13 Hazard Categories
The following 13 hazard categories are adapted from Product Safety Management and Engineering, by Willie Hammer, ASSE Pub.
- Acceleration: This is just a fancy term for "fall" hazard. Acceleration happens when we speed up or slow down too quickly. It also occurs when any object is being set in motion, or its speed increased.
- Biohazards: Hazards of harmful bacterial, viruses, fungi, and molds are becoming a greater concern to everyone at work. The primary routes of infection are airborne and bloodborne.
- Chemical reactions: Chemical reactions can be violent and can cause explosions, dispersion of materials, and emission of heat. Chemical compounds may combine or break down (disassociate) resulting in chemicals with reactive properties.
- Electrical hazards: Exposure to electrical current. There are six basic electrical hazards: shock, ignition, heating/overheating, inadvertent activation (unexpected startup), failure to operate, and equipment explosion.
- Ergonomics: The nature of the work being done may include force, posture, the position of operation characteristics that require hazardous lifting, lowering, pushing, pulling, and twisting. The results are strains and sprains to muscles and connective tissues. This is the most common hazard category causing injuries in the workplace.
- Explosives and explosions: Explosions result in quick (instantaneous) releases of gas, heat, noise, light, and over-pressure. High explosives release a large amount of energy.
- Flammability and fires: For combustion to take place, the fuel, an oxidizer, and ignition source must be present in gaseous form. Accidental fires are commonplace because fuel, oxidizers, and ignition sources are often present in the workplace.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
1-7. What is the most common workplace hazard category?
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