Are you aware of the types of workplace hazards?

Hazards exist in every workplace, but how do you know which ones have the most potential to harm workers?
By identifying hazards at your workplace, you will be better prepared to control or eliminate them and prevent
accidents, injuries, property damage, and downtime.

Safety Hazards:

Safety Hazards are unsafe working conditions that that can cause injury, illness, and death. Safety hazards are
the most common workplace hazards.

They include:

 Anything that can cause spills or trips such as cords running across the floor or ice
 Anything that can cause falls such as working from heights, including ladders, scaffolds, roofs, or any raised work
area
 Unguarded machinery and moving machinery parts that a worker can accidentally touch
 Electrical hazards like frayed cords, missing ground pins, improper wiring
 Confined spaces.

Biological Hazards:

Biological Hazards include exposure to harm or disease associated with working with animals, people, or
infectious plant materials. Workplaces with these kinds of hazards include, but are not limited to, work in
schools, day care facilities, colleges and universities, hospitals, laboratories, emergency response, nursing
homes, or various outdoor occupations.

Types of things you may be exposed to include:

 Blood and other body fluids

 Fungi/mold
 Bacteria and viruses
 Plants
 Insect Bites
 Animal and bird droppings

Physical Hazards:

Physical hazards can be any factors within the environment that can harm the body without necessarily touching
it.

They include:

 Radiation: including ionizing, non-ionizing (EMF’s, microwaves, radio waves, etc.)

 High exposure to sunlight/ultraviolet rays
 Temperature extremes – hot and cold
 Constant loud noise

Ergonomic Hazards:
Ergonomics is the process of designing or arranging workplaces, products and systems so that they fit the people who
use them. ... Ergonomics aims to improve workspaces and environments to minimize risk of injury or harm.

Occur when the type of work, body positions, and working conditions put a strain on your body.  They are the
hardest to spot since you don’t always immediately notice the strain on your body or the harm that these hazards
pose.  Short-term exposure may result in “sore muscles” the next day or in the days following the exposure, but
long-term exposure can result in serious long-term illness.
Ergonomic Hazards include:

 Improperly adjusted workstations and chairs

 Frequent lifting
 Poor posture
 Awkward movements, especially if they are repetitive
 Having to use too much force, especially if you have to do it frequently
 Vibration

Chemical Hazards:

Are present when a worker is exposed to any chemical preparation in the workplace in any form (solid, liquid or
gas).  Some are safer than others, but to some workers who are more sensitive to chemicals, even common
solutions can cause illness, skin irritation, or breathing problems.

Beware of:

 Liquids like cleaning products, paints, acids, solvents – ESPECIALLY if chemicals are in an unlabeled container!
 Vapors and fumes that come from welding or exposure to solvents
 Gases like acetylene, propane, carbon monoxide and helium
 Flammable materials like gasoline, solvents, and explosive chemicals
 Pesticides

Workplace Safety Tips

General Precautions

-Your safety is your personal responsibility.

-Always follow the correct procedures.
-Never take shortcuts.
-Take responsibility and clean up if you made a mess.
-Clean and organize your workspace.
-Ensure a clear and easy route to emergency exits and equipment.
-Be alert and awake on the job.
-Be attentive at all times to your work surroundings.
-When in doubt, contact your supervisor or manager for instruction, guidance, or training.
-Never take risks when it comes to safety.
-Obey safety signs, stickers, and tags.
-Take short breaks when you keep up a repetitive motion for a long period of time, and sit, stand, or walk with
good posture.
-Report serious injuries immediately to a supervisor and get emergency assistance.
-Keep things in perspective. Hazards may be limitless, so focus on the most likely risks first.
-Strained backs and sliced fingers may be more popular in your workspace than would the risk of flooding (as in a
basement office) or the risk of wild animals cutting loose (as in a zoo).

Safety is a Team Effort

Educate everyone in the workplace about the safety requirements and consider posting a list of workplace safety
tips.

A workplace safety training will help them reduce or eliminate injuries and illnesses from occurring in the
workplace.

Always keep the communication lines open with your co-workers, employers, or employees in order to promote
and maintain a safe environment.

Immediately notify others of any (new or old) hazards that you perceive.
Be alert to hazards that could affect anyone— not just yourself; in this respect, maintain a team mentality at
all times.

Report a hazardous condition immediately to your manager or supervisor.

Be conscious as to what others are doing around you, and do your best to ensure you don’t pose a hazard to
them (and vice versa).

If you’re an employer, invite and involve your employees in safety planning; obtain their insight, give and take
suggestions, and ensure that everyone is on the same page.

Gearing Up for Safety

Always wear appropriate clothing and shoes respective to your job.

Fire extinguishers must be available and readily attainable.

First aid kits must be available and readily attainable.

Never remove or tamper with safety devices.

Wear gloves if you’re handling sharp objects or toxic substances.

Wear goggles if your work poses a hazard to your eyes.

Wear safety harnesses if you’re working from an elevated location and there’s the risk of falling.

Wear non-skid footgear:

If your workspace involves slippery surfaces (kitchens, spas, pools, etc.)

If you’re lifting heavy items

Wear a breathing mask at all times, especially if:

You deal with dangerous or toxic chemicals or fumes

Your workspace has poor ventilation
Your workspace has debris, dust, and other flying particles.

Wear the protective equipment that is intended and recommended for your particular task.

Seat belts
Safety glasses or goggles
Protective clothing, headgear, and/or footgear
Safety harnesses, etc.
Do's and Don'ts in Computer Laboratory

Do’s
1.Know the location of the fire extinguisher and the first aid box and how to use them in case of an emergency.
2.Read and understand how to carry out an activity thoroughly before coming to the laboratory.
3.Report fires or accidents to your lecturer/laboratory technician immediately.
4.Report any broken plugs or exposed electrical wires to your lecturer/laboratory technician immediately.

Don’ts
1.Do not eat or drink in the laboratory.
2.Avoid stepping on electrical wires or any other computer cables.
3.Do not open the system unit casing or monitor casing particularly when the power is turned on. Some internal
components hold electric voltages of up to 30000 volts, which can be fatal.
4.Do not insert metal objects such as clips, pins and needles into the computer casings. They may cause fire.
5.Do not remove anything from the computer laboratory without permission.
6.Do not touch, connect or disconnect any plug or cable without your lecturer/laboratory technician’s
permission.
7.Do not misbehave in the computer laboratory.

Computer Lab Safety Rules for Protecting Equipment

Do not bring any food or drinks near the machine.

Turn off the machine once you are done using it.

Do not plug in external devices without scanning them for computer viruses.

Ensure that the temperature in the room stays cool, since there are a lot of machines inside a lab as these can
overheat easily. This is one of the many ways of ensuring computer safety.

Try not to touch any of the circuit boards and power sockets when a device is connected to them and switched
on.

Always maintain an extra copy of all your important data files.

General Safety Guidelines to be followed at all times All users of the laboratory are to follow the directions of
Academic/Laboratory Technician staff member.

Food or drink is not permitted at any time in the laboratory.

Students should not attempt to repair, open, tamper or interfere with any of the computer, printing, cabling, air
conditioning or other equipment in the laboratory.

Students should be aware of office ergonomic guidelines for correct posture when using computer equipment.

Group 1- Biological Hazards-

Group 2- Physical Hazards-

Group 3- Chemical Hazards –

Explain Why it is important of the Do’s and Don’ts in a work places.