OSHA identifies the 6 most common hazards in the workplace as follows:
SIX MAJOR TYPES OF WORKPLACE HAZARDS
These are some of the most common causes of accidents and are present in almost all workplaces and not just clinical laboratories at one time or another. The individual hazards can cause illness, injuries, and even death at times. Here’s a closer look at each of the main types of workplace hazards.
1. SAFETY HAZARDS
This includes:
Accidental biological or chemical spills on workplace floors
Tripping hazards like cords and extension cables running across the floor or blocked corridors
Working from heights such as roofs, ladders, or any other raised work area
Mechanical hazards such as moving parts of machines that aren’t covered which workers can touch accidentally
Other mechanical-related hazards include improper operation of devices, boiler safety, bad storage of materials, bad organization of furniture and devices, etc...
Security hazards like unguarded machinery, while in operation
Electrical hazards such as improper wiring, short circuits, overloads, missing ground pins, frayed cords
Confined spaces
2. BIOLOGICAL HAZARDS
These are any hazards that you experience while working with people, animals, infectious plants, or other microorganisms. Usually, people who work in care facilities, nursing homes, primary health care centers, hospitals, medical laboratories, schools, colleges, universities, outdoor occupations, and emergency response come in contact with biological hazards.
The common types of biological hazards include exposure to:
Fungi/mold
Animal and bird droppings
Insect bits
Bacteria and viruses
Harmful plant secretions
Blood and other bodily fluids
3. PHYSICAL HAZARDS
These are environmental factors that can harm people. The individual need not touch the physical hazard to be affected by it; just by being in the vicinity, you are exposed to the physical hazard. Some of the main types include:
High exposure to ultraviolet/sunlight rays
Extreme temperatures both hot and cold
Radiation – this can be divided into two main types: 1) Ionizing, and 2) Non-ionizing like microwaves, EMFs, radio waves, etc...
Constant loud noise
4. ERGONOMICS HAZARDS
These hazards occur when the nature of the work, work body positions, and other working conditions cause physical strain (and sometimes even mental strain) to your body. Ergonomics hazards are the most difficult hazards to prevent; because they are difficult to spot in the initial stages. Usually, these hazards are noted only after it has caused harm to the body.
Short-term exposure to ergonomic hazards generally causes sore muscles that become normal after a couple of days. However, the long-term exposure is quite serious and could even lead to long-term illnesses.
Some of the main types of ergonomics hazards include:
Improperly positioned workplace tables and chairs (usually the height doesn’t suit the occupant causing him/her to strain his/her muscles)
Repetitive movements
Using too much force for a particular task can become problematic especially if it’s repetitive
Frequent lifting of heavy objects
5. CHEMICAL HAZARDS
These hazards happen when an employee is exposed to any harmful chemicals (gas, liquid, or solids) at the workplace. While not all chemicals are harmful to all, chemical hazards pose greater damage to people who are allergic and sensitive. Some of the common results of chemical hazards include breathing difficulties, skin irritation, eye dryness, and other severe illnesses.
Here are a few chemicals that have to be handled with extreme caution. Beware of these:
Workplace Liquids like paints, cleaning products, solvents, acids – especially if they’re stored in unmarked containers
Fumes and vapors from solvents and welding
Flammable materials like explosive chemicals, solvents, petrol and diesel
Gases like helium, carbon monoxide, propane, acetylene
6. PSYCHOLOGICAL OR ORGANIZATION HAZARDS
More than hazards, these are stressors that trigger stress and panic in workers. It could have both short-term effects as well as long-term effects. These are hazards that are generally caused almost due to lack of organization in the workplace.
Some common examples of workplace hazards include:
Heavy workload
Workplace violence
Respect or lack of it
No control over words or actions in the workplace happenings
Lack of social support and community at the workplace
No place for flexibility
Sexual harassment
To learn more about workplace hazards and how to prevent them, you can visit the following links:
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) website: https://www.osha.gov/
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) website: https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/
Health and Safety Executive (HSE) website: https://www.hse.gov.uk/
If you have a specific question about workplace hazards related to a certain code or regulation, please provide more details so I can assist you further.