizing radiation is present everywhere. It comes from the earth and outer space.

Non-ionizing Radiation
Radiation from sun, light bulbs, electric power lines, radio and TV antenna, lasers etc.

Exposure is minimized by:

 limiting the exposure time and avoiding all unnecessary exposure,
 using a shielding such as lead sheets to stop radiation before it reaches a person,
 staying as far away as possible from a source, and
 avoiding contamination of the hands and body by radioactive material.
 stopping radiation before it reaches people (e.g. sunglasses and barrier creams for protection
against UV rays).

TEMPERATURE

TWO TYPES OF TEMPERATURE

 1. HOT ENVIRONMENT
2. COLD ENVIRONMENT

HOT ENVIRONMENT
- In a very hot environment, the most serious health and safety concern is heat stroke. Heat stroke
can be fatal if medical attention is not available immediately. Heat exhaustion and fainting
(syncope) are also types of heat related illnesses which are not fatal but can interfere with a
person's ability to work.

Certain steps can be taken to reduce discomfort. These include:

 using fans or air conditioning
 wearing light, loose-fitting clothing
 taking more frequent rest breaks
 drinking cold beverages
 using screens or umbrellas to create shade.

COLD ENVIRONMENT
- At very cold temperatures, the most serious concern is the risk of hypothermia or dangerous
overcooling of the body. Another serious effect of cold exposure is frostbite or freezing of the
exposed extremities such as fingers, toes, nose, and ears. Hypothermia could be fatal in absence
of immediate medical attention.

Certain steps can be taken to reduce discomfort. These include:

 Dress in layers of warm clothing
 Cover all exposed skin.
 Wear a hat, mittens or insulated gloves, a scarf, neck tube or face mask, and insulated,
waterproof footwear.
 Keep active.
 When very cold, consider cancelling outdoor activities.

VIBRATION
- Vibration has long been recognized as a serious occupational hazard. Continuously repeated
exposure to high levels of vibration results in injuries or illnesses.

Vibration exposure is classified into two general types:

1. hand-arm vibration
2. whole-body vibration

Hand-arm vibration
- Hand-arm vibration causes direct injury to the fingers and hand and affects feeling, dexterity, and
grip of the hand. Hand-arm vibration injury associated with use of appliances or equipment with
vibration such as grinders, impact drills, chipping hammers, pavement breakers, dental tools,
sanders, air-powered wrenches, and saws of all types.

Whole body vibration

- Whole-body vibration is one of the most common causes of lost time and production output and
causes low back pain and injury and due to higher-than-expected levels of vibration. Whole-body
vibration injuries associated with off-road vehicles in industries such as agriculture, forestry,
mining, quarrying and with small-fast boats used off-shore.

PREVENTION
Prevention measures include:
 using tools with a lower vibration level,
 minimizing time of use or time riding on vibrating equipment,
 keeping hands warm, and
  using anti-vibration gloves - they also help to keep hands warm.

ELECTRICAL
 Electricity poses a danger to many workers. Electrical injuries can be divided into four types: fatal
electrocution, electric shock, burns, and falls caused by contact with electric energy. Electrocution
is one of the major hazards on construction sites. Faulty electrical connections and damaged
electrical equipment can lead to an electric shock to workers and to others at or near the
workplace.

PREVENTION
Electrical injuries are preventable through safe work practices like:
 keeping electrical tools properly maintained
 de-energizing electrical appliances before inspection or repair
 exercising caution when working near energized lines
 Personal protective equipment such as hard hats, hoods, sleeves, rubber or insulating gloves and
insulating clothing can be useful to reduce any electrical accidents.

FIRE
 When fire strikes, the potential for damage to people and property is tremendously high. Wildfires
have many acute and chronic effects on human health. They can cause respiratory and
cardiovascular symptoms, burns, trauma, mental health effects, reproductive and immunological
disorders, and a wide array of outcomes associated with social and financial disruption.

PREVENTION
Key things that will help prevent potential fire safety hazards in the workplace:
 Keep your buildings clean & tidy – both public areas and behind the scene
 Dispose of waste correctly and regularly – especially flammable materials
 Store chemicals safely – and clean up spillages straight away
 Keep fire doors closed – and ensure all fire exits are clear
 Check electrical equipment and machinery often – and replace faulty items
 Carry out a regular fire risk assessment – A fire risk assessment is a detailed, step-by-step
process whereby your building and on-site activities are reviewed in order to determine where
risks are with regards to fire hazards. Where fire risks are identified, actions should be planned to
help reduce incidents from occurring in the future.
 Inspect your extinguishers, signage, alarms etc.

NOISE
 Noise is present everywhere. Loss of hearing ability is the main health concern related to noise
exposure. The harm caused by noise depends on the level of noise and the duration of exposure.
In offices, noise control is to prevent stress.

PREVENTION
 In order to prevent hearing loss, throughout your life you must reduce time spent in noisy
environments and use hearing protection with an adequate NRR for the noise exposure
encountered. (such as ear plugs or ear muffs)

AIR QUALITY
- An indoor air pollution problem exists when a limited amount of fresh air is circulated throughout
the office work environment (tight building syndrome), air is circulated at too fast a rate within the
workplace, toxic substances are present in the office environment, or outside air circulated into
the workplace is polluted.

There are several variables that contribute to indoor air pollution:

 Chemicals used in cleaners
  Carbon monoxide - given off by cigarette smoke and outside traffic
 Radiation from building insulation
 Ozone from copiers
 Micro-organisms or bacteria

- Physical symptoms such as headaches, sinus discomfort, upper respiratory congestion, and eye
irritation are the result of contaminated air. Also, in some cases, indoor air pollution may cause
serious infections like Legionnaires' Disease, a type of pneumonia.

PREVENTION
 Conduct a walk-through inspection
 Examine the complaints to see if there is a pattern
 Inspect the ventilation system to make sure it is operating properly (e.g., the right mix of fresh air,
proper distribution, filtration systems are working, etc.).
 Look for possible causes
 Consider help or air testing by a qualified professional

REFERENCE:
https://www.ccohs.ca/teach_tools/phys_hazards/phys_hazards.html