Types of hazards

Some items are hazardous by nature, while others only become hazardous if used inappropriately or carelessly. Often, accidents don’t just happen – they are a result of workers neglecting or ignoring hazardous situations. There are two basic categories of hazard: Acute hazard Acute hazards are those that have an obvious and immediate impact. Chronic hazard Chronic hazards have a more hidden, cumulative, long-term impact. An example of an acute hazard is a slippery floor where there is an immediate danger of someone slipping and being injured. A chronic hazard could be workplace bullying, where the long-term impact may result in stress or other psychological injury. Hazards generally fall into one of six groups: Physical – Slippery floors, objects in walkways, unsafe or misused machinery, excessive noise, poor lighting, fire. Chemical – Gases, dusts, fumes, vapours and liquids. Ergonomic – poor design of equipment, workstation design, (postural) or workflow, manual handling, repetitive movement. Radiation – Microwaves, infra-red, ultraviolet, lasers, X-rays and gamma rays. Psychological – Shiftwork, workload, dealing with the public, harassment, discrimination, threat of danger, constant low-level noise, stress.