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HAZARDS
A hazard is anything that has the potential to cause physical and mental harm.
a ards at the workplace are unsafe working conditions that can cause discomfort in ury illness and death.
There are many hazardous factors that create unsafe environment in a workplace.
et s review about different types of safety and health ha ards that can put the lives of the employees in
danger:
Structural Hazard: Working or repairing in large buildings or other pointings or structures (like working at
elevated work area which can cause fall, spills or trips) is hazardous.
Electrical hazards: Improper wiring trailing cords running across the floor exposed current etc. can cause
electric current/shocks which can be hazardous.
Machine related hazards: Working with unguarded and moving machinery parts can cause accidents
in uries such situations are also ha ardous.
Biological Hazards: Exposure to biological factors like fungi, bacteria, viruses, moulds, insect bites, etc. are
hazardous as they can cause illness.
Physical Hazards: There are certain abstract hazards at workplace that can harm the body without even
touching like:
adiation: MFs microwaves radio waves etc.
Exposure to sunlight/ultraviolet rays
emperature extremes: hot and cold
Noise pollution
Chemical hazards: Hazards which occur in situations when a worker is exposed to gas, vapours and
chemicals that are used in articles like:
Cleaning products, paints, acids, solvents, etc.
ases like acetylene propane carbon monoxide and helium
Flammable materials like gasoline explosive chemicals etc.
esticides
Ergonomic hazards: As is the trend, sitting on chairs and working on computers for long hours is inevitable.
But users face physical problems because of incorrect posture during prolonged use of computers. This
results in musculoskeletal in uries which if not managed can have significant long- and short-term
impacts on the well being of employees. Musculoskeletal in uries damages muscles tendons bones oints
ligaments, nerves, blood vessels, etc.
o get rid of the ergonomic ha ards the following can be adapted:
he workstation should:
rovide su cient space for user to alter his operating position comfortably and make enough space when
a workstation is shared by more than one person.
rovide ade uate lighting at the work point.
Fit windows with ad ustable coverings to alter the sunlight level.
display screen should:
406 Touchpad Information Technology-X

