Workplace health and safety is a top priority for both employers and employees. Global statistics indicate that around 2.78 million workers lose their lives from occupational accidents and job-related diseases. This alarms us to have the essential knowledge and awareness of the most common occupational health and safety hazards.
Slips, Trips and Falls
Slips, trips and falls are regarded as the most common causes of workplace accidents and injuries. These incidents may lead to major injuries, broken bones, bruising, and strained ligaments.
Scenarios that pose the risk of falling, slipping and tripping include:
- Wet floor
- Uneven floors
- Height of equipment
- Poor lighting
- Cluttered areas
Noise
Excessive noise in the workplace is also a common health and safety hazard. Workers who are involved in noisy work environments such as construction, aviation, manufacturing and entertainment are at the risk of induced hearing loss.
The higher the noise a worker receives, the more the level of risks to the hearing capability of the workers. So how do you know your workplace has hazardous noise? A simple test can help; answer the below questions:
- Is the noise frustrating?
- Do you feel like shouting at a person just standing a meter away?
- Do you have a feeling of ringing in the ears?
The above questions can give information on whether your workplace is exposed to noise hazards.
Manual Handling
Manual handling is a common health and safety hazard in most industries, especially in the construction sector. Injuries can happen when workers are involved in lifting heavy objects without adequate protection or improper methods.
Tasks such as pushing, carrying, or pulling objects can become the cause of intense back pain, musculoskeletal disorders, hernias, and prolapsed discs.
Did you know? Manual handling contributes to over 30% of injuries at work. This emphasizes the need for utmost care and attention towards manual handling activities to avoid accidents.
Hazardous substances
Employees in workplaces that contain hazardous substances are at risk if they come into contact without any safety measures or protective equipment. Exposure to hazardous substances such as chemicals, cleaning agents, pesticides, radiation, asbestos in old buildings and more can cause chronic health impacts like irritation to the skin, vomiting and nausea, eye injuries and more.
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