Hazards and Risks in the Workplace

Eduworks Resources

22 Mar 202105:11

Summary

TLDRThis video script delves into the concepts of hazards and risks in daily life and the workplace. It explains that a hazard is a potential source of harm, while risk is the probability of that harm occurring. Workplace hazards are categorized into five types: physical, ergonomic, chemical, psychosocial, and biological. The script emphasizes the legal responsibility of Australian workplaces to maintain a safe environment and manage these hazards. It also highlights the importance of identifying and reporting hazards as part of everyday work tasks.

Takeaways

🚸 Hazards are potential sources of harm in our daily lives, such as busy roads or sporting activities.
🛑 Risk is the probability of a hazard causing harm, influenced by factors like distance or conditions.
🏢 Workplaces in Australia are legally required to maintain a safe environment and manage hazards and risks.
🔍 There are five categories of workplace hazards: physical, ergonomic, chemical, psychosocial, and biological.
🏗️ Physical hazards include environmental factors like vibration, heights, noise, and confined spaces.
💻 Ergonomic hazards stem from poor workstation setup or job design, often related to repetitive tasks or poor lighting.
🧪 Chemical hazards involve substances that can be hazardous through contact or inhalation, like cleaning agents or oven cleaners.
🌿 Biological hazards are caused by organic materials, such as mold.
🧠 Psychosocial hazards relate to work factors that can cause psychological harm, including stress, bullying, and harassment.
🔍 Identifying and reporting hazards is a shared responsibility in the workplace, with formal assessments required in specific circumstances like business expansion or new equipment introduction.

Q & A

What is the difference between a hazard and a risk?
-A hazard is anything that has the potential to cause harm to a person, such as cars on a busy road. A risk, on the other hand, is the chance, whether it's high, medium, or low, that the hazard will cause harm, such as the risk of being hit by a car when crossing the road.
Why do people still engage in activities that pose risks, like driving or participating in sports?
-People often engage in risky activities because of the benefits they offer, such as the convenience of driving or the physical and mental health benefits of sports and exercise.
What are the five categories of workplace hazards mentioned in the script?
-The five categories of workplace hazards are physical, ergonomic, chemical, psychosocial, and biological.
Can you provide an example of a physical hazard in the workplace?
-An example of a physical hazard in the workplace could be wires left laying on the floor, which could cause someone to trip and fall.
What is an ergonomic hazard and what are some examples?
-An ergonomic hazard is caused by poor workstations or job design, often due to repetitive tasks. Examples include poor workstation setup, poor lighting, and repetitive lifting of boxes.
How can chemical hazards in the workplace be hazardous?
-Chemical hazards are caused by chemicals that might come in solid, liquid, or gas form and can be hazardous through direct contact or inhalation. Examples include pest control substances, cleaning agents, oven cleaners, and bleach.
What is a biological hazard and provide a common example?
-A biological hazard is caused by organic material. A common example is mold, which can grow in damp or poorly ventilated areas and pose a health risk.
What are psychosocial hazards and what are some examples?
-Psychosocial hazards are work-related factors that can cause psychological harm. Examples include work-related stress, bullying, harassment, and fatigue.
Why is it important to identify and manage hazards and risks in the workplace?
-It is important to identify and manage hazards and risks in the workplace because every workplace in Australia is legally responsible for maintaining a healthy and safe environment and must take measures to manage hazards and mitigate risks.
When might a workplace undertake a formal hazard assessment?
-A workplace might undertake a formal hazard assessment when starting or expanding a business, opening a new location, changing work tasks, starting a new worker, working with new substances, or new equipment.
Who is responsible for reporting hazards in the workplace?
-It is everyone's responsibility to report hazards as they are identified in the workplace.

Outlines

00:00

🚸 Understanding Hazards and Risks in Daily Life

This paragraph introduces the concepts of hazards and risks in daily life. It explains that hazards are potential sources of harm, such as cars on a busy road, while risks are the probability of those hazards causing harm. The script uses examples like road-related deaths in Australia and participation in sports to illustrate how people accept certain risks for the benefits they provide. It also transitions into discussing workplace hazards and the legal responsibility of workplaces in Australia to maintain a safe environment.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Hazard

A hazard, as defined in the script, is anything that has the potential to cause harm to a person. It is a central concept in the video as it sets the stage for discussing risks and safety measures. Examples from the script include cars on a busy road, which are hazards when crossing, and physical hazards in the workplace such as vibration, heights, and noise.

