Potential Safety Risks
There are several categories of workplace hazards. Physical safety hazards are the most common and are present at most workplaces at some time. Physical safety hazards include spills and trip hazards, temperature extremes, working at a high height, electrical hazards like frayed wires, and machinery-related hazards like moving parts or removed safety guards. Many workplaces experience physical safety hazards, including corporate offices.
Biological hazards occur when working with animals, people, or plants. Examples include exposure to blood or bodily fluids, bacteria, viruses, insect bites, or animal droppings. People who work in hospitals, in emergency response, or in outdoor occupations, as well as those at schools or day-care facilities, are often exposed to biological hazards.
Chemical hazards can lead to skin irritation, breathing difficulties, and mild to severe illnesses, including cancer. These hazards include cleaning products, solvents, pesticides, flammable materials like gasoline, and various gases such as carbon monoxide, helium, and propane.
Finally, there are ergonomic hazards. Ergonomics refers to the study of people at work, with the goal of reducing the injuries and stress that result from repeated tasks or the overuse of muscles from bad posture. The category of ergonomic hazards refers to things that put strain on the body, like the type of work, the working conditions, or the body position. Examples of ergonomic hazards range from hazards that can build over time, like office chair position leading to poor posture, to repetitive motions like frequent lifting.
Purpose of Safety Programs
An employer safety program is a written action plan that identifies and attempts to control hazards. It should also define safety responsibilities and a plan of response should an accident happen.
The purpose of creating employer safety programs is twofold. First, a goal of these programs is to minimize employee risk. Employers should integrate safety into all work practices and conditions. Second, employer safety programs help keep operating costs down. Occupational accidents and injuries can increase worker's compensation, which is insurance that provides salary replacement and medical benefits to employees who are injured on the job. Accidents and injuries on the job can also increase retraining costs, result in faulty products or services, and decrease productivity and morale.
Creation of Safety Programs
The intricacies of a workplace safety program are different depending on the employer, but there are many similarities in the development of a program. For example, while a chemical lab might have more detailed policies on chemical hazards and a law firm might focus on physical safety and ergonomic hazards, there should still be a common core of contents.
The safety program should begin with a policy indicating the commitment of the employer to health and safety of the employees. Definition and identification of hazards should be present, detailing ways to recognize, evaluate, and control these risks. Safety programs also might include standard operating procedures for carrying out work tasks. Employer safety programs should contain procedures for reporting injuries to management and human resources and explain what to do in an emergency. Finally, communication of the safety program to all staff is essential for adherence to safety and risk prevention policies and procedures. In-person training can be helpful to ensure understanding and cooperation.
Lesson Summary
Workplace hazards can be found in any office environment, whether physical safety, biological, chemical, or ergonomic hazards. To prevent employee injury and reduce costs, employers should create safety programs for their staff. These safety programs should include identification and evaluation of risks, procedures for safely completing employment-related tasks, and procedures for what to do in an emergency. Communication of these safety programs is vital to their success in reducing injuries.
