O risk is the likelihood that a hazard will cause

o Risk is the likelihood that a hazard will cause injury or ill health to anyone at or
near a workplace. The level of risk increases with the severity of the hazard
and the duration and frequency of exposure.
o Exposure occurs when a person comes in contact with a hazard.
What is a hazard?
Hazard is anything in the workplace that has the potential to harm people.
Hazards in the workplace should be identified and the risk of the hazard causing an
injury should be assessed.

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Types of Hazards
1. Safety hazards
These are the most common hazards in a workplace occuring at one
time or another. They include unsafe conditions that can result in injury,
illness or death.
Examples:
• Spills on floors
• Working from heights, including ladders, scaffolds, roofs, or any
raised area
• Unguarded machinery and moving machinery parts
• Electrical hazards like frayed cords, missing ground pins and
improper wiring
• Confined spaces
2. Biological hazards
These are associated with working with animals, people, or infectious
plant materials.
Examples:
• Insect bites
• Fungi/mold
• Bacteria and virus
• Plants
• Animal and bird droppings
• Blood and other body fluids
3. Physical hazards
These are factors within the environment that can harm the body
without necessarily touching it.
Examples:
• Extreme temperature – hot and cold
• Constant loud noise
• High exposure to sunlight/ultraviolet rays
• Radiation including ionizing and non-ionizing (microwaves and

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radiowaves)
4. Ergonomic hazards. These occur when the type of work, body positions and
working conditions put a strain on your body. These 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” and long-term exposure can result in serious illness.
Examples:
• Improperly adjusted workstations and chairs
• Frequent lifting
• Poor posture
• Awkward movements, especially if they are repetitive
• Repeating the same movements over and over
• Vibration
• Having to use too much force, especially if done frequently
5. Chemical hazards. These are present when a worker is exposed to any
chemical preparation in the workplace in any form (solid, liquid, gas).
Chemicals can cause illness, skin irritation or breathing problems.
Beware of:
• Pesticides
• Cleaning products, paints, acids, and solvents
• Flammable materials, like gasoline and explosive chemicals
• Vapors, like fumes that come from welding
• Gases, like acetylene, propane, carbon monoxide and helium
6. Work organization hazards
Hazards or stressors that cause stress (short-term effects) and strain
(long-term effects). These are hazards associated with clean workplace
issues such as, workload, lack of control and/or respect.
Examples:
• Workplace violence
• Workload demands
• Lack of respect

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• Flexibility
• Social support/relations
• Control or say about things
• Sexual harassment
Risk management
Risk management is a four-step process.