13 Hazard Categories
- Temperature: Temperature indicates the level of sensible heat present in a body. Massive uncontrolled flows of temperature extremes due to work in hot or cold environments can cause trauma and/or illness.
- Mechanical hazards: Tools, equipment, machinery and any object may contain pinch points, sharp points and edges, weight, rotating parts, stability, ejected parts, and materials that could cause injury.
- Pressure: Increased pressure in hydraulic and pneumatic systems. Pressure may cause ruptures in pressure vessels and whipping hoses. Small high pressure leaks may cause serious injuries.
- Radiation: Electromagnetic radiation hazards vary depending on the frequency (wavelength) of the energy. Generally, the higher the frequency, the more severe the potential injury. Non-ionizing (ultra-violet, visible light) may cause burns. Ionizing radiation has the potential to destroy tissue by dislodging electrons from atoms making up body cells.
- Toxics: Materials in small amounts are considered toxic if they cause injury to the skin and internal organs. Toxins may enter a worker's body through inhalation, ingestion, absorption, or injection.
- Vibration/Noise: These produce adverse physiological and psychological effects. Whole-body vibration is a very common hazard in the trucking industry. Segmental vibration and noise hazards exist when working with equipment such as jack hammers.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
1-8. Workers that use jack hammers commonly suffer from which category of hazard?
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