💡Risk

Risk is the chance, whether high, medium, or low, that a hazard will cause harm. It is a fundamental concept in the video, closely related to hazards, and is used to discuss the likelihood of potential harm. The script uses the example of the risk of being hit by a car when crossing the road, which depends on the distance of the cars from the person.

💡Workplace Hazards

Workplace hazards refer to anything in the workplace environment that might cause harm to anyone entering the workplace. This term is crucial to the video's theme as it highlights the specific types of hazards one might encounter in a professional setting. The script lists five categories of workplace hazards, emphasizing the need for a safe working environment.

💡Physical Hazard

A physical hazard is anything in the environment that could cause harm to one's physical body. This term is important in the video as it categorizes a type of hazard that can lead to physical injuries. Examples given in the script include wires left on the floor, faulty electrical appliances, and falling objects from high shelves.

💡Ergonomic Hazard

Ergonomic hazards are those caused by poor workstations or job design, often due to repetitive tasks. This concept is significant in the video as it addresses the potential for harm arising from the design of work environments. The script provides examples such as poor workstation setup and repetitive lifting of boxes.

💡Chemical Hazard

Chemical hazards are caused by chemicals that might come in solid, liquid, or gas form and may be hazardous through direct contact or inhalation. This term is relevant to the video's theme as it discusses the risks associated with chemical exposure in the workplace. The script mentions substances like cleaning agents, oven cleaners, and bleach as examples.

💡Biological Hazard

A biological hazard is a hazard caused by an organic material, with mold being a common example. This term is used in the video to describe a type of hazard that can have health implications. It is part of the broader discussion on the various hazards present in the workplace.

💡Psychosocial Hazard

Psychosocial hazards are the components of work that are likely to cause psychological harm to someone. This concept is important in the video as it broadens the discussion on workplace hazards to include non-physical forms of harm. Examples from the script include work-related stress, bullying, harassment, and fatigue.

💡Hazard Assessment

A hazard assessment is a formal process undertaken by a workplace to identify and evaluate hazards. This term is integral to the video's message as it discusses the proactive measures workplaces should take to ensure safety. The script mentions specific occasions when a formal hazard assessment might be necessary, such as starting a new business or working with new substances.

💡Risk Management

Risk management refers to the strategies and processes used by organizations to manage potential risks. It is a key concept in the video as it ties into the broader theme of safety and prevention. The script emphasizes the legal responsibility of workplaces in Australia to maintain a healthy and safe environment and to manage hazards and mitigate risks.

💡Safety Measures

Safety measures are the actions taken to prevent harm or reduce the likelihood of an accident or injury. This term is central to the video's theme as it discusses the practical steps that can be taken to ensure safety. The script implies that safety measures are an essential part of managing workplace hazards and risks.

Highlights

Life is inherently filled with risks from various hazards we encounter daily.

In 2020, there were 1195 road-related deaths in Australia, yet people still drive daily.

Many participate in sports despite the risk of personal injury for the benefits.

A hazard is defined as anything with the potential to cause harm to a person.

Risk is the probability of a hazard causing harm.

Workplaces in Australia are legally responsible for maintaining a safe environment.

There are five categories of workplace hazards: physical, ergonomic, chemical, psychosocial, and biological.

Physical hazards include vibrations, heights, noise, and confined spaces.

Ergonomic hazards stem from poor workstations or job design, often due to repetitive tasks.

Chemical hazards can come in solid, liquid, or gas form and may be hazardous through contact or inhalation.

Biological hazards are caused by organic materials, such as mold.

Psychosocial hazards can cause psychological harm, including work-related stress and bullying.

It is everyone's responsibility to report hazards as they are identified in the workplace.

Formal hazard assessments are undertaken during significant workplace changes or new operations.

Examples of physical hazards include wires on the floor, faulty appliances, and slippery floors.

Ergonomic hazards can include poor workstation setup and repetitive lifting.

Chemical hazards might involve pest control substances, cleaning agents, oven cleaners, and bleach